RESEARCH FOR

RESEARCH OF NUTRIENTS MIGRATION OF SANDY
SEDIMENT AERATION ZONE OF THE RIVER BANK BUFFER AREA
0
0.00
-0.2
0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
-1.2
-1.4
-1.6
-1.8
depth, -2 m
concentration, concentration, mg mg/l l-1 3 lysimeter spring 4 lysimeter spring 3 lysimeter summer
4 lysimeter summer 3 lysimeter autumn 4 lysimeter autumn
Figure 4. Change in ammonium ions depending on a
season. Ūla River bank.
Concentration of ammonium ions decreases as a
direct proportion of increasing infiltration coefficient.
This was ascertained subsequently to analysis of
precipitation and evaluation of types of sediments
from research sites on the basis of infiltration
indicators.
At the research site by the Žeimena River,
- concentrations of nitrate ions (NO ) varied from 0
3
to 3.55 mg l-1 . The greatest values of concentrations
were registered in seasons of spring with 0.91–
3.55 mg l-1 and summer 0.25–3.49 mg l-1 ; and the
least – in autumn with 0–1.80 mg l-1 . At the research
site by the Ūla River, concentrations of nitrate ions
varied from 0 to 0.11 mg l-1 . The greatest values of
concentrations were registered in the season of summer
with 0.01–0.11 mg l-1 ; and the least – in spring with
0.02–0.08 mg l-1 and autumn with 0.01–0.04 mg l-1 .
At the research site by the Žeimena River, 10 m
away from the river bank, reduction in concentrations
of nitrate ions were registered both on the surface and
in ground water during all seasons. The distribution
of the variation was as follows: approx. 1.8 times in
summer and spring seasons, and 3.5 times in summer.
At the research site by the Ūla River, this consistent
pattern was found in the season of summer with
concentrations dropping by approx. 1.2 times. During
spring season, the consistent pattern was found
in relation to migration of nitrates by water from
melting soil frost and snow. As sources of nitrates,
fallen leaves and decomposing grasses are washed
by the surface runoff; and once soil frost melts,
they are washed deeper into sediments. This can be
proved by a vertical analysis of the profile. In spring,
concentrations of nitrates increase by 27% in the layer
of up to 1 m deep at the research sites by both rivers.
Considering infiltration indicators and times soil frost
melted as well as investigation times, it was identified
that nitrates that accumulate over winter can lurk at
a depth of 0.9–1.2 m. This confirms that at a depth
greater than 1 m to the surface of ground water, the
amounts of nitrates decrease by 28% (Fig. 5).
0.00
-0.2
0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
depth, -2 m
170 ReseaRch foR RuRal Development 2012
0
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
-1.2
-1.4
-1.6
-1.8
0
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
-1.2
-1.4
-1.6
-1.8
depth, -2 m
Andrius Litvinaitis,
Lina Bagdžiūnaitė-Litvinaitienė
concentration, mg mg/l l-1 3 lysimeter spring 4 lysimeter spring 3 lysimeter summer
4 lysimeter summer 3 lysimeter autumn 4 lysimeter autumn
Žeimena River bank
concentration, mg mg/l l-1 0.00
-0.2
0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07
3 lysimeter spring 4 lysimeter spring 3 lysimeter summer
4 lysimeter summer 3 lysimeter autumn 4 lysimeter autumn
Ūla River bank
Figure 5. Change in nitrates depending on a season.
During the summer season, processes are
influenced by vegetation that assimilates a part of
organic substances through roots. It was found that at