| Title | A study of the nitrogen cycle of the Wilmot River watershed, Prince Edward Island: initial results |
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| Author | Savard, M M ;
Simpson, S; Smirnoff, A; Paradis, D; Somers, G; van Bochove, E; Thériault, G |
| Source | GéoQuébec 2004 : Comptes rendus, 57ième Congrès canadien de géotechnique/5ième Congrès conjoint SCG/AIH-CNN/GeoQuebec 2004/Proceedings, 57th Canadian Geotechnical Conference 57th Annual Meeting/5th Joint
CGS/IAH-CNC Conference; 2004 p. 20-27 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2004 |
| Alt Series | Geological Survey of Canada, Contribution Series 2004027 |
| Meeting | GéoQuébec 2004 : 57ième Congrès canadien de géotechnique/5ième Congrès conjoint SCG/AIH-CNN--GeoQuebec 2004: 57th Canadian Geotechnical Conference 57th Annual Meeting/5th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Conference;
Québec, QC; CA; October 25-27, 2005 |
| Document | book |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | CD-ROM; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Prince Edward Island |
| NTS | 11L; 21I/08; 21I/09; 21I/16; 21P/01 |
| Lat/Long WENS | -64.5000 -62.0000 47.2500 46.0000 |
| Subjects | environmental geology; hydrogeology; soils science; Health and Safety; groundwater; groundwater geochemistry; groundwater pollution; groundwater resources; hydrogeochemistry; soils; fertilizers,
nitrogen; nitrate; health hazards; watersheds; Human health |
| Illustrations | location maps; stratigraphic diagram; schematic diagrams; graphs; geochemical plots; plots |
| Program | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Funding Program |
| Program | Prince Edward Island Department
of Environment, Energy and Forestry, Funding Program |
| Released | 2004 01 01 |
| Abstract | Aquifers constitute the only source of freshwater on PEI. In many areas, nitrate concentrations in groundwater (GW) exceed natural levels. It is assumed that mineral fertilization for potato cropping
constitutes a major source of these nitrates. However, a better understanding of the transfer dynamics of nitrates from soils to GW is required to reduce their detrimental effects. Our initial results in the Wilmot watershed indicate that 23% of the
samples have N-NO3 concentrations above the threshold established for human health (10 mg/L), whereas 10% have concentrations within natural ranges (<1 mg/L). Combined nitrate and water isotope results suggest that during summer and fall most
nitrates in the Wilmot River are derived from GW, and that ~75% of the samples contain nitrates deriving from chemical fertilizers while the remaining ~25% contain nitrates from natural soils, manures or septic wastes. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 215505 |
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