engleski

Inventory of water quality within intensive agriculture estuarine landscape for establishment of sustainable land management

Use of ameliorative measures in agricultural production, such as intensive fertilization and irrigation, significantly affect soil and water quality. Water quality degradation is the one of the major threats to sustainability in vulnerable hydro geological and geological environments such as karstic carbonate aquifers, common almost everywhere in Mediterranean basin. Due to complexity of mentioned landscape characteristics and noticeable negative impact of current agricultural practice, water quality monitoring was set within the Neretva estuary (southern Croatia). This region represents one of the most intensively used agricultural areas in Mediterranean Croatian, with up to 6000 reclaimed hectares mostly used by family farms. Since entire basin is regulated by numerous water engineering schemes and facilities (pumping stations, lateral and ameliorative channels), 13 surface and 5 groundwater (shallow piezometers) monitoring stations were established to characterize water quality status within the basin. Water samples were collected monthly during the time period of April 2009 - August 2014 and subject to ionic composition analysis. To assess intensity of agricultural impact on different water bodies within the estuary, nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (NO3-N) were analyzed using cluster and trend analysis. Within 5-years monitoring period mean concentration of NO3-N in surface water ranged from 0, 08 to 0, 95 mg/l and from 1, 5 to 35 mg/l in groundwater. Results showed evident seasonal changes in NO3-N concentrations, especially in groundwater samples. Moreover, statistical trend analysis confirmed upward trend in NO3-N concentrations in groundwater stations. The definition of upward trend indicates on necessity for precise legal and practical measurements in such areas to prevent and reduce negative agricultural impact on water quality.

Nitrate; estuary; pollution; water quality; agriculture

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