Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3-N) Export Regimes Based on High-frequency Measurements in the Kuzlovec Stream Catchment

Abstract

In the paper, the determination of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) export regimes from the Kuzlovec catchment during rainfall events is presented employing various determination methods: the ratio of coefficient of variation of NO3-N concentration and discharge (CVC/CVQ), the slope of the regression line to the points of concentration and discharge logarithms (b), both mentioned indices together, and the relative change of the NO3-N concentration during the event (Crs). According to previous analyses, the amount of exported NO3-N during rainfall events comprises approx. 30% of the total export amount, while from a temporal point of view, rainfall events represent only 10% of the time. Export regimes were identified as chemostatic (concentration does not change with discharge) and chemodynamic (concentration changes with discharge). The latter were further divided into dilution and flushing regimes. 43 rainfall events from the period April 2018–April 2020 were included in the analysis. For these events, high-frequency data of 20-minute intervals were available for concentration and discharge. All applied indices showed that the catchment responds differently from a concentration-discharge perspective and that chemodynamic behaviour is predominant, with flushing most frequently prevalent. A possible seasonal connection with regime diversity was tested using the non-parametric, statistical Wilcoxon test. A statistically significant difference was not found for any of the indices. Nevertheless, a detailed analysis of CVC/CVQ revealed that the ratio is likely related to seasonal variability in rainfall characteristics and consequently to the hydrological conditions in the catchment. Hence, it would be of great importance to include data about rainfall and hydrological properties in future studies.