Effectiveness of erosion mitigation measures to prevent muddy floods: A case study in the Belgian loam belt

During the previous decade, 68% of the municipalities in the Belgian loam belt have been confronted with muddy floods from agricultural catchments after intense rainfall. A muddy flood means that runoff concentrates in a dry valley causing damage to infrastructure and housing property downstream. A typical problem area is the village of Velm where a permanent river is constrained by a culvert designed to accommodate its peak discharge. However, the design of the culvert does not take the local flooding from seven dry valleys just upstream into account. This study focuses on peak discharge from one of these agricultural catchments (ca. 300 ha). The Meshed Hydrological Model (MHM) is used to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures to reduce flooding. Seasonal variation of soil cover in cropland and difference in land use patterns, i.e. before and after land consolidation is explicitly taken into account. The land cover spatial pattern was mapped at regular intervals during 2003. The largest potential of runoff generation occurs in December, and therefore represents a worst-case scenario. Mitigation measures implemented after the extreme event of August 2002 (i.e. a 12 ha grassed waterway and a retention dam in the thalweg) alleviate the flooding risk in Velm. The model simulates a peak discharge and a runoff volume reduction of more than 40%. The retention pond would buffer the generated runoff volume entirely for the worst-case scenario. Land consolidation carried out in the 1970s has led to an increase in peak discharge by 33% and in runoff volume by 19%. The major role played by a new consolidation road built in the thalweg on runoff concentration is highlighted. Implementation of additional soil conservation measures is therefore needed to limit runoff generation within the catchment.     

Monitoring catchment scale agricultural pollution in Norway: policy instruments,implementation of mitigation methods and trends in nutrient and sediment losses

Agricultural management and losses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and suspended sediments (SS) from eight small (85–2830 ha) catchments in Norway were analysed. The catchments represent areas with different agricultural production systems, soils and climate. Results from the long-term (9–16 years) in-stream monitoring show (i) large differences in levels of losses between the catchments, (ii) large interannual variability and (iii) few time-trends in losses. These results are discussed in relation to changes in agricultural policies and the implementation of soil management practices, such as reduced autumn-ploughing, catch crops, constructed wetlands and changes in nutrient application. Overall, these data demonstrate changes in farmer behaviour driven by economic incentives in combination with active extension services stimulating environmental friendly management practices. However, despite the increased implementation of mitigation methods by farmers, improvements in water quality at the catchment scale can be attenuated. More long-term monitoring programmes are clearly required.     

妫水河流域农耕区非点源磷污染危险性评价与关键源区识别

农业非点源磷污染是我国农村水环境面临的严重污染问题,由于非点源污染治理难度大,所以识别流域内磷流失的关键源区成为非点源污染控制的重点.本文在Hughes等的流域尺度磷分级方案的基础上,提出了修正的流域尺度磷分级方案,并运用到官厅水库上游妫水河农耕区的磷元素危险性评价.提出的新方案中包括8个评价因子,每个因子都有3个磷流失危险性等级,各评价因子均确定了定量分析方法.结果表明,从作物的人为管理角度来看,蔬菜地的磷肥管理方式最不合理,发生磷流失的可能性最高.研究区内大部分区域的土壤有效磷含量较高,但土壤侵蚀程度较小.评价结果图显示,研究区内磷流失危险性低的区域所占面积较小.根据评价结果,确定了研究区内磷流失的关键源区,分析了其空间分布特点,并提出了相应的控制管理对策.研究表明修正的流域尺度磷分级方案具有较高的可操作性和实用性.     

于桥水库周边农业小流域氮素流失浓度特征

选择天津市水源地于桥水库周边2个典型的农业小流域进行了长期的氮素流失研究.结果表明,地表径流的总氮浓度以村庄和果园为最高,平均浓度在20 mg·L-1左右;农田次之,山坡最低,平均浓度低于10 mg·L-1.亚表层流中氮素流失在不同地点和不同降雨事件中浓度有较大差异,总体趋势以果园最高,村庄中菜园次之,农田最低.在流域出口处.曹各庄流域地表径流总氮浓度达到18.5 m8·L-1,桃花寺流域出口处浓度为5.9 mg·L-1,流域内不同景观格局和迁移廊道地貌的差异是造成2个流域氮素流失浓度差异的主要原因.曹各庄流域中主要污染源村庄离水库较近(约200 m),且道路型季节性河流等性质特征对污染物的滞留能力较弱,增加了氮素流失到受纳水体的风险;桃花寺流域的污染源村庄和果园离受纳水体较远(约1500 m),氮素在季节性河流迁移过程中被小石坝、植被过滤带和干塘等"汇"型结构所滞留.从而降低了向水体迁移的风险.     

Sediment and nutrient dynamics during snowmelt runoff generation in a southern Taiga catchment of Russia

The water quality of the Volga catchment, Russia, is diminished and major nutrients reach critical levels. Proper management strategies depend on process knowledge about nutrient sources and pathways as well as appropriate models. For the 18.8 km² experimental catchment Lubazhinkha, 100 km south of Moscow, a monitoring scheme was conducted to identify runoff generation and nutrient source areas. The grey forest soils of the catchment are utilized with arable land and pasture (54%) and forest areas. The received results show a high intra-annual and inter-annual dynamic of the snowmelt runoff generation as major hydrological process. Overall sediment export rates during the 3 years of snowmelt investigation from 2003 to 2005 are low with a maximum of 0.33 t ha⁻¹ during snowmelt period 2005 and effectively reduced by a dam at the catchment outlet. Also, the total phosphorus loss from the catchment is low reaching from 0.03 to 0.35 kg ha⁻¹ during the snowmelt periods. However, sediment and total phosphorus concentrations vary within one snowmelt event and can reach high concentrations. Detailed analysis of element concentrations during snowmelt events allows an identification of different flow components and runoff generating mechanisms. During low flow situations phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon are transferred from the arable soils with slow flow components to the channel. In contrast to this situation, the sources of sediment and nutrients split up temporarily and spatially during high flow situations. Aside arable fields that are source of sediment and phosphorus during snowmelt episodes, the forested areas were detected as major source for the export of dissolved organic carbon with surface runoff. In particular these areas are characterized by a late thawing of the topsoil which causes a delayed peak of dissolved organic carbon concentration. The awareness of the dynamic and complex catchment reaction during snowmelt events is of importance for the development of proper management strategies.     

不同土地利用方式下侵蚀泥沙中磷释放风险评价

采集紫色土丘陵区典型小流域不同土地利用方式(包括林地、水田、旱地、农村居民点等)下的侵蚀泥沙和降雨径流样,测定泥沙的生物有效磷(Olsen P)、磷吸持饱和度(DPS)和降雨径流的溶解性活性磷(SRP).结果表明,泥沙Olsen P和DPS与降雨径流SRP平均浓度呈显著的折线关系.通过折线模型计算出侵蚀泥沙磷释放的风险阈值为Olsen P 32mg/kg和DPS 28%.当泥沙Olsen P和DPS大于其阈值时,磷向水体释放的环境风险大大增加.不同土地利用方式下侵蚀泥沙中磷的释放环境风险差异显著.农村居民点沟渠泥沙的磷释放风险较大,是径流水体的磷源,林地和水田沟渠泥沙是径流水体的磷汇,旱地和综合沟渠泥沙属于潜在的磷释放源.泥沙磷的释放潜力取决于泥沙来源和泥沙理化性质.     

Runoff and sediment losses from 27 upland catchments in Southeast Asia: Impact of rapid land use changes and conservation practices

Rapid changes in upland farming systems in Southeast Asia generated predominantly by increased population pressure and ‘market forces’ have resulted in widespread land degradation that has been well documented at the plot scale. Yet, the links between agricultural activities in the uplands and downstream off-site effects remain largely unknown because of the difficulties in transferring results from plots to a larger scale. Many authors have thus pointed out the need for long-term catchment studies. The objective of this paper is to summarize the results obtained by the Management of Soil Erosion Consortium (MSEC) over the last 5 years from 27 catchments in five countries (Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). The purpose of the study was to assess the impacts of cultivation practices on annual runoff and erosion rates. Initial surveys in each catchment included topography, soils and land use. Monitoring included climatic, hydrologic and erosion (total sediment yield including bed load and suspended sediment load) data, land use and crop yields, and farmers’ income. In addition, new land management options were introduced through consultations with farmers and evaluated in terms of runoff and erosion. These included tree plantations, fruit trees, improved fallow with legumes, maize intercropped with legumes, planted fodder, native grass strips and agro-ecological practices (direct sowing and mulch-based conservation agriculture). Regressions analyses showed that runoff during the rainy season, and normalized runoff flow coefficient based on erosive rainfall during the rainy season (rainfall with intensity exceeding 25 mm h⁻¹) increase with the percentage of the catchment covered by maize. Both variables decrease with increasing soil depth, standard deviation of catchment slope (that reflects terrain roughness), and the percentages of the catchment covered by fallow (regular and improved), tree plantations and planted fodder. The best predictors of sediment yield were the surface percentages of maize, Job's tears, cassava and footpaths. The main conclusions generated from this study were: (i) soil erosion is predominantly influenced by land use rather than environmental characteristics not only at the plot scale but also at the catchment scale; (ii) slash-and-burn shifting cultivation with sufficiently long rotations (1 year of cultivation, 8 years of fallow) is too often unjustly blamed for degradation; (iii) in its place, continuous cropping of maize and cassava promotes high rates of soil erosion at the catchment scale; (iv) conservation technologies are efficient in reducing runoff and total sediment yield at the catchment scale; (v) the adoption of improved soil management technologies by upland farmers is not a function of the degree of intensification of their farming system and/or of their incomes. The results suggest that if expansion of maize and cassava into already degraded upland systems were to occur due to increased demand for biofuels, there is a risk of higher runoff and sediment generation. A failure to adopt appropriate land use management strategies will result in further rapid resource degradation with negative impacts to downstream communities.     

新疆和田河流域河川径流时序特征分析

根据新疆和田河流域3个测站的多年实测径流资料,从径流的年内分配和年际变化2个方面分析了和田河流域河川径流的变化特征。计算结果表明,在年内分配方面,由于径流补给来源的作用,流域径流绝大部分集中在夏季,这就使得径流年内分配不均匀系数和集中度普遍较高,而计算所得的集中期也与实测最大月径流出现的情况相吻合。在径流的年际变化方面,尽管和田河流域的年降雨量存在递增的趋势,但是由于源区高山的雪线高程上升、冰川退缩,再加上人类活动的影响越来越显著,从而导致流域的河川径流呈现微弱的下降趋势。经过周期图法分析得到,和田河流域的年径流量不存在明显的周期成分。     

三峡库区小流域稻田空间格局对氮磷流失影响

选取三峡库区涪陵段封闭性较好的王家沟小流域,分别利用2014~2015年采集的3个稻田坡面12次自然降雨地表径流样品和2次自然降雨过程地表径流样品以及2010、2015年两个子流域日径流样品,对比分析坡面稻田空间格局差异和子流域稻田空间格局变化对地表径流氮磷流失浓度影响.结果表明,坡底布设的稻田对TN、NO_3~--N和TP去除率高于坡腰,坡底稻田田块越大TP去除效果越好;次降雨过程中,3种空间格局稻田TN、NO_3~--N和TP流失浓度在大雨事件降雨前期差异最明显,而中雨事件则为降雨后期;与2010年相比,2015年两个子流域稻田空间格局变化削弱了稻田对子流域氮磷流失拦截净化能力,主要表现为小到中雨事件和基流时期TN流失浓度明显升高,中到大雨事件TP流失浓度极易呈现跳跃性浮动.因此,合理增加流域稻田数量,优化稻田空间格局是三峡库区农业面源污染控制的有效措施.     

基于格局-过程理论的非点源污染实证研究:以黄土丘陵沟壑区水土流失为例

非点源污染是影响地表环境的主要污染方式之一.针对黄土高原丘陵沟壑区水土流失这一典型的非点源污染问题,应用非点源污染的空间识别方法———景观空间负荷对比指数和景观坡度指数,对黄土高原泾河流域12个子流域进行了实证研究.结果表明,耕地、低覆盖度草地和各种林地的景观坡度指数和景观空间负荷对比指数对流域土壤侵蚀模数有显著的响应关系,对径流深度存在着一定的响应关系,而对径流变异系数和侵蚀变异系数没有明显的响应.说明景观空间负荷对比指数和景观坡度指数对流域水土流失具有一定的指示作用,可作为水土流失等非点源污染空间风险评价的1个有用方法.     

川中丘陵区不同下垫面集水区氮磷流失特征

通过对2019~2020年不同下垫面集水区(农田集水区与复合集水区)径流及氮磷浓度的连续逐日定位监测,研究川中丘陵区不同下垫面集水区氮磷径流流失过程与强度,探讨下垫面对集水区氮磷径流流失特征的影响.结果表明:不同集水区的径流过程因下垫面不同而存在明显差异,农田集水区内的水田和坑塘的拦蓄作用滞缓了汇流过程,而复合集水区中居民点、公路等不透水下垫面缩短了汇流时间,使得复合集水区的降雨径流量峰值更高,响应速度较农田集水区快12~25min,年径流深较农田集水区多28.1%;次降雨径流过程中磷浓度变化较氮更剧烈,浓度峰值出现时间较氮早约1.2h,在降雨后期磷浓度下降速度更快,降幅更大;复合集水区的氮磷平均事件浓度(EMC)、峰值浓度均高于农田集水区,且两集水区氮流失形态均以硝酸盐氮为主,占总氮的65.9%;磷流失以颗粒态为主,占总磷的67.5%;复合集水区的氮磷流失负荷分别是农田集水区的3.01和4.03倍,氮磷流失强度分别是农田集水区的1.88和2.51倍.因此,复合集水区内氮磷随径流流失的防控可能是未来川中丘陵区面源污染治理的重点.     

华北半干旱区2个农业流域地表氮素流失特征的对比研究

在2004和2005年2个水文年期间,通过野外降雨径流监测和室内分析,对位于华北半干旱地区天津市重要饮用水水源地于桥水库周边2个典型农业小流域地表径流氮素流失特征进行了对比研究.结果表明,2个农业小流域全年氮输出主要集 中在6-9月;试验期间桃花寺流域41%的地表径流和52%的总氮负荷发生在2次>60 mm降雨中,曹各庄流域输出地表径 流和总氮负荷较均匀地分布于不同降雨类型的降雨事件中;桃花寺流域和曹各庄流域地表径流氮素输出发生的最小降雨量 分别约为20 mm和10 mm;曹各庄流域和桃花寺流域年均径流系数分别为0.013 2和0.001 6,前者为后者的8.3倍;曹各庄流域 年均总氮输出量是1.048 kg·(hm2·a)-1,桃花寺流域年均总氮输出量是0.158 kg·(hm2·a)-1,前者是后者的6.6倍.2个农业流 域内的微地形地貌、景观格局和迁移廊道性质的不同是造成流域氮素流失特征差异的主要原因:受长期人为活动干扰形成的 复杂地形地貌结构降低了流域的降雨一产流能力;桃花寺流域地表径流氮素主要污染源(村庄)离受纳水体的距离约为 1 500 m,而曹各庄流域此距离约为200 m,较短的迁移距离增加氮素迁移到受纳水体的风险;曹各庄流域道路型的传输廊道可 以很快地将地表径流氮素迁移到受纳水体,而桃花寺流域地表径流氮素则可以在传输廊道中被小石坝、植被过滤带和干塘等 "汇"型结构所持留.     

Streamwater phosphorus and nitrogen across a gradient in rural–agricultural land use intensity

This paper provides an overview of the impacts of rural land use on lowland streamwater phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations and P loads and sources in lowland streams. Based on weekly water quality monitoring, the impacts of agriculture on streamwater P and N hydrochemistry were examined along a gradient of rural–agricultural land use, by monitoring three sets of ‘paired’ (near-adjacent) rural headwater streams, draining catchments which are representative of the major geology, soil types and rural/agricultural land use types of large areas of lowland Britain. The magnitude and timing of P and N inputs were assessed and the load apportionment model (LAM) was applied to quantify ‘continuous’ (point) source and ‘flow-dependent’ (diffuse) source contributions of P to these headwater streams. The results show that intensive arable farming had only a comparatively small impact on streamwater total phosphorus (TP loads), with highly consistent stream diffuse-source TP yields of ca. 0.5 kg-P ha^?1 year^?1 for the predominantly arable catchments with both clay and loam soils, compared with 0.4 kg-P ha^?1 year^?1 for low agricultural intensity grassland/woodland on similar soil types. In contrast, intensive livestock farming on heavy clay soils resulted in dramatically higher stream diffuse-source TP yields of 2 kg-P ha^?1 year^?1. The streamwater hydrochemistry of the livestock-dominated catchment was characterised by high concentrations of organic P, C and N fractions, associated with manure and slurry sources. Across the study sites, the impacts of human settlement were clearly identifiable with effluent inputs from septic tanks and sewage treatment works resulting in large-scale increases in soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) loads and concentrations. At sites heavily impacted by rural settlements, SRP concentrations under baseflow conditions reached several hundred μg-P L^?1. Load apportionment modelling demonstrated significant ‘point-source’ P inputs to the streams even where there were no sewage treatment works within the upstream catchment. This indicates that, even in sparsely populated rural headwater catchments, small settlements and even isolated groups of houses are sufficient to cause significant nutrient pollution and that septic tank systems serving these rural communities are actually operating as multiple point sources, rather than a diffuse input.     

Linkages between land management activities and stream water quality in a border dyke-irrigated pastoral catchment

This paper describes key linkages between land management activities and stream water quality for a 5230 ha catchment used for intensive pastoral agriculture in southern New Zealand. Due to low annual rainfall and the wide coverage of soils with low available water-holding capacities, flood irrigation of the 2400 ha of flat land within the catchment is an important feature impacting on farm business profitability and stream health. Water quality variables and nutrient and sediment yield estimates are reported for a four-year period. This monitoring shows that some improvement in farm environmental performances would generally be desirable, with stream concentrations of nutrients (N and P), sediment and faecal bacteria regularly exceeding guidelines recommended for surface waters. Field measurements, farm management surveys and farm systems modelling have identified some land management practices that appear to be key sources of many of these pollutants. Border dyke irrigation runoff has a potentially large effect on a range of water quality parameters, due to both the excessive stream flows generated by over-watering and the entrainment of P, N and faecal bacteria in this flow as it passes from land to stream. Stock access to some of the remaining un-fenced lengths of the stream was also recognised as an important land management practice that needed to be addressed if some of the key catchment values identified by stakeholders, such as maintaining a healthy trout fishery and a stream suitable for recreational use, were to be protected. Assessments of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a number of potential mitigation practices identified that managements which targeted reducing irrigation runoff (e.g. by installing bunds or using appropriate watering times) and fencing and planting riparian margins showed the greatest potential to meet these key values with least cost to farm businesses. Other farm practices were also identified that incurred nil or minimal cost while also delivering small or moderate benefits to stream water quality.     

Floods and Other Possible Adverse Environmental Effects of Meadowland Area Decline in Former West Germany

6   ha, or 6% of the country's total area. The environmental implications of this large-scale conversion have so far received little attention; the present study examined some of these implications. A review of research on soil physical and chemical aspects of the conversion of permanent grassland into arable land reveals that such a large-scale conversion may have considerable effects upon the environment. For example, due to the mineralization of soil organic matter a release of NO₃ and CO₂ into the environment can be expected on the order of 10 t N and 100 t C per hectare. Environmentally equally severe, if not worse, is the increased amount of surface runoff that can be expected from converted grassland soils in arable land during winter because of surface sealing and soil compaction. This increased surface runoff, in combination with the runoff from other farmland, may be one of the reasons for the growing frequency of floods along major German rivers in recent years. In view of the lasting adverse environmental effects of permanent grassland conversion and the subsidized agricultural surpluses in Germany today, we conclude that a reconversion of arable land into permanent grassland may be beneficial both environmentally and economically.     

生物滞留设施对城市地表径流低浓度磷吸附基质研究

城市地表径流是淡水水体磷的重要来源之一.国际上生物滞留设施被广泛应用于城市地表径流污染的控制,其中基质组成是影响生物滞留设施除磷效果的主要因素.本研究探讨了紫色土与河砂混合作为生物滞留设施基质吸附去除城市地表径流低浓度磷的可行性.结果表明:山地城市重庆不透水地表(包括居住区道路、商业区道路、停车场以及交通干道)径流TP浓度变化范围为0.04~7.00 mg·L-1,均值为(0.75±1.08)mg·L-1;TDP浓度变化范围为0.02~0.46 mg·L-1,均值为(0.15±0.10)mg·L-1.根据重庆降雨特征与不透水地表径流磷污染特征,生物滞留设施规模为10%不透水面积,预期服务时间10a,基质对城市地表径流P的预期吸附量需达到7.5 mg·kg-1.中、酸性紫色土草酸浸提态Fe、Al含量影响P吸附能力,紫色土P吸附能力与草酸浸提态Fe和Al含量与磷含量之比(OR)呈显著正相关,20%紫色土与80%河砂混合基质可以满足重庆生物滞留设施基质对城市地表径流P的预期吸附量要求.20%紫色土与80%河砂混合基质(厚度60 cm)对P浓度0.30mg·L-1的进水长期模拟运行,出水P浓度均低于0.05 mg·L-1.利用紫色土和河砂混合基质吸附去除水文过程与水质变化情况下的城市地表径流低浓度P是可行的.     

小流域内的氮污染物来源模拟研究

文章采用澳大利亚源流域模型模拟东山小流域内2001年-2010年产生的降雨径流和总氮污染负荷,其中降雨径流采用SIMHYD模型,氮污染物生成采用EMC/DWC模型。通过模拟发现,流域内的水产养殖塘产生的径流量占66%,其次为高地茶果树;水产养殖和高地茶果树两种土地利用类型是流域内主要的总氮负荷来源;而单位面积上产生的最大污染负荷来自于蔬菜种植地(46 kg/ha)和高地茶果树(42 kg/ha)。     

化肥减量配施生物炭和秸秆增加了坡耕地壤中流磷流失风险

紫色土坡耕地是中国西南地区的重要农耕用地,也是三峡库区农业非点源污染的主要来源地之一,采取合理的措施控制其土壤养分流失对该区域非点源污染治理具有重要意义.以紫色土坡耕地为研究对象,通过3 a(2018～2020年)大田试验,设置不施肥(CK)、常规施肥(CF)、优化施肥(OF)、生物炭+优化施肥减量15%(BF)和秸秆+优化施肥减量15%(SF)这5个处理,对自然降雨条件下坡耕地地表径流(0～20 cm)和壤中流(20～60 cm)磷流失规律进行监测与评估.结果表明,施肥减少了紫色土坡耕地产沙量和地表径流流失通量,但增加了壤中流流失通量.地表径流正磷酸盐(PO^3-₄-P)、全磷(TP)和颗粒态磷(PP)总流失通量以BF处理最高,SF处理最低.各施肥处理壤中流磷流失通量均高于CK处理,且PO^3-₄-P和TP流失通量以BF处理最高(213.88 g·hm^-2和694.54 g·hm^-2),其次为OF和SF处理.冗余分析(RDA)结果表明,地表径流流失通量和生物...     

Effectiveness of buffer strips in removing pollutants in runoff from a cultivated field in North-East Italy

Buffer strips are an efficient and economical way to reduce agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Local researches are necessary to gain information on buffer performance, with particular emphasis on narrow buffers. The effect of a 6 m buffer strip (BS) in reducing runoff, suspended solids and nutrients from a field growing maize, winter wheat and soybean was assessed in a field experiment conducted in North-East Italy during 1998–2001. The BS was composed of two rows of regularly alternating trees (Platanus hybrida Brot.) and shrubs (Viburnum opulus L.), with grass (Festuca arundinacea L.) in the inter-rows.The BS reduced total runoff by 78% compared to no-BS, in which cumulative runoff depth was 231 mm over 4 years. With no-BS runoff appeared to be influenced mostly by total rainfall, while with BS maximum rainfall intensity was more important. The filtering effect of the BS reduced total suspended solids (TSS), particularly after the second year, when the median yearly concentrations ranged from 0.28 to 0.99 mg L⁻¹ and were smaller than 0.14 mg L⁻¹, with no-BS and with BS respectively. The combination of lower concentrations and runoff volumes significantly reduced TSS losses from 6.9 to 0.4 t ha⁻¹ over the entire period.A tendency to increased concentrations of all forms of N (total, nitrate and ammonium) while passing through the BS was observed, but total N losses were reduced from 17.3 to 4.5 kg ha⁻¹ in terms of mass balance. On the contrary, P concentrations were unmodified (soluble P), or lowered (total P) by the BS, reducing total losses by about 80%. The effect on total P, composed mainly of sediment-bound forms, was related to particulate settling when passing through the BS.A numerical index (Eutrophic Load Index), integrating water quality and runoff volumes, was created to evaluate the eutrophication risk of runoff with or without the BS. It showed that the BS effect was mostly due to a reduction of runoff volumes rather than improving the overall water quality.     

Linkages between land management activities and water quality in an intensively farmed catchment in southern New Zealand

Linkages between land management activities and stream water quality are reported for a 2480 ha catchment used for dairy farming, sheep–beef farming and forestry in Southland, New Zealand. Our approach was to reconcile measured loads of nutrients exported from the catchment with those estimated based on characterisation of farming practices within the catchment. The latter was based upon detailed surveys of farm practices and soil quality. Monthly stream monitoring showed that median nutrient (N and P), sediment and faecal bacteria concentrations exceeded guidelines recommended for surface waters. Measured specific yields for suspended sediment (SS), total N (TN) and phosphorus (P) discharged from the catchment were 58, 8.2 and 0.43 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively, for the 2001–2005 monitoring period. In comparison, model estimates of N and P losses in drainage and overland flow from farms in the catchment were 10.1 and 0.59 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Field measurements, farm management surveys and farm systems modeling have identified some land management practices that appear to be key sources of many of these pollutants. These sources include subsurface drainage systems (including the preferential flow of irrigated effluent through these soils), overland flow from the heavy soils used for dairy farming in the catchment and the practice of intensively wintering cows on forage crops. Modeling suggests that a significant improvement in catchment water quality could be achieved through the implementation of targeted best management practices (BMPs) on dairy farms in the catchment. These include (i) covered feedpad wintering systems for controlling N losses, (ii) nitrification inhibitor use on milking platforms, (iii) deferred irrigation and low rate application of farm dairy effluent and (iv) limiting soil Olsen P to economically optimum levels. The adoption of these BMPs will, in part, depend on their economic viability. This paper therefore presents a double-bottom-line analysis (i.e. environmental and economic) of some of these BMPs and discusses their potential to cost-effectively deliver improved water quality in the Bog Burn catchment.