scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of land-use types on the groundwater quality: a case study of Mid River Njoro Catchment, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halake Guyo Rendilicha ◽  
Patrick Home ◽  
James M. Raude ◽  
Charles M. M’Erimba ◽  
Stellamaris Muthoka

The study assessed the impact of land-use types on the groundwater quality of the mid River Njoro catchment, Kenya. Groundwater samples were collected from eight boreholes between the period of October 2017 to February 2018 and analyzed for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonium, and total phosphorus. These parameters were used to calculate the Groundwater Quality Index (GQI) value of the study area. The concentration maps (“primary maps I”) were constructed using Kriging interpolation of ArcGIS software from the seven groundwater quality parameters. The “primary maps I” were standardized with the KEBS and WHO standards to the “primary maps II” for ease of integration into a GIS environment. The “primary maps II” were then rated and weighted using a polynomial function to generate “rank maps” before calculating the GQI using spatial analyst tools of ArcGIS software. The land use map was prepared from a high-resolution Google earth satellite imagery of 2015. The mean GQI values for the different land use polygons were calculated and compared using GIS techniques. The GQI ranged from 68.38 to 70.92, indicating a high groundwater quality of mid River Njoro catchment. The major land-use types identified include settlement area, forest cover, agricultural land and mixed area. The agricultural land dominated the study area, followed by settlement area, forest cover and finally mixed area. The mean GQI value in each land use type varied minimally and this could be because of the diffuse nature of the land use types of the study area. Settlement area had low GQI, followed by agricultural land, mixed area and the forest cover had the highest mean GQI value, which corresponds to good quality of groundwater. Even though the variation is insignificant in this particular study, it somehow indicates the adverse effects of different land use on the quality of groundwater.

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-53
Author(s):  
Sebastian Zabłocki

Abstract The article presents the results of research, conducted in central Poland, where agriculture is the dominant type of land use. This activity is considered as a common potential hazard to groundwater quality because of the use of nitrate fertilizers, especially for small groundwater intakes used for the purpose of rural water supply. For this kind of intake seven scenarios of groundwater quality hazard were elaborated based on the results of the hydrodynamic modelling research in this area including the following: calculation of volume and time of leakage through the aquitard formations to the main useful aquifer, verification of the indirect protection zone and definition of the size of the well capture zone. The scenarios considered the current groundwater quality hazard as well as changes in agricultural land use or changes in fertilizer doses needed to decrease groundwater hazard by nitrates in the intake.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Günther Aust ◽  
Franz Heinrich ◽  
Daniel Horvath ◽  
André Musil ◽  
Cecilie Foldal ◽  
...  

SummaryWe have analyzed the loss of agricultural land in a case study of the community Eggelsberg in the Innviertel in Upper Austria. The trigger for the project was the attribution of Austria as Europe’s leader in soil sealing. We compared the results of the Austrian agricultural soil survey of the 1970s with the actual land use and quantified the land use change. Within half a century, 15% of the agricultural area was converted to settlement area or to other forms of infrastructure. According to the original soil assessment, 96 ha of high-quality cropland, 1,220 ha of medium-quality cropland, 121 ha of low-quality cropland, and 409 ha of grassland were converted. The forest cover remained stable. The highest share of soil sealing was owed to the expansion of the settlement area and the construction of a successful enterprise. Minor contributions were expansions of farm buildings. The loss of agricultural land was reasonable and reflected the needs of the local population. A special protection status because of the future relevance of the agricultural land was not communicated to land managers and is not reflected in the market prices of agricultural products. The relevance of the agricultural land beyond the regional level is not fully recognized.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samual T. Williams ◽  
Kathryn S. Williams ◽  
Christoffel J. Joubert ◽  
Russell A. Hill

Large carnivores are decreasing in number due to growing pressure from an expanding human population. It is increasingly recognised that state-protected conservation areas are unlikely to be sufficient to protect viable populations of large carnivores, and that private land will be central to conservation efforts. In 2000, a fast-track land reform programme (FTLRP) was initiated in Zimbabwe, ostensibly to redress the racial imbalance in land ownership, but which also had the potential to break up large areas of carnivore habitat on private land. To date, research has focused on the impact of the FTLRP process on the different human communities, while impacts on wildlife have been overlooked. Here we provide the first systematic assessment of the impact of the FTLRP on the status of large carnivores. Spoor counts were conducted across private, resettled and communal land use types in order to estimate the abundance of large carnivores, and to determine how this had been affected by land reform. The density of carnivore spoor differed significantly between land use types, and was lower on resettlement land than on private land, suggesting that the resettlement process has resulted in a substantial decline in carnivore abundance. Habitat loss and high levels of poaching in and around resettlement areas are the most likely causes. The FTLRP resulted in the large-scale conversion of land that was used sustainably and productively for wildlife into unsustainable, unproductive agricultural land uses. We recommended that models of land reform should consider the type of land available, that existing expertise in land management should be retained where possible, and that resettlement programmes should be carefully planned in order to minimise the impacts on wildlife and on people.


2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Jones ◽  
Chris Parker

The water quality of Icelandic rivers is controlled by a number of natural and anthropogenic factors interacting at complex spatial and temporal scales. This article presents the findings of a study into the water quality of two Icelandic rivers; the Blanda and the Skjálfandafljót. The study investigated the impact of three of the factors influencing water quality in these rivers: impoundment for hydro-electric power generation; agricultural land use; and the presence of glacial and periglacial areas. The results indicate that impoundment within a reservoir was responsible for a significant reduction in turbidity and a significant drop in aluminium concentrations as the reservoir acted as a sediment trap and chemical sink. Agricultural land use was found to have no significant effect on the nitrate or phosphate concentrations. Increasing glacial influence was found to be associated with increased turbidity but decreased total dissolved solids. Finally, the presence of permafrost soils in the periglacial highlands of the Blanda was positively associated with aluminium concentrations.


Author(s):  
Borys Sydoruk ◽  
Tetyana Yashchuk ◽  
Halyna Sydoruk

Introduction. Activities in the field of organization of agricultural land use should be focused primarily on the preservation and reproduction of land, the most productive implementation of all production processes and ensuring environmentally sound use of agricultural landscapes. One of the effective ways to ensure the balanced use of agricultural land by agricultural formations is to optimize the location of crops in accordance with the indicators of agrochemical evaluation of soils, taking into account the economic feasibility of their cultivation. Methods. Research conducted by use of the dialectical method of knowledge of the economic laws and systematic approach to the study of economic phenomena and processes, monographic, induction and deduction - to form of balancing agricultural land use; economic and statistical - to identify the factors that led to changes in the quality of land; abstract-logical method - in the implementation of theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions. Results. The author substantiates the importance of optimizing the sown area of agricultural crops to ensure a balanced use of land. A study of soil quality indicators within individual land plots was conducted and their dynamics were analyzed. The impact of the structure of growing crops on the balance of humus in the soil is assessed and the main measures to improve it are substantiated. The main components in the system of improving the quality of land are identified and their importance is proved Discussion. The defining direction for further research is the formation of an institutional environment for the balanced use of agricultural land in order to improve the quality of soils. Keywords: agricultural production, balanced land use, agricultural land, optimization, structure of sown areas.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Abdul Kadir ◽  
Zia Ahmed ◽  
Md. Misbah Uddin ◽  
Zhixiao Xie ◽  
Pankaj Kumar

This study aims to assess the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on the water quality of the Surma river in Bangladesh. For this, seasonal water quality changes were assessed in comparison to the LULC changes recorded from 2010 to 2019. Obtained results from this study indicated that pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations were higher during the dry season, while dissolved oxygen (DO), 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), and total solids (TS) concentrations also changed with the season. The analysis of LULC changes within 1000-m buffer zones around the sampling stations revealed that agricultural and vegetation classes decreased; while built-up, waterbody and barren lands increased. Correlation analyses showed that BOD5, temperature, EC, TDS, and TSS had a significant relationship (5% level) with LULC types. The regression result indicated that BOD5 was sensitive to changing waterbody (predictors, R2 = 0.645), temperature was sensitive to changing waterbodies and agricultural land (R2 = 0.889); and EC was sensitive to built-up, vegetation, and barren land (R2 = 0.833). Waterbody, built-up, and agricultural LULC were predictors for TDS (R2 = 0.993); and waterbody, built-up, and barren LULC were predictors for TSS (R2 = 0.922). Built-up areas and waterbodies appeared to have the strongest effect on different water quality parameters. Scientific finding from this study will be vital for decision makers in developing more robust land use management plan at the local level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Małgorzata E. Szymańska

<p>The article analyzes the impact of plant production on the protection of biosphere resources. Agriculture significantly affects the quality of resources and natural environment assets and shapes their character. The quality of environmental resources determines the size and directions of agricultural production, and agriculture changes ecosystems, shapes the landscape, affects the quality and quantity of natural resources. European integration has influenced the relationship between agriculture and the environment in many directions. EU legislation and the formulation of development strategies and economic programs contribute to the greening of agricultural land use and the protection of biosphere resources. The assessment of these activities is definitely positive due to the creation of conditions for conflict-free coexistence of the protective function and the agricultural function.</p>


Author(s):  
H.U. Agbebaku

The paper examined the assessment of the relevance of mapping and sampling of land-use types; residential, commercial and industrial on groundwater quality in the Apapa Local Government area of Lagos. Mapping of an area provides information, delineation, features and interpretation about an area while sampling revealed detailed analyses about a-cross-sections of the problem identified procedures and proper solutions. There exists a correlation between mapping and sampling of groundwater quality of the land use types in Apapa. The objective of the study was to examine the relevance of mapping and sampling on its effects on groundwater quality of the 3 most land-use types in Apapa. Data for this study were obtained from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained from mapping of the aerial and ground features of the study area and collection of water samples from 30 hand-dug wells. These samples were analysed in the laboratory to ascertain the states of physical and chemical parameters of the 30 sampled points. The techniques of field studies and analyses of mapping and laboratory experimentation of water samples were used for the study. The results show that mapping of the aerial extent and ground features is relevant to sampling collection because mapping is essentials and provides a fulcrum for physical and human features to be examines where samples of an area or events is to be made. The study recommended that at regular intervals, mapping of an area extent and ground features of sampling points of water sources should be done and made available to examine water quality as recommended by WHO, since flow lines of ground water movement convey pollutants which inferably determine the contamination of water sources. This paper calls for further research of mapping and sampling in other major land use types in other Local Government areas of Lagos State, Nigeria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Júlio Barboza Chiquetto ◽  
Maria Elisa Siqueira Silva ◽  
Rita Yuri Ynoue ◽  
Flávia Noronha Dutra Ribieiro ◽  
Débora Souza Alvim ◽  
...  

A poluição do ar é influenciada por fatores naturais e antropogênicos. Quatro pontos de monitoramento (veicular, comercial, residencial e background urbano (BGU))da poluição do ar em São Paulo foram avaliados durante 16 anos, revelando diferenças significativas devidoao uso do solo em todas as escalas temporais. Na escala diurna, as concentrações de poluentes primários são duas vezes mais altas nos pontos veicular e residencial do que no ponto BGU, onde a concentração de ozonio (O3) é 50% mais alta. Na escala sazonal, as concentrações de monóxido de carbono(CO) variaram em 80% devido ao uso do solo, e 55% pela sazonalidade.As variações sazonais ede uso do solo exercem impactos similares nas concentrações de O3 e monóxido de nitrogênio (NO). Para o material particulado grosso (MP10) e o dióxido de nitrogênio(NO2), as variações sazonais são mais intensas do que as por uso do solo. Na série temporal de 16 anos, o ponto BGU apresentou correlações mais fortes e significativas entre a média mensal de ondas longas (ROL) e o O3 (0,48) e o MP10 (0,37), comparadas ao ponto veicular (0,33 e 0,22, respectivamente). Estes resultados confirmam que o uso do solo urbano tem um papel significativo na concentração de poluentes em todas as escalas de análise, embora a sua influência se torne menos pronunciada em escalas maiores, conforme a qualidade do ar transita de um sistema antropogênico para um sistema natural. Isto poderá auxiliar decisões sobre políticas públicas em megacidades envolvendo a modificação do uso do solo.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
Solomon Jeremiah Sembosi

Rural settlements in mountainous regions are a typical process that occurs in many places around the world and have a number of implications on the landscape. Among them is a threat it possesses to the conservation and management of Afromontane ecosystems. This study assessed the socio-economic factors that drive the changes in land use and forest cover and the extent of land use and vegetation cover in and around Magamba Nature Reserve. Focus group discussion, direct field observation and household survey were used to acquire socio-economic information that impacts land use and forest cover. Through the use of Remote Sensing and GIS methods Landsat satellite images of 1995, 2008 and 2015 were employed to identify the extent of the changes in land use and forest cover. The perceived factors for the changes include education level, unemployment, landless/limited, landholding, population pressure, expansion of built-up areas and agricultural land at the expense of other land covers. This study revealed the transformation of natural forest and associated vegetation from one form to another. There was a decrease in natural vegetation from 61.06% in 1995 to 26.02% in 2015 and increase in built-up areas by 6.69% and agricultural areas by 4.70%. This study recommends conservation monitoring and strong law enforcement relating to natural resources so as to promote sustainable use of resources to rescue the diminishing ecosystem services.


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