Trends in Drinking Water Nitrate Violations Across the United States

Pennino, Michael J.; Compton, Jana E.; Leibowitz, Scott G.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b04269

Cited by 153 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…This also may happen in older individuals who have genetically impaired enzyme systems for metabolizing methemoglobin. Furthermore, prolonged nitrate and nitrite ingestion could increase risks of certain cancers [28].…”

Section: Nitrogen Loss During Container Plant Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controlled-Release Fertilizers as a Means to Reduce Nitrogen Leaching and Runoff in Container-Grown Plant Production

Chen¹,

Wei²

2018

Nitrogen in Agriculture - Updates

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Container-grown plants refer to plants produced in confined volume filled with substrates. The substrates endogenously have limited nutrients and low water-holding capacity. Plants grown in the containers must be fertilized and watered frequently varying from daily to weekly. Frequent fertilization and irrigation can result in nutrient leaching and/or runoff. Since nitrogen (N) is a key component of the majority of fertilizers, container plant production has been viewed as a source of N leaching and/or runoff. The leaching and runoff, if in large quantities on a year-round basis, could affect surface and ground water quality. Application of controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) has been reported to have less N leaching than plants fertilized with water-soluble fertilizers (WSFs). However, there are different types of CRFs with different compositions and longevities on the market. Container plants also differ greatly in their growth and development and in N requirement. Thus, production of high-quality container plants with minimum N leaching using CRFs still remains challenging. This article is intended to discuss characteristics of container plant production and N leaching and runoff during production, and to document that CRF application can reduce N leaching and/or runoff. Certain requirements for future development of CRFs are also discussed.

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Section: Nitrogen Loss During Container Plant Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controlled-Release Fertilizers as a Means to Reduce Nitrogen Leaching and Runoff in Container-Grown Plant Production

Chen¹,

Wei²

2018

Nitrogen in Agriculture - Updates

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“…Nitrates in groundwater can arise from multiple sources, including, but not limited to, the use of fertilizers, improper waste management practices from animal feed operations, inadequate treatment of household wastewater prior to its discharge in the environment, as well as from natural sources (decay or natural organic matter). Many groundwater dependent public water supply systems in the US and particularly in the rural parts of Texas have seen increases in the violation of nitrate drinking water quality standards over the last few decades [2]. In addition, over 13 million households in the United States (approximately 15% of the nation's population) rely on unregulated private water wells to meet their drinking water needs [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree-Based Modeling Methods to Predict Nitrate Exceedances in the Ogallala Aquifer in Texas

Uddameri

Silva

Singaraju

et al. 2020

Water

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The performance of four tree-based classification techniques-classification and regression trees (CART), multi-adaptive regression splines (MARS), random forests (RF) and gradient boosting trees (GBT) were compared against the commonly used logistic regression (LR) analysis to assess aquifer vulnerability in the Ogallala Aquifer of Texas. The results indicate that the tree-based models performed better than the logistic regression model, as they were able to locally refine nitrate exceedance probabilities. RF exhibited the best generalizable capabilities. The CART model did better in predicting non-exceedances. Nitrate exceedances were sensitive to well depths-an indicator of aquifer redox conditions, which, in turn, was controlled by alkalinity increases brought forth by the dissolution of calcium carbonate. The clay content of soils and soil organic matter, which serve as indicators of agriculture activities, were also noted to have significant influences on nitrate exceedances. Likely nitrogen releases from confined animal feedlot operations in the northeast portions of the study area also appeared to be locally important. Integrated soil, hydrogeological and geochemical datasets, in conjunction with tree-based methods, help elucidate processes controlling nitrate exceedances. Overall, tree-based models offer flexible, transparent approaches for mapping nitrate exceedances, identifying underlying mechanisms and prioritizing monitoring activities.Water 2020, 12, 1023 2 of 27 worldwide [5,6]. Intensification of agricultural activities for both food and energy will further increase the risks of nitrate contamination in aquifers across the world [7][8][9].Nitrate is mobile and fairly recalcitrant, especially in shallow groundwater systems that typically tend to be under oxidizing conditions. Nitrate exhibits the ability to spread over large areas and cannot be treated in-situ using conventional plume scale treatment technologies [10]. Therefore, individual homeowners are often required to install costly point-of-use treatment systems to mitigate nitrate risks arising from the ingestion of contaminated groundwater [11,12]. However, as nitrate is colorless and odorless, many people do not realize the risk of nitrate contamination and are unwittingly exposed to elevated levels of nitrate over long periods of time [13]. Therefore, nitrate contamination must be prevented through proper land management practices. Additionally, areas with a high susceptibility to nitrate pollution must be carefully delineated, with the goal of increasing public awareness regarding elevated health risks arising from nitrate exposures. Such an effort is also useful to prioritize monitoring activities and ensure that the limited fiscal and logistic resources are being used in a prudent manner.Mapping the susceptibility of aquifers to nitrate contamination is an essential step in mitigating and managing nitrate contamination. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, such as DRASTIC [14], have been widely used to map aquifer vulnerabili...

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“…Because it results in soil degradation (i.e., slow ecological variable) and an increased dependence on fertilizer inputs to maintain annual financial profits (i.e., fast social variable), the feedback could form the basis of a strong rigidity trap. Outside of the feedback itself, the long-term effect of annual fertilizer application is groundwater nitrification-a phenomenon with increasing relevance to agroecosystems and human health at broader scales [32]. degradation (i.e., slow ecological variable) and an increased dependence on fertilizer inputs to maintain annual financial profits (i.e., fast social variable), the feedback could form the basis of a strong rigidity trap.…”

Section: Cpnrd Fewes Diagrammentioning

confidence: 99%

A Framework for Tracing Social–Ecological Trajectories and Traps in Intensive Agricultural Landscapes

et al. 2018

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Charting trajectories toward sustainable agricultural development is an important goal at the food-energy-water-ecosystem services (FEWES) nexus of agricultural landscapes. Social-ecological adaptation and transformation are two broad strategies for adjusting and resetting the trajectories of productive FEWES nexuses toward sustainable futures. In some cases, financial incentives, technological innovations, and/or subsidies associated with the short-term optimization of a small number of resources create and strengthen unsustainable feedbacks between social and ecological entities at the FEWES nexus. These feedbacks form the basis of rigidity traps, which impede adaptation and transformation by locking FEWES nexuses into unsustainable trajectories characterized by control, stability, and efficiency, but also an inability to adapt to disturbances or changing conditions. To escape and avoid rigidity traps and enable sustainability-focused adaptation and transformation, a foundational understanding of FEWES nexuses and their unique trajectories and traps is required. We present a framework for tracing trajectories and traps at the FEWES nexuses of intensive agricultural landscapes. Framework implementation in a case study reveals feedbacks characteristic of rigidity traps, as well as opportunities for modifying and dissolving them. Such place-based understanding could inform sustainable agricultural development at the FEWES nexus of intensive agricultural landscapes worldwide.

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Trends in Drinking Water Nitrate Violations Across the United States

Cited by 153 publications

References 85 publications

Controlled-Release Fertilizers as a Means to Reduce Nitrogen Leaching and Runoff in Container-Grown Plant Production

Controlled-Release Fertilizers as a Means to Reduce Nitrogen Leaching and Runoff in Container-Grown Plant Production

Tree-Based Modeling Methods to Predict Nitrate Exceedances in the Ogallala Aquifer in Texas

A Framework for Tracing Social–Ecological Trajectories and Traps in Intensive Agricultural Landscapes

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