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Simultaneous Field Measurement of Nitrate-Nitrogen and Matric Pressure Head

CEA, Cadarache Research Center, DPVE, 13108 St-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Groundwater protection from NO₃ pollution requires frequent measurements of potential water fluxes and NO₃-N concentrations. This study was conducted to improve researchers' abilities in managing these two parameters by using a new device. We developed a method allowing the researcher to simultaneously measure the hydraulic head and the NO₃-N concentration in the soil water solution. Measurements were made using the tensionic, in which a permeable porous ceramic cup allows the diffusion of NO₃ from the soil to the water inside the cup. Diffusion is completed within 8 d. A system of capillary tubes allows this water to be extracted for measurement of NO₃-N, and it may be reinjected subsequently. An aliquot can be used for isotopic analysis. Tests carried out on a maize crop (Zea mays L.) in 1991 led to two conclusions: (i) on a 200-m-long transect of 50 tensionics (placed at 4-m intervals and at a depth of 50 cm), statistical analysis made on the first three of the successive series showed the consistency of measurements with an 18% mean coefficient of variation (CV) for NO^–₃, whereas the mean CV for hydraulic head was 14%; (ii) in a battery formation (four probes located at depths ranging from 40 to 130 cm, with four sampling repetitions), the tensionics allowed easy monitoring of the distributions of hydraulic head and NO₃-N within the horizons of the soil profile.

Received for publication July 29, 1992.

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