The impact of cattle pasturing on groundwater quality in bedrock aquifers having minimal overburden

Impact of agronomic practices of an intensive dairy farm on nitrogen concentrations in a karst aquifer in Ireland

“…Several studies on grassland sites with less complex geology concur with some of the findings of this study (Levison and Novakowski, 2009 (Einsiedl, 2005).…”

“…Open boreholes are in contact with nutrients as they migrate vertically through the subsoil, through the weathered epikarst (the thickness of which was highly significant) and therefore represent a composite nutrient concentration where cross contamination from surface input to groundwater can occur. However, where fluxes are important (perhaps in the future of the EU WFD) discrete fractures or conduits may be more important (Haag and Kaupenjohann, 2001;Landig et al 2010;Levison and Novakowski, 2009) The analysis of NO3 -occurrence data from 2002 to 2011 showed overall a decreasing trend of mean NO3 -concentrations on the farm (Fig. 6).…”

Hydrochemical borehole logs characterizing fluoride contamination in a crystalline aquifer (Maheshwaram, India)

“…In an aquifer, recharge acts either as a transporter of contaminants, or as a means for decreasing pollutant concentrations through dilution. Several studies conducted in crystalline aquifers report low concentrations in groundwater just below the water table, due to the diluting effect of recharge (Legout et al, 2007;Levison and Nowakowski, 2009). In crystalline aquifers, recharge occurs through both a piston-flow movement of soil moisture in the vadose zone and a flow-recharge process that takes place through preferential paths through the weathered and fractured layers.…”

Nitrate and fecal coliform concentration differences at the soil/bedrock interface in Appalachian silvopasture, pasture, and forest

“…High infiltration capacities of undisturbed soils (Anderson et al 1976), macropores (Holden 2008), thin soils and fractured bedrock (Levison and Novakowski 2009) are common to Appalachian hillslopes and contribute to rapid recharge of shallow groundwater (Kipp and Dinger 1987). Shallow conduit flow groundwater systems found in karst terrain are also common in Appalachia and respond quickly to agricultural activities on the surface Pasquarell 1996, 1999;Boyer and Kuczynska 2003).…”