Atmospheric deposition and land-surface runoff driven nutrient flushing in Ganga River (India). Issue 1 (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pandey, Jitendra; Pandey, Usha; Singh, Anand V.; Jaiswal, Deepa; Siddiqui, Ekabal; Verma, Kavita
• Is Part Of: Water science. Volume 34:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 190
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: Atmospheric deposition -- Ganga River -- N:P stoichiometry -- Surface runoff; Water quality management -- Research -- Egypt -- Periodicals; Water resources development -- Research -- Egypt -- Periodicals; Water-supply, Agricultural -- Egypt -- Periodicals; Water-supply -- Research -- Egypt -- Periodicals; Water quality management -- Research; Water resources development -- Research; Water-supply, Agricultural; Water-supply -- Research; Egypt; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 628.1
• DOI: 10.1080/11104929.2020.1839344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1110-4929

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Disproportionate addition of nutrients can alter the nutrient stoichiometric balance of surface water bodies. In the present study, we investigated the atmospheric deposition (AD) and runoff-induced nutrient enrichment and N:P stoichiometric shifts in the Ganga River along a 35 km stretch of Varanasi city. The region receives 8–42 kg ha −1 of reactive-N (NO3 − + NH4 + ) and 0.40–3.10 kg ha −1 of PO4 3- through AD annually. The most polluted Rajghat Site receives ~770.50 tons of reactive-N (Nr) and ~64.50 tons of PO4 3- annually as AD input in the sub-watershed; and ~25.10 tons of Nr and 2.09 tons of PO4 3- directly on the water surface. Concentrations of nutrients in surface runoff increased with AD input irrespective of land use. Among land use categories, the runoff nitrate was highest from agricultural catchment while NH4 + and PO4 3- were highest from urban areas. The study showed that the AD-runoff coupled with additional supplies could substantially alter the overall load and stoichiometric ratios of critical nutrients with a consequent effect on ecological functioning of the river in long-run.