Response of dissolved trace metals to land use/land cover and their source apportionment using a receptor model in a subtropic river, China

► First revealed the interaction of hydrological seasonality and catchment and riparian landscape on metals in China's Rivers. ► Both hydrological seasonality and varied-scale land use controlled metals. ► Metal variables were better predicted by land use away from rivers than land use close to rivers. ► Anthropogenic markers within the subcatchment were the better predictor of metals, while natural processes for the buffer zone. ► Successfully quantify source apportionment for metals using FA-MLR receptor model.