Revealing nitrate sources seasonal difference between groundwater and surface water in China's largest fresh water lake (Poyang Lake): Insights from sources proportion, dynamic evolution and driving forces

Tracing the source of nitrate is the key path to solve the problem of nitrogen pollution. However, the seasonal difference of nitrate sources in groundwater and surface water and its dynamic evolution process and mechanism in large fresh water lake area are still not clear. In this study, 126 water samples were collected from groundwater and surface water in China's largest fresh water lake (Poyang Lake) region from 2022 to 2023. Bayesian stable isotope mixing model, absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression, ion ratio coefficients and uncertainty index (UI90) were used to investigate the nitrate sources variation in groundwater and surface water as well as its uncertainty in Poyang Lake area. Results showed that anthropogenic influence had significant influence on nitrate sources, which was mainly affected by chemical fertilizer (CF), soil nitrogen (SN) and manure and sewage input (M&S). Specifically, from 2022 to 2023, CF contributed 16.6 % to 32.4 %, SN contributed 26.0 % to 38.1 %, M&S contributed 26.5 % to 48.2 % to groundwater. CF contributed 38.8 % to 43.9 %, SN contributed 37.6 % to 40.6 %, M&S contributed 12.3 % to 18.6 % to surface water. The sources and proportion of nitrate in groundwater and surface water exhibited obvious difference. Temporal heterogeneity, land use type, population density and vegetation cover type had influence on nitrate sources. UI90 results showed that there was uncertainty in nitrate sources tracing process, with SN (mean 0.78), CF (mean 0.64), M&S (mean 0.35) and AD (mean 0.09), respectively. These results will provide vital references for understanding nitrate sources variation, controlling and removing nitrate surplus in groundwater-surface water system in the similar large fresh water lake areas. [Display omitted] •Nitrate sources mainly came from M&S in dry season while from CF, SN in normal and wet season.•Nitrate sources were mainly contributed by M&S and SN in groundwater while CF and SN in surface water.•Nitrate source were affected by seasonal variation, population density, vegetation and land use type.•Nitrate source tracing had uncertainty with the source of soil nitrogen had the highest uncertainty.