Identifying nitrate sources and its transformation mechanisms are important for nitrate pollution control in surface water. The columnar core sediment samples in West Lake were taken in different seasons. The transformation of nitrogen at the sediment-water interface was studied using nitrogen and oxygen isotopes, stable isotope analysis in R (SIAR) and acetylene inhibition method in the West Lake, Hangzhou. The results showed that the concentration gradient of both NO3-and NH4+ existed at the sediment-water interface. NO3- concentrations decreased from bottom water to pore water and NO3- was accumulated in sediments. NH4+ concentrations increased from bottom water to pore water and NH4+ was released from sediments. Nitrate sources in bottom water where nitrification exited were sewage (manure), soil nitrogen, chemical fertilizer and precipitation. Sewage (manure) was the major nitrogen contributor (60.8%) in summer. Particularly high δ15 N values in pore water indicated that there was strong denitrification at the sediment-water interface in West Lake. The average nitrification rate and denitrification rate at the sediment-water interface were 2.85 mmol·(m2·d)-1 and 23.51 μmol·(m2·d)-1, respectively. The sediment-water interface played a role in nitrogen removal process in aquatic environment. Seasonal and spatial variations of nitrification rates and denitrification rates were found in this study. Temperature and dissolved oxygen were the main influential factors for the transformation of nitrogen at the sediment-water interface in West Lake.
Keywords: denitrification rate; nitrate; nitrogen and oxygen isotopes; sediment-water interface; stable isotope analysis in R(SIAR).