Agricultural land use and N losses to water: the case study of a fluvial park in Northern Italy

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Morari ◽  
E. Lugato ◽  
M. Borin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

An integrated water resource management programme has been under way since 1999 to reduce agricultural water pollution in the River Mincio fluvial park. The experimental part of the programme consisted of: a) a monitoring phase to evaluate the impact of conventional and environmentally sound techniques (Best Management Practices, BMPs) on water quality; this was done on four representative landscape units, where twelve fields were instrumented to monitor the soil, surface and subsurface water quality; b) a modelling phase to extend the results obtained at field scale to the whole territory of the Mincio watershed. For this purpose a GIS developed in the Arc/Info environment was integrated into the CropSyst model. The model had previously been calibrated to test its ability to describe the complexity of the agricultural systems. The first results showed a variable efficiency of the BMPs depending on the interaction between management and pedo-climatic conditions. In general though, the BMPs had positive effects in improving the surface and subsurface water quality. The CropSyst model was able to describe the agricultural systems monitored and its linking with the GIS represented a valuable tool for identifying the vulnerable areas within the watershed.

Implementation of best management practices in agriculture: modelling and monitoring of impacts on nitrogen leaching

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Joelsson ◽  
K. Kyllmar
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Time Perspective ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Indexing Technique ◽  
The Impact

In Kattegat and the coastal water of the Baltic Sea, high nitrogen input from agricultural land is considered to be the main reason for eutrophication. International agreements and governmental programs have set a target to reduce the anthropogenic nitrogen load by 50 percent. Improved nitrogen removal in treatment plants and efforts in agriculture have so far not decreased nitrogen transport to a sufficient extent. In this project the impact of agricultural practices on nitrogen leaching was investigated in two small agricultural catchments in Southwest Sweden. The root-zone leaching was estimated by an indexing technique. Simultaneously the transports in the stream outlets were monitored. During 1995 and 1999 the agricultural practices in the catchments were surveyed. Field data from the first survey indicated that fertilisation did not always match crop requirements, the area of undersown catch crop can be increased and autumn cultivation can be reduced. The second survey was preceded by an advisory campaign where each farmer was visited and presented with an environmental plan including fertilisation, cultivation, and crop rotation for the farm. The plan summarised the best management practices that could be realised under actual conditions. Results from the second survey showed that some changes in the agricultural practices were carried out after the advisory campaign. The nitrogen leaching from the root-zone was then estimated by the indexing technique, both for the time before and after the advisory program. The results showed that the estimated nitrogen leaching, as a mean value for 330 fields, decreased from 53 to 50 kgN ha−1, due to adjustments of the agricultural practices. Monitoring of stream transports showed values of the same magnitude after correction for retention and other sources. In this short time perspective, decreases in transport due to changes in agricultural practices could not be separated from influence of weather conditions. In comparison to results from the Swedish monitoring programme for agriculture, the measured transports were normal for the region, where annual variation in precipitation and runoff is large. Theoretically, nitrogen leaching could be reduced by one third without any major economic constraints for the farmers. In general, the farmers were positive to advice and willing to try new farming techniques even if some measurements were not fully implemented during the investigation period.

scholarly journals Linkage Between In-Stream Total Phosphorus and Land Cover in Chugoku District, Japan: An Ann Approach

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahman Amiri ◽  
K. Sudheer ◽  
Nicola Fohrer
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Ann Model ◽  
Stream Water Quality ◽  
The Impact

Linkage Between In-Stream Total Phosphorus and Land Cover in Chugoku District, Japan: An Ann ApproachDevelopment of any area often leads to more intensive land use and increase in the generation of pollutants. Modeling these changes is critical to evaluate emerging changes in land use and their effect on stream water quality. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of spatial patterns in land use and population density on the water quality of streams, in case of data scarcity, in the Chugoku district of Japan. The study employed artificial neural network (ANN) technique to assess the relationship between the total phosphorous (TP) in river water and the land use in 21 river basins in the district, and the model was able to reasonably estimate the TP in the stream water. Uncertainty analysis of ANN estimates was performed using the Monte Carlo framework, and the results indicated that the ANN model predictions are statistically similar to the characteristics of the measured TP values. It was observed that any reduction in forested area or increase in agricultural land in the watersheds may cause the increase of TP concentration in the stream. Therefore, appropriate watershed management practices should be followed before making any land use change in the Chugoku district.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Impacts of Land Use in Water Quality and the Role of Nature-Based Solutions: A Citizen Science-Based Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10519
Author(s):  
Julia Calderón Cendejas ◽  
Lucía Madrid Ramírez ◽  
Jorge Ramírez Zierold ◽  
Julio Díaz Valenzuela ◽  
Martín Merino Ibarra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Reference Levels ◽  
The Impact

The present study explores the impact of different land uses on water quality in a Mexican basin and addresses key mitigation measures, with key measurements made by citizen scientists. The Amanalco-Valle de Bravo Basin reservoir is the major freshwater supply for Mexico City. By measuring physical-chemical and bacteriological parameters in creeks over 21 months and correlating them to land use areas, it was possible to understand the impacts of different land uses (urban, forest, riparian forests, and different agricultural systems) in water quality. The results show that the concentration of E. coli, nitrates, nitrites, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and total suspended solids were higher than the recommended reference levels, and that average oxygen saturation and alkalinity were lower than the recommended reference levels in most sites. The analysis of the Pearson correlation coefficient showed a strong relationship between water pollution and urban and agricultural land uses, specifically a higher impact of potato cultivation, due to its intensive use of agrochemicals and downhill tilling. There was a clear positive relationship between total forest area and riparian vegetation cover with improved water quality, validating their potential as nature-based solutions for the regulation of water quality. The results of the present study indicate the opportunities that better land management practices generate to ensure communities’ and water ecosystems’ health. This study also highlights the benefits of citizen science as a tool for raising awareness with regard to water quality and nature-based solutions, and as an appropriate tool for participative watershed management.

Stimulating implementation of best management practices to reduce pesticide loads to surface water in a small agricultural catchment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Seuntjens ◽  
Ellen Pauwelyn ◽  
Els Belmans ◽  
Ingeborg Joris ◽  
Elien Dupon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Physical Analysis ◽  
Best Management ◽  
The Impact

<p>High-quality, safe, and sufficient drinking water is essential for life: we use it for drinking, food preparation and cleaning. Agriculture is the biggest source of pesticides and nitrate pollution in European fresh waters. Pesticide occurrences in rivers result from diffuse runoff from farmland or from point sources from the farmyard. Although many best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate these diffuse and point sources are developed and widely disseminated for several years, the effective implementation of mitigation measures in practice remains limited. Therefore, the Waterprotect project has been set up to improve the knowledge and awareness of the impact of crop protection products on the water quality among the many actors, to identify the bottlenecks for implementation of suitable BMPs and further develop new governance strategies to overcome these issues for a more effective drinking water protection. As all actors share the responsibility to deal with the water quality, government agencies (e.g. environmental agencies), private actors (e.g. drinking water company, input supplier, processing industry) and civil society actors (e.g. farmers) are involved in the project. Processes to cope with the problem are initiated in 7 action labs among which the Belgian Bollaertbeek action lab. The study area is a small agricultural catchment where surface water is used as intake to produce drinking water for the nearby city. The area is sensitive to erosion and based on a physical analysis and risk analysis of the catchment, the implementation of filling and cleaning places on individual farms and buffer strips along the watercourse are proposed as suitable measures to tackle the pollution problem. In order to implement them, mechanisms to increase the involvement of targeted farmers and alternative governance systems are studied. Results of the analysis of the water quality issues and the water governance system in the Belgian Bollaertbeek action lab and the strategies to try to improve the uptake of mitigation measures to improve water quality will be presented.</p>

scholarly journals Modeling effectiveness of broiler litter application method for reducing phosphorus and nitrogen losses

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1047-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Palki Arora ◽  
Jasmeet Lamba ◽  
Puneet Srivastava ◽  
Latif Kalin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Broiler Litter ◽  
Application Method ◽  
Creek Watershed ◽  
Total P

Abstract The linkages among the best management practices implemented at the field level and downstream water quality improvement at the watershed level are complex, because the processes that link management practices and watershed-level water quality span a range of scales. However, it is important to understand the effect of nutrient management strategies on watershed-level water quality because most of the water quality evaluation occurs at the watershed scale. The overall goal of this study was to quantify the effect of broiler litter application method (surface vs. subsurface application) on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) losses in surface runoff using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The research was conducted in the Big Creek watershed (8,024 ha) located in Mobile County, Alabama, USA. At the hydrological response unit level, the subsurface application of broiler litter to pastures reduced average annual (1991–2015) total P and N losses in surface runoff by 72% and 33%, respectively, compared to surface application of broiler litter. At the watershed outlet, subsurface application of broiler litter to pastures (covered 43% of the watershed area after the land use change scenario) reduced average annual (1991–2015) total P and N losses by 39% and 20%, respectively.

scholarly journals Concepts about Forests and Water

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon W. Stuart ◽  
Pamela J. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Quality Water ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Six concepts concerning forests, forestry, and water resources are discussed: (1) the role of the forest canopy in erosion control; (2) the impact of disturbance on soils; (3) the variability of natural water quality; (4) the impact of harvesting on water quality; (5) the role of extreme experiments; and (6) the effectiveness of forestry best management practices (BMP). The literature shows that the forest floor, not the canopy, protects soils from erosion. Harvesting can be conducted in ways that limit compaction and essentially confine overland flow to areas of exposed mineral soil on roads, trails, and log landings. Overland flow from these areas can be controlled and converted to subsurface flow before it reaches streams and lakes. Thus, effects to watershed hydrology are small. Undisturbed watersheds tend to have better quality water than highly disturbed watersheds, but the undisturbed character of a catchment does not assure high-quality water. Undisturbed forests vary greatly in sediment and chemical exports that are controlled by variables such as streamflow, soils, geology, air pollution, and land use history. Conversely, timber harvesting does not necessarily have measurable or biologically meaningful negative effects on water quality. Forestry BMP have proven effective in controlling adverse changes to in-stream sediment and water chemistry. Many studies that have reported large changes in water quality often represent extreme treatments not associated with typical forest operations, or they have not employed BMP. Properly and adequately used forestry BMP protect watershed resources while allowing the removal of wood products.

scholarly journals Potential Of Best Management Practices (Bmps) Projects For Effective Integrated Water Resource Management

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anis Syazwani Sukereman ◽  
Robiah Suratman
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Integrated Water Resource Management ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Water Quality Status ◽  
Quality Status

Nowadays, water pollution was viewed as a crucial issue and if not properly managed, it can threaten human health along with environment. Being so, various efforts have been taken by the government of Malaysia to ensure the Integrated Water Resource Management can be effectively implemented. In supporting the effective implementation of this approach, a Best Management Practices (BMPs) projects were carried out. Unfortunately, the implementation of these projects still remains in doubt and was unfamiliar by many parties. Therefore, this paper examined the outcome of BMPs Projects in the perspective of river water quality in Malaysia. By using content analysis technique towards 12 year period of data from the Malaysia Environmental Quality Report, starting from year 2002 to the year 2014, four projects were selected in order to identify is there any difference, especially on the river water quality status before and after BMPs Project have been carried out. The result of the studies revealed that, the BMPs projects have a potential in improving water quality status and there is a need to actively promote this project to the various stakeholders involved so that it can minimize Integrated Water Resource Management issues as well as enhancing the implementation.

scholarly journals Evaluation of nutrient retention in vegetated filter strips using the SWAT model

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 2742-2752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alper Elçi
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Septic Tank ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
Western Turkey ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Nutrient fluxes in stream basins need to be controlled to achieve good water quality status. In stream basins with intensive agricultural activities, nutrients predominantly come from diffuse sources. Therefore, best management practices (BMPs) are increasingly implemented to reduce nutrient input to streams. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of vegetated filter strip (VFS) application as an agricultural BMP. For this purpose, SWAT is chosen, a semi-distributed water quality assessment model that works at the watershed scale, and applied on the Nif stream basin, a small-sized basin in Western Turkey. The model is calibrated with an automated procedure against measured monthly discharge data. Nutrient loads for each sub-basin are estimated considering basin-wide data on chemical fertilizer and manure usage, population data for septic tank effluents and information about the land cover. Nutrient loads for 19 sub-basins are predicted on an annual basis. Average total nitrogen and total phosphorus loads are estimated as 47.85 t/yr and 13.36 t/yr for the entire basin. Results show that VFS application in one sub-basin offers limited retention of nutrients and that a selection of 20-m filter width is most effective from a cost–benefit perspective.

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