Investigating how soil drainage class affects the redox status of shallow groundwater

Abstract

We have recently extended our research on the assimilative capacity of groundwater systems for nitrate to the Reporoa Basin in Waikato. The particular focus of the presented study is to investigate to which extent the drainage class of the soil zone (approx. 1 m depth) affects the redox status of the underlying shallow groundwater. The Reporoa Basin offers good opportunities to address this question as soils ranging in their drainage class from well-drained to very poorly drained occur in close proximity and at locations with reasonably shallow depth to the groundwater table.