INVESTIGATION OF NITRATE POLLUTION IN GROUND WATER DUE TO NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN AGRICULTURE IN NORTH CHINA

Results obtained from Investigation in 14 cities and counties in North China demonstrate that in countryside, small cities and towns of certain regions of North China nitrate pollution of ground water and drinking water due to nitrogen fertilization in agriculture has becoming a serious problem. At over half of the 69 investigated locations nitrate contents in ground water and drinking water exceed 50 mg/L, the allowable limit for nitrate content in drinking water. In some locations the nitrate content in ground water and drinking water reaches 300 mg/L. Analysis of nitrogen fertilizer development in China shows that doubled increase of nitrogen fertilizer application since eighties is one of the main responsible reasons for nitrate pollution of ground water in North China. Moreover, with the further raise of nitrogen fertilizer application in the next 30 years in China, the situation of nitrate pollution in ground water and drinking water will become more severe. Based on investigations and analysis.some concrete solutions for solving the problems have been suggested in the paper.