Stable isotope tracing and analysis play an important role in interpretation of hydrological and ecological processes at the watershed scale and can provide information regarding the flow path, water source, nutrient loss and biogeochemical cycles of a system. In this study, environmental isotopes (delta O-18-H2O, delta D, delta N-15-NO3 (-), delta O-18-NO3 (-)) and chemical compositions of surface water in Guizhou Province, China, were measured to evaluate the primary sources of nitrate and characterize the processes affecting nitrate as well as its correlation with vegetation cover in karstic areas. The delta N-15 and delta O-18-NO3 (-) levels ranged from +1.3 to +9.8 aEuro degrees and +4.7 to +16.9 aEuro degrees, respectively, which indicated that nitrate in water from the investigated area primarily originated from nitrification of soil organic matter during the sampling period. There was also a wide range of isotopes in the water and high contents of nitrate in karstic areas with poor vegetation cover, indicating that water and nutrient loss were serious problems hindering plant growth in the study areas. For example, there was a positive relationship between isotopic composition and nitrate content in the natural forest and negative relationship in Libo County nearby, which suggested that the nitrate fate was affected by land use and human disturbance.

Publication name	ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES　Volume: 68　 Issue: 1　 Pages: 219-228　 Published: JAN 2013
Author(s)	Li, Si-Liang; Liu, Cong-Qiang; Li, Jun; Xue, Zicheng; Guan, Jin; Lang, Yunchao; Ding, Hu; Li, Longbo
Corresponding author	LI Siliang lisiliang@vip.skleg.cn Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geochem, State Key Lab Environm Geochem, Guiyang 550002, Peoples R China.

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