Assessment of transport and transformation of nitrogen in the subsurface environment of Manawatu River Catchment – work in progress

Abstract

A sound understanding of transport, transformation and fate of farm nutrients is a key component of managing and mitigating the likely impacts of these nutrients on freshwater quality and ecosystem health. While the cycling and leaching of nitrogen in the soil profile (root zone) is reasonably well understood, there is limited information available about its transport and transformation in the subsurface environment (below the root zone), particularly in the Manawatu River catchment. To address this, Massey University’s Institute of Agriculture and Environment (IAE) and Horizons Regional Council has established a collaborative research study to monitor and model the transport and transformation of nitrate-nitrogen from farms to river via groundwater in the Manawatu River catchment.