Assessing the removal of nitrogen (temporary and permanent) in large river basins is complex due to the dependency on climate, hydrological and physical characteristics, and ecosystems functioning. Measurements are generally limited in number and do not account for the full integration of all processes contributing to nitrogen retention in the river basin. However, the estimation of nitrogen retention by the ecosystems is crucial to understanding the nitrate water pollution and the N2O emissions to the atmosphere, as well as the lag time between the implementation of agri-environmental measures to reduce nitrogen pollution and the improvement of water quality. Models have often been used to understand the dynamics of the river basin system. The objective of this study was to assess nitrogen retention in a large river basin, the Seine basin (~65 000 km2, in France), through the application of three models with different levels of complexity developed for different specific purposes: the GREEN, SWAT and RiverStrahler models. The study analyses the different modelling approaches and compares their estimates of water nitrogen retention over an 11-year period. Then reflexions on the role played by nitrogen retention by aquatic ecosystems in integrated nutrient management are presented. The results of this study are relevant for the understanding of nitrogen retention processes at the large river basin scale and for the analysis of mitigation measure scenarios designed to reduce nitrogen impacts on aquatic ecosystems and climate.
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy;CNRS, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;CNRS, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;University Pierre et Marie Curie, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;CNRS, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;University Pierre et Marie Curie, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy;CNRS, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;University Pierre et Marie Curie, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;University Pierre et Marie Curie, Metis UMR 7619, Box 123, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France;PBL Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency, 3720 A H Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Recommended Citation:
Bruna Grizzetti,Paul Passy,Gilles Billen,et al. The role of water nitrogen retention in integrated nutrient management: assessment in a large basin using different modelling approaches[J]. Environmental Research Letters,2015-01-01,10(6)