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Nitrogen Content of Shallow Ground Water in the North Carolina Coastal Plain¹

ABSTRACT

The NO₃-N and NH₄-N concentrations in shallow (< 3 m) ground water under a range of soil types, drainage conditions, and type of crop grown were monitored. The NO₃-N levels were always low (1 ppm or less) in ground water under wooded areas. The concentrations were somewhat higher under cultivated fields with the levels usually being 1 to 5 ppm although several values in the range of 10 to 20 ppm were recorded. The concentrations in all wells were always higher during the winter months. There seemed to be no relationship between cultivated crop and NO₃-N in the ground water. The NO₃-N concentration was almost always higher in the middle of the field than on the edge of the field even though the direction of water flow was toward the edge of the field. It is suggested that denitrification is responsible for this decrease.

There was little difference in NH₄-N concentration in water under cultivated fields and under unfertilized woods or pasture. The NH₄-N concentrations were normally in the range of 0.1 to 1 ppm with the higher levels being found under poorly-drained soils.

Based upon the characteristics of the surface sediments, it is concluded that very little of the NO₃-N present in the shallow ground water moves into deep aquifers in any area of the North Carolina Coastal Plain. However, the amount of NO₃-N that moves through the surficial sediments to the streams probably varies with location and characteristics of the confining beds.

Key Words: Shallow ground-water movement • sediment characteristics • nitrate reduction

¹ Contribution from Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University Agr. Exp. Sta. Published with approval of Director as Paper no. 4040 of the Journal series. The work upon which this publication is based was supported in part by funds provided by the Office of Water Resources Research, Department of the Interior, through the Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina as authorized under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964.

² Associate Professor and Professor, respectively, Dept. of Soil Science, North Carolina State University.

³ Soil Scientist, Soil Conservation Service and Professor, Soil Science Dept., North Carolina State University.

Received for publication May 11, 1973.