Evaluating nitrate and phosphorus remediation in intensively irrigated stream-aquifer systems using a coupled flow and reactive transport model

In irrigated semi-arid watersheds, over-fertilization often leads to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contamination in aquifers and river systems. Modelling tools often are used to evaluate the effect of management practices on nutrient contamination levels. In this study, we assess a suite of best management practices (BMPs) for N and P in a regional irrigated stream-aquifer system using a new numerical model. As it is necessary to consider the interaction of flow in the stream and aquifer, SWAT-MODFLOW model that couples surface and groundwater flow was used. The reactive processes were modelled using RT3D that simulate the reactive groundwater transport. The model is based on the coupled flow model SWAT-MODFLOW, with the groundwater reactive transport model RT3D included to simulate the reactive groundwater transport of NO3 and soluble P and their interactions within the soil-aquifer-stream system. The assessment is performed for a highly managed 732 km(2) region in the Lower Arkansas River Valley (south-eastern Colorado), with model results compared to observed groundwater nutrient concentration, in-stream nutrient concentration and loading, and crop yield. A total of 28 BMPs scenarios are evaluated regarding their impact on NO3 and soluble P contamination in the aquifer and river system. The most effective individual BMP in most areas is to decrease fertilizer by 30%, resulting in NO3 and soluble P reduced by 20% and 2% for groundwater concentrations, 25% and 10% for river concentrations, and 27% and 6% for mass loadings into surface water, respectively. Combinations of using 30% irrigation reduction, 30% fertilization reduction, 60% canal seepage reduction, and conservation tillage yield the greatest overall impact to lower NO3 and soluble P concentrations up to 41% and 8% in groundwater, 52% and 40% in river, and 63% and 49% for mass loadings. Targeting BMPs on localized problem areas shows great promise in reducing contamination while maintaining region-wide crop yield. The study demonstrates the SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D modelling code is a useful tool to examine NO3 and P transport and quantify BMP effects in groundwater-driven watersheds.

Automated summary

In this study, the impact of various best management practices (BMPs) on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contamination in irrigated stream-aquifer systems was assessed using a new numerical model. The most effective BMP was found to be a 30% reduction in fertilizer application, with combinations of multiple BMPs leading to significant reductions in groundwater and river nutrient concentrations. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D modelling code in analyzing nutrient transport and BMP effects in groundwater-driven watersheds.