Nitrogen management challenges in major watersheds of South America

Author(s)

Bustamante, Mercedes M. C. ^[1] ; Martinelli, Luiz Antonio ^[2] ; Perez, Tibisay ^[3] ; Rasse, Rafael ^[3] ; Ometto, Jean Pierre H. B. ^[4] ; Pacheco, Felipe Siqueira ^[4] ; Machado Lins, Silvia Rafaela ^[2] ; Marquina, Sorena ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Brasilia, Dept Ecol, BR-70919970 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, CENA, BR-13416000 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Inst Venezolano Invest Cient, Ctr Ciencias Atmosfer & Biogeoquim, Caracas 1020 - Venezuela

^[4] Inst Nacl Pesquisas Espaciais, Ctr Ciencias Sistema Terr, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS; v. 10, n. 6 JUN 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Urbanization and land use changes alter the nitrogen (N) cycle, with critical consequences for continental freshwater resources, coastal zones, and human health. Sewage and poor watershed management lead to impoverishment of inland water resources and degradation of coastal zones. Here we review the N contents of rivers of the three most important watersheds in South America: the Amazon, La Plata, and Orinoco basins. To evaluate potential impacts on coastal zones, we also present data on small-and medium-sized Venezuelan watersheds that drain into the Caribbean Sea and are impacted by anthropogenic activities. Median concentrations of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were 325 mu g L-1 and 275 mu g L-1 in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, respectively, increasing to nearly 850 mu g L-1 in La Plata Basin rivers and 2000 mu g L-1 in small northern Venezuelan watersheds. The median TDN yield of Amazon Basin rivers (approximately 4 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)) was larger than TDN yields of undisturbed rivers of the La Plata and Orinoco basins; however, TDN yields of polluted rivers were much higher than those of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Organic matter loads from natural and anthropogenic sources in rivers of South America strongly influence the N dynamics of this region. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/06556-3 - Influence of land use changes in the nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems: a catchment scale approach
• Grantee: Felipe Siqueira Pacheco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral