Denitrification in groundwater: An undervalued ecosystem service

Abstract

Shallow groundwater (<5 m deep) is often the predominant flow path for nitrate (NO₃⁻) leached from the root zone and transported to local surface waters. Denitrification occurring in the saturated zone reduces the load of NO₃⁻ that is discharged to groundwater-fed surface water bodies and by doing so offers an ecosystem service which is currently not accounted for.