Hydrologists, U.S. Geological Survey, WRD, 4821 Quail Crest Place, Lawrence, Kansas 66049–3839.
NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS IN WATER AS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SEVI'ING IN NEBRASKA1
Article first published online: 8 JUN 2007
JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association
Volume 30, Issue 5, pages 809–822, October 1994
How to Cite
Helgesen, J. O., Zelt, R. B. and Stamer, J. K. (1994), NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS IN WATER AS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SEVI'ING IN NEBRASKA. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 30: 809–822. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1994.tb03330.x
Paper No. 94047 of the Water Resources Bulletin. Discussions are open until June 1, 1995.
- Issue published online: 8 JUN 2007
- Article first published online: 8 JUN 2007
- water quality;
- statistical analysis;
- nonpoint source pollution;
- land use;
ABSTRACT: Spatial distributions of nitrogen and phosphorus in water were related to environmental setting as part of a regional water-quality assessment of the Central Nebraska Basins. The environmental settings (Sandhills, Loess Hills, Glaciated Area, and Platte Valley) were characterized by different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in ground water and stream water. Statistically significant differences in nitrate concentrations in both ground-water and stream-water samples were related to regional distributions of cropland and rangeland. Nitrate concentrations were larger, especially in shallow ground water, in environmental settings dominated by cropland and associated fertilizer use than in settings dominated by rangeland. Similarly, total-nitrogen and nitrate concentrations were relatively large in selected streams draining primarily cropland. Comparative concentrations of phosphorus in stream water on the basis of environmental setting were similar to those of nitrogen, although the largest phosphorus concentrations probably relate to wastewater discharge into small streams. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in much of the Platte River apparently reflected the quality of water entering the study unit from upstream and limited base-flow contributions from within the Platte Valley itself.