Investigation of processes leading to nitrate enrichment in soils in the Kalahari Region, Botswana

verfasst von

M. Schwiede, W. H.M. Duijnisveld, J. Böttcher

Abstract

In Southern Africa elevated nitrate concentrations are observed in mostly uninhabited semi-arid areas. In the Kalahari of Botswana groundwater locally exhibits concentrations up to 600 mg/l. It is assumed, that nitrate found in the groundwater originates mainly from nitrogen input and transformations in the soils. Our investigations in the Kalahari between Serowe and Orapa show that cattle raising is an important source for enhanced nitrate concentrations in the soils (Arenosols). But also in termite mounds very high nitrate stocks were found, and under natural vegetation (acacia trees and shrubs) nitrate concentrations were mostly unexpectedly high. This nitrate enrichment in the soils poses a serious threat to the groundwater quality. However, calculated soil water age distributions in the unsaturated zone clearly show that today's nitrate pollution of the groundwater below the investigation area could originate from natural sources, but cannot be caused by the current land use for cattle raising.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Bodenkunde
AG Bodenbiophysik

Externe Organisation(en)

Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR)

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Physics and chemistry of the earth

Band

30

Seiten

712-716

Anzahl der Seiten

5

ISSN

1474-7065

Publikationsdatum

2005

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Geophysik, Geochemie und Petrologie

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 15 – Lebensraum Land

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2005.08.012 (Zugang: Unbekannt)