By Scout Nelson
A research team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has received two grants to study hidden nitrogen sources that may affect groundwater quality and to develop new ways to reduce nitrate contamination before it reaches drinking water supplies.
The first project is supported by a $496,722 National Science Foundation grant over three years. Researchers will investigate organic nitrogen stored deep in the vadose zone, an underground layer between the soil surface and the groundwater table.
A second project, funded by the Nebraska Corn Board, will evaluate proactive methods to reduce nitrate risks before contamination reaches groundwater. The goal is to improve water quality while supporting agricultural production across Nebraska.
Groundwater is a critical resource for Nebraska residents and agriculture. While nitrogen fertilizer is essential for crop growth, excess nitrogen can move beyond plant roots and eventually become nitrate, creating concerns for drinking water quality.
Researchers believe historical nitrogen deposits stored deep underground may contribute to rising nitrate levels in some wells. Scientists at the Nebraska Water Center have spent decades studying how nutrients move through the vadose zone and reach groundwater.
According to the research team, organic nitrogen makes up a significant portion of the nitrogen stored in these deep soil layers. Over time, this material may slowly break down and generate nitrate that continues moving toward groundwater.
The team is also testing a nitrate-remediation approach designed to address contamination before it enters aquifers. Instead of treating polluted groundwater, the strategy focuses on reducing nitrate while it remains in the vadose zone.
“The primary reason we want to do it is to reduce the cost of treating water,” said Arindam Malakar, assistant research professor at the Nebraska Water Center and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute.
Early laboratory studies have shown promising results, and researchers will now evaluate the approach under different Nebraska soil conditions. The studies will examine effectiveness, environmental safety, feasibility, and regulatory considerations before any field deployment.
Malakar said preventing contamination before it reaches groundwater could be more effective than treating it afterward.
“By the time you see nitrate in a well, the decision that put it there was made a long time ago,” he said. “Once it’s in the aquifer, you’re paying to take it back out.”
If successful, the research could help communities protect groundwater quality while lowering future water-treatment costs.
Photo Credit: pexels-ron-lach
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Rural Lifestyle, Sustainable Agriculture