*Manuscript Click here to download Manuscript: Manuscript W97.doc Click here to view linked References Nitrogen inputs to a river course in a heavily impacted watershed: a combined hydrochemical 1 and isotopic evaluation (Oglio River Basin, N Italy) 2 1,2 2,1 3 3 4 5 3 Delconte C.A. , Sacchi E. , Racchetti E. , Bartoli M. , Mas-Pla J. , Re V. 4 5 6 1 - Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), CNR, U.O.S. Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 7 Pavia, Italy, tel +390382985881, fax +390382985890, e-mail
[email protected] 8 9 2 - Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 10 Pavia, Italy 11 12 3 - Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, viale G.P. Usberti 33/A, 43124 Parma, Italy 13 14 4 - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071 15 Girona, and Catalan Institute for Water Research, 17003 Girona, Spain 16 17 5 - Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, 18 Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy 19 20 21 22 ABSTRACT: 23 24 This study aims at evaluating sources and processes affecting nitrate concentrations in the Oglio 25 River. Five sampling campaigns considered the main watercourse, tributaries, point pollution 26 sources, springs, and groundwater. Physico-chemical parameters, N forms, B, Sr, stable isotopes 27 2 18 15 18 11 (δ HH2O, δ OH2O, δ NNO3, δ ONO3, δ B) and discharge were measured. Hydrological modelling 28 was performed using mass balance and End Member Mixing Analysis equations. 29 30 During the irrigation period, in the upstream reach, up to 90% of the natural river flow is diverted 31 for irrigation and industrial purposes; excess water drained from agricultural fields is returned to 32 33 river in the downstream reach.