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1
Jones, Michael G., R. Willem Vervoort, and Julie Cattle. "Nutrient losses under simulated rainfall from pasture plots in the Great Lakes District, New South Wales." Soil Research 47, no. 6 (2009): 555. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr08116.
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Understanding the process by which nutrients and solids enter waterways from pastures in the Great Lakes district, New South Wales, Australia, may assist in maintaining water quality to ensure ongoing environmental and economic sustainability of the region. Rainfall simulations, using a 100-year return storm event, were conducted to determine nutrient and suspended solid concentrations in the runoff of 8 pasture sites in 3 of the catchments in the district. On 5 of the 8 sites, considerable concentrations of N or P were mobilised during the simulated rainfall event, but average nutrient concentrations and total loads across all sites were relatively low and similar to other studies of nutrient runoff from pastures. In addition, low runoff coefficients indicated that runoff is probably not the major pathway for nutrient losses from pasture in this area. Overall, rainfall runoff responses at the sites were similar in the 3 catchments. In contrast, the results suggest that, despite generating more runoff, the sites in the Wang Wauk catchment generated less nutrients in runoff than the sites in the Wallamba and Myall catchments. There was no difference in total suspended solids loads for the sites analysed by catchment. Relationships between soil physical and chemical characteristics and total nutrients loads or cumulative runoff were not strong.
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Payraudeau, S., M. G. Tournoud, F. Cernesson, and B. Picot. "Annual nutrients export modelling by analysis of landuse and topographic information: case of a small Mediterranean catchment." Water Science and Technology 44, no. 2-3 (July 1, 2001): 321–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2001.0785.
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The preservation of water bodies from eutrophication implies accurate estimation of phosphorus and nitrogen loads and the control of nutrient production on a catchment scale. In this paper, a simple tool for the modelling of annual nutrient loads is presented. It is implemented in ARC/INFO GIS using Arc Macro Language (AML). The use of a GIS is justified as the spatial characteristics of the catchment area (land use, industrial wastewater location) dictate water quality. The annual nutrient loads are worked out on the catchment scale, using existing GIS routines together with specific routines developed in AML for hydrological and water quality modelling purposes. The catchment area is divided into hydrological subcatchments with relatively homogeneous spatial characteristics. Each subcatchment is linked to a specific nutrient export potential. These nutrient loads, calculated on a subcatchment-by-subcatchment basis, are conveyed to the outlet of the catchment and allow annual nutrient load estimation. A comparison with a water monitoring study is conducted to verify the adequation of modelling results for phosphorus and nitrogen loads.
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Smith, S. V., D. P. Swaney, R. W. Buddemeier, M. R. Scarsbrook, M. A. Weatherhead, C. Humborg, H. Eriksson, and F. Hannerz. "River Nutrient Loads and Catchment Size." Biogeochemistry 75, no. 1 (August 2005): 83–107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10533-004-6320-z.
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Young, W. J., T. F. Farley, and J. R. Davis. "Nutrient management at the catchment scale using a decision support system." Water Science and Technology 32, no. 5-6 (September 1, 1995): 277–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0625.
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To effectively manage the nutrient status of waterbodies, an ability to predict the likely external nutrient loadings from both point and diffuse sources under present and future conditions is important. The processes of nutrient export and transport are very complex, and detailed data and knowledge of these processes are seldom available without lengthy and expensive investigations. As an alternative, estimates of average annual catchment nutrient loads can provide an initial basis for strategic decision making, and indicate where more detailed investigations would be most beneficial. The Catchment Management Support System (CMSS) is a PC-based programme that was developed to calculate average annual nutrient loads and to allow the effects of land-use changes and land management changes to be investigated with ease. In addition, the CMSS approach stresses the importance of wide community involvement in the decision-making process for catchment management. The CMSS package is described, including the nutrient load prediction model used and its data requirements and the features of the user interface. A discussion of the role of CMSS in the decision-making process is made with reference to the imminent development of Nutrient Management Plans for many Australian catchments.
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Charles, K., N. Ashbolt, C. Ferguson, D. Roser, R. McGuinness, and D. Deere. "Centralised versus decentralised sewage systems: a comparison of pathogen and nutrient loads released into Sydney's drinking water catchments." Water Science and Technology 48, no. 11-12 (December 1, 2004): 53–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0802.
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Data collected from centralised and decentralised sewage treatment plants throughout Sydney's drinking water catchments was used to calculate the relative catchment loads of Cryptosporidium, enteric viruses, nitrogen and phosphorus for an initial screening assessment. Loads were assessed at median and 90 percentile values for expected and worst-cases scenarios. The expected scenario in the Sydney drinking water catchments is that decentralised systems (servicing 32,800 people) provide similar total loads to centralised systems (serving 70% of the catchment population) for total phosphorus (37,090 kg.y-1), Cryptosporidium (1011 oocysts.y-1) and enteric viruses (9.1 × 1013 y-1), but higher loads of total nitrogen (237,610 vs. 136,740 kg.y-1). Decentralised systems, however, were predicted to have higher loads in the worst-case scenario with 620,620 kg.y-1 TN, 82,040 kg.y-1 TP, 7.3 × 1013Cryptosporidium oocysts.y-1 and 9 × 1015 enteric viruses per year. Greater load variability was experienced with decentralised systems, which presumably reflects less reliability in their current operation and maintenance. Overall, catchment water quality is therefore not only affected by sewage disposal methods, but also failure issues. Decentralised system disposal to land may afford a degree of mitigation that can be enhanced, if the degree of failure is reduced.
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Stenfert Kroese, Jaqueline, John N. Quinton, Suzanne R. Jacobs, Lutz Breuer, and Mariana C. Rufino. "Particulate macronutrient exports from tropical African montane catchments point to the impoverishment of agricultural soils." SOIL 7, no. 1 (March 15, 2021): 53–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-53-2021.
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Abstract. Agricultural catchments in the tropics often generate high concentrations of suspended sediments following the conversion of natural ecosystems. The eroded fine particles are generally enriched with carbon (TC) and nutrients (TN and TP) originating from the topsoil of agricultural land. Sediment-associated TC, TN and TP are an important loss to the terrestrial ecosystem and tightly connected to an increase in riverine particulate TC and nutrient export. Soil nutrient depletion can limit crop growth and yields, whereas an excess of nutrients in streams can cause eutrophication in freshwater systems. Streams in East Africa, with widespread land conversion from forests to agriculture, are expected to receive high loads of sediment-associated TC, TN and TP. In this study, we assess the effect of land use on particulate TC, TN and TP concentrations. Suspended sediments (time-integrated, manual-event-based and automatic-event-based sediment samples) were analysed for TC, TN and TP concentrations collected at the outlet of a natural montane forest (35.9), a tea-tree plantation (33.3) and a smallholder agriculture (27.2 km2) catchment in western Kenya during a wet sampling period in 2018 and a drier sampling period in 2019. Particulate TC, TN and TP concentrations were up to 3-fold higher (p<0.05) in the natural forest catchment compared to fertilized agricultural catchments. However, because of higher sediment loads from the smallholder agriculture catchment, the total sediment-associated loads of TC, TN and TP were higher compared to the natural forest and tea-tree plantation catchment. The higher C:N ratios in the natural forest suggest that the particulate nutrients are of organic origin due to tighter nutrient cycles, whereas lower ratios in both agricultural catchments suggest a mixture of mineral and organic sediment sources. The findings of this study imply that with the loss of natural forest, the inherent soil fertility is progressively lost under the current low fertilization rates and soil management strategies.
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Crossman, J., M. N. Futter, P. G. Whitehead, E. Stainsby, H. M. Baulch, L. Jin, S. K. Oni, R. L. Wilby, and P. J. Dillon. "Flow pathways and nutrient transport mechanisms drive hydrochemical sensitivity to climate change across catchments with different geology and topography." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 11, no. 7 (July 15, 2014): 8067–123. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-8067-2014.
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Abstract. Hydrological processes determine the transport of nutrients and passage of diffuse pollution. Consequently, catchments are likely to exhibit individual hydrochemical responses (sensitivities) to climate change, which is expected to alter the timing and amount of runoff, and to impact in-stream water quality. In developing robust catchment management strategies and quantifying plausible future hydrochemical conditions it is therefore equally important to consider the potential for spatial variability in, and causal factors of, catchment sensitivity, as to explore future changes in climatic pressures. This study seeks to identify those factors which influence hydrochemical sensitivity to climate change. A perturbed physics ensemble (PPE), derived from a series of Global Climate Model (GCM) variants with specific climate sensitivities was used to project future climate change and uncertainty. Using the Integrated Catchment Model of Phosphorus Dynamics (INCA-P), we quantified potential hydrochemical responses in four neighbouring catchments (with similar land use but varying topographic and geological characteristics) in southern Ontario, Canada. Responses were assessed by comparing a 30 year baseline (1968–1997) to two future periods: 2020–2049 and 2060–2089. Although projected climate change and uncertainties were similar across these catchments, hydrochemical responses (sensitivity) were highly varied. Sensitivity was governed by soil type (influencing flow pathways) and nutrient transport mechanisms. Clay-rich catchments were most sensitive, with total phosphorus (TP) being rapidly transported to rivers via overland flow. In these catchments large annual reductions in TP loads were projected. Sensitivity in the other two catchments, dominated by sandy-loams, was lower due to a larger proportion of soil matrix flow, longer soil water residence times and seasonal variability in soil-P saturation. Here smaller changes in TP loads, predominantly increases, were projected. These results suggest that the clay content of soils could be a good indicator of the sensitivity of catchments to climatic input, and reinforces calls for catchment-specific management plans.
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Rankinen, Katri, Eila Turtola, Riitta Lemola, Martyn Futter, and José Enrique Cano Bernal. "Nutrient Load Mitigation with Wintertime Cover as Estimated by the INCA Model." Water 13, no. 4 (February 9, 2021): 450. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13040450.
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Increased nutrient loading causes deterioration of receiving surface waters in areas of intensive agriculture. While nitrate and particulate phosphorus load can be efficiently controlled by reducing tillage frequency and increasing vegetation cover, many field studies have shown simultaneously increased loading of bioavailable phosphorus. In the latest phase of the Rural Programme of EU agri-environmental measures, the highest potential to reduce the nutrient loading to receiving waters were the maximum limits for fertilization of arable crops and retaining plant cover on fields with, e.g., no-till methods and uncultivated nature management fields. Due to the latter two measures, the area of vegetation cover has increased since 1995, suggesting clear effects on nutrient loading in the catchment scale as well. We modeled the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen loads to waters and additionally tested the performance of the dynamic, process-based INCA-P (Integrated Nutrients in Catchments—Phosphorus) model to simulate P dynamics in an agricultural catchment. We concluded that INCA-P was able to simulate both fast (immediate) and slow (non-immediate) processes that influence P loading from catchments. Based on our model simulations, it was also evident that no-till methods had increased bioavailable P load to receiving waters, even though total P and total N loading were reduced.
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Qin, Chengxin, Zhiyi Li, Pengcheng Xie, Qianting Hao, Xuejun Tang, Yihui Wu, and Pengfei Du. "Temporal Variation and Reduction Strategy of Nutrient Loads from an Urban River Catchment into a Eutrophic Lake, China." Water 11, no. 1 (January 17, 2019): 166. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11010166.
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Excessive nutrient input from urban areas increases the occurrence of eutrophication. Control of nutrient loads is perceived as the primary restoration method. Quantifying temporal variation of nutrient loads is essential to understand the dynamic relationships of nutrient source-impacts in the urban water system and investigate the operational efficiency of treatment facilities for eutrophication control. Here, a holistic approach was developed to estimate nutrient loads from different sources and evaluate nutrient impacts on the urban water environment. An integrated catchment model of nutrient loads was built and applied to calculate river nutrient loads from untreated rainfall runoff, untreated sewage, and treated recharge into the eutrophic Dianchi Lake from an urban river catchment with limited infrastructure. Nutrient impacts on the lake were evaluated and a load reduction strategy was given a hint to reduce nutrient impacts of urban rivers. During the study period 2014–2016, nutrient loads from the urban river generally decreased except during heavy winter rainfall events and high-intensity pollution events associated with rainfall runoff. The average contribution of annual nutrient loads to the lake capacity indicated the underestimation of nutrient impacts of urban rivers. This approach provides new insights into urban water management and underscores the importance of sewage infrastructure.
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Armour, J. D., L. R. Hateley, and G. L. Pitt. "Catchment modelling of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loads with SedNet/ANNEX in the Tully - Murray basin." Marine and Freshwater Research 60, no. 11 (2009): 1091. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf08345.
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A long-term, annual-average catchment biophysical model (SedNet/ANNEX) was used to calculate sediment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loads in the Tully–Murray catchment of north-eastern Australia. A total of 119 000 t year–1 of suspended sediment, equivalent to 430 kg ha–1 year–1, was calculated to be exported to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Most of the sediment (64%) was generated from hill-slope erosion. The modelled load of dissolved inorganic N (1159 t year–1 or 4.2 kg N ha–1 year–1) was similar to that from other wet tropics catchments in Queensland with similar areas of sugarcane. Sugarcane produced 77% of this load. The annual loads of total N and total P were 2319 t and 244 t, respectively. Simulations (scenarios) were run to evaluate the impact of improved land management on pollutant loads to the GBR. A combination of improved cultivation and fertiliser management of sugarcane and bananas (99% of cropping land) and restoration of the most degraded riparian areas reduced sediment by 23 000 t year–1 (18%) and dissolved inorganic N by 286 t year–1 (25%). However, this reduction is much less than the reduction of 80% that may be needed in the catchment to meet target chlorophyll loads in the marine environment.
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Cook, Perran L. M., Fiona Y. Warry, Paul Reich, Ralph Mac Nally, and Ryan J. Woodland. "Catchment land use predicts benthic vegetation in small estuaries." PeerJ 6 (February 14, 2018): e4378. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4378.
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Many estuaries are becoming increasingly eutrophic from human activities within their catchments. Nutrient loads often are used to assess risk of eutrophication to estuaries, but such data are expensive and time consuming to obtain. We compared the percent of fertilized land within a catchment, dissolved inorganic nitrogen loads, catchment to estuary area ratio and flushing time as predictors of the proportion of macroalgae to total vegetation within 14 estuaries in south-eastern Australia. The percent of fertilized land within the catchment was the best predictor of the proportion of macroalgae within the estuaries studied. There was a transition to a dominance of macroalgae once the proportion of fertilized land in the catchment exceeded 24%, highlighting the sensitivity of estuaries to catchment land use.
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Crossman, J., M. N. Futter, P. G. Whitehead, E. Stainsby, H. M. Baulch, L. Jin, S. K. Oni, R. L. Wilby, and P. J. Dillon. "Flow pathways and nutrient transport mechanisms drive hydrochemical sensitivity to climate change across catchments with different geology and topography." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 18, no. 12 (December 12, 2014): 5125–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-5125-2014.
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Abstract. Hydrological processes determine the transport of nutrients and passage of diffuse pollution. Consequently, catchments are likely to exhibit individual hydrochemical responses (sensitivities) to climate change, which are expected to alter the timing and amount of runoff, and to impact in-stream water quality. In developing robust catchment management strategies and quantifying plausible future hydrochemical conditions it is therefore equally important to consider the potential for spatial variability in, and causal factors of, catchment sensitivity, as it is to explore future changes in climatic pressures. This study seeks to identify those factors which influence hydrochemical sensitivity to climate change. A perturbed physics ensemble (PPE), derived from a series of global climate model (GCM) variants with specific climate sensitivities was used to project future climate change and uncertainty. Using the INtegrated CAtchment model of Phosphorus dynamics (INCA-P), we quantified potential hydrochemical responses in four neighbouring catchments (with similar land use but varying topographic and geological characteristics) in southern Ontario, Canada. Responses were assessed by comparing a 30 year baseline (1968–1997) to two future periods: 2020–2049 and 2060–2089. Although projected climate change and uncertainties were similar across these catchments, hydrochemical responses (sensitivities) were highly varied. Sensitivity was governed by quaternary geology (influencing flow pathways) and nutrient transport mechanisms. Clay-rich catchments were most sensitive, with total phosphorus (TP) being rapidly transported to rivers via overland flow. In these catchments large annual reductions in TP loads were projected. Sensitivity in the other two catchments, dominated by sandy loams, was lower due to a larger proportion of soil matrix flow, longer soil water residence times and seasonal variability in soil-P saturation. Here smaller changes in TP loads, predominantly increases, were projected. These results suggest that the clay content of soils could be a good indicator of the sensitivity of catchments to climatic input, and reinforces calls for catchment-specific management plans.
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Ruibal-Conti, A. L., R. Summers, D. Weaver, and M. R. Hipsey. "Hydro-climatological non-stationarity shifts patterns of nutrient delivery to an estuarine system." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 10, no. 8 (August 22, 2013): 11035–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-10-11035-2013.
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Abstract. The influence of hydro-climatological variability on catchment nutrient export was assessed by a retrospective analysis of rainfall, discharge, and total and dissolved nutrient loads for three sub-basins (Serpentine, Murray and Harvey) of the Peel–Harvey catchment, Western Australia. Both, temporal trends and their variability for different hydrological conditions (dry, normal or wet years) were analyzed from 1984 to 2011. Rainfall declined below median values for the study period over the last two decades and runoff decreased significantly in two of the three main rivers. Since Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) loads were strongly correlated with river discharge, nutrient exports decreased. However, when nutrient loads were flow-adjusted, increases in Total P (TP) and Total N (TN) were observed in the Serpentine and Murray rivers respectively, suggesting new sources of TP and TN and that the flow–export relationship is non-stationary. Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus (DIP), showed a decreasing tendency in the last decade; but the trend in DIN loads is not clear and it appears to show a decreasing trend until 2004 and an increasing trend from 2004, accompanied with large inter-annual variability. The analysis of TP, TN, DIP and DIN in relation to dry and wet years, indicated that there is a significantly higher load in wet years for all three rivers, except for DIP in the Murray sub-catchment, explained by a higher proportion of soils with a higher Phosphorus Retention Index (PRI). Hydrological conditions, specific sub-catchment characteristics (e.g. soil type) and chemical properties of the nutrients altered the degree of nutrient partitioning (defined as dissolved inorganic to total nutrient concentration). For example, DIP increased to more than 50% of TP in wet years in Harvey and Serpentine but not in the Murray sub-catchment due to a higher PRI, while DIN behaved more randomly and did not show a link to discharge or the catchment soil type. We also found a mild association between nutrient partitioning and the rate of population growth which indicates that rapid change in population growth is accompanied by an increase in nutrient dissolved species. Changes in hydrological conditions between seasons did result in changes in the TN : TP and DIN : DIP ratio, but on an annual scale these ratios were not sensitive to whether a year was classified as wet or dry. The findings indicate that the quantity and nature of nutrient export varies in response to climate variability, which is superimposed on effects from changing land-use characteristics.
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Stefanidis, Konstantinos, Aikaterini Christopoulou, Serafeim Poulos, Emmanouil Dassenakis, and Elias Dimitriou. "Nitrogen and Phosphorus Loads in Greek Rivers: Implications for Management in Compliance with the Water Framework Directive." Water 12, no. 6 (May 27, 2020): 1531. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12061531.
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Reduction of nutrient loadings is often prioritized among other management measures for improving the water quality of freshwaters within the catchment. However, urban point sources and agriculture still thrive as the main drivers of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in European rivers. With this article we present a nationwide assessment of nitrogen and phosphorus loads that 18 large rivers in Greece receive with the purpose to assess variability among seasons, catchments, and river types and distinguish relationships between loads and land uses of the catchment. We employed an extensive dataset of 636 field measurements of nutrient concentrations and river discharges to calculate nitrogen and phosphorus loads. Descriptive statistics and a cluster analysis were conducted to identify commonalties and differences among catchments and seasons. In addition a network analysis was conducted and its modularity feature was used to detect commonalities among rivers and sampling sites with regard to their nutrient loads. A correlation analysis was used to identify major possible connections between types of land uses and nutrient loads. The results indicated that the rivers Alfeios, Strymonas, and Aliakmonas receive the highest inorganic nitrogen loads while the highest inorganic phosphorus loads were calculated for the rivers Strymonas, Aliakmonas, and Axios. Concerning the temporal variation of loads, inorganic nitrogen presented a peak on March and gradually declined until October when the dry period typically ends for most regions of Greece. Inorganic phosphorus loads had the highest average value in August and the lowest in October. Thus, our findings confirmed the presence of a typical seasonal variation in nitrogen loads that follows the seasonality in hydrology where high surface runoff during the wet months contribute to higher river discharges and higher nitrogen loads from the catchment. On the contrary, high phosphorus loads persisted during dry months that could be attributed to a dilution effect. Furthermore, the results imply a clear connection between agriculture and both nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, this work presents extensive information on the nitrogen and phosphorus loads that major rivers in Greece receive that can largely aid water managers to adapt and revise basin management plans in accordance with agricultural management (e.g., which months farmers should reduce the use of fertilizers) with the purpose of meeting the environmental targets defined by the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
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Venohr, M., I. Donohue, S. Fogelberg, B. Arheimer, K. Irvine, and H. Behrendt. "Nitrogen retention in a river system and the effects of river morphology and lakes." Water Science and Technology 51, no. 3-4 (February 1, 2005): 19–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0571.
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The mean annual transfer (loss and retention) of nitrogen in a river system was estimated using a conceptual approach based on water surface area and runoff. Two different approaches for the calculation of water surface area were applied to determine riverine nitrogen retention in four European catchments, ranging between 860–14,000 km2 in area, and differing considerably in the proportion and distribution of surface waters, specific runoff and specific nutrient emissions. The transfer rate was estimated sequentially as either the mean value for the total catchment, on a sub-catchment scale, or considering the distribution of water surface area within a sub-catchment. For the latter measure, nitrogen retention in larger lakes was calculated separately. Nitrogen emissions modelled with MONERIS and HBV-N were used to calculate nitrogen river loads and compare those with observed loads. Inclusion of the proportion of water area within a sub-catchment improved modelled results in catchment with large lakes in sub-catchments, but not where there was a homogenous distribution of surface waters among sub-catchments.
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Keipert, N., D. Weaver, R. Summers, M. Clarke, and S. Neville. "Guiding BMP adoption to improve water quality in various estuarine ecosystems in Western Australia." Water Science and Technology 57, no. 11 (June 1, 2008): 1749–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2008.276.
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The Australian Government's Coastal Catchment Initiative (CCI) seeks to achieve targeted reductions in nutrient pollution to key coastal water quality hotspots, reducing algal blooms and fish kills. Under the CCI a Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) is being prepared for targeted estuaries (Swan–Canning, near Perth, and the Vasse–Geographe, 140 km south of Perth) to address nutrient pollution issues. A range of projects are developing, testing and implementing agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce excessive loads of nutrients reaching the receiving waters. This work builds on progress-to-date achieved in a similar project in the Peel–Harvey Catchment (70 km south of Perth). It deals with the necessary steps of identifying the applicability of BMPs for nutrient attenuation, developing and promoting BMPs in the context of nutrient use and attenuation on farm and through catchments and estimating the degree to which BMP implementation can protect receiving waters. With a range of BMPs available with varying costs and effectiveness, a Decision Support System (DSS) to guide development of the WQIP and implementation of BMPs to protect receiving waters, is under development. As new information becomes available the DSS will be updated to ensure relevance and accuracy for decision-making and planning purposes. The DSS, calibrated for application in the catchments, will play a critical role in adaptive implementation of the WQIP by assessing the effect of land use change and management interventions on pollutant load generation and by providing a tool to guide priority setting and investment planning to achieve agreed WQIP load targets.
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Drewry, J. J., L. T. H. Newham, R. S. B. Greene, A. J. Jakeman, and B. F. W. Croke. "A review of nitrogen and phosphorus export to waterways: context for catchment modelling." Marine and Freshwater Research 57, no. 8 (2006): 757. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf05166.
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This paper reviews knowledge of nitrogen and phosphorus generation from land use and export to waterways, including studies relevant to Australia. It provides a link between current and future modelling requirements, and the context for incorporation of this knowledge into catchment models for use by catchment managers. Selected catchment models used by catchment managers are reviewed, and factors limiting their application are addressed. The review highlights the importance of dissolved N and P for overland flow and groundwater pathways, for sheep, beef and dairy grazing land use. Consequently, the effectiveness of riparian buffers to remove N and P may not be adequate. Consideration of the effects of rainfall and hydrology, dissolved P and N losses from pastures and event-based catchment-scale loads are therefore important factors that should be incorporated into catchment models. The review shows that it is likely that nutrient losses under Australian dairying conditions have many similarities to worldwide studies. Catchment models need to represent the importance of event-based loads, intensively farmed land use, management and forms of nutrients. Otherwise there is a likelihood of either underestimating nutrient losses, or potentially overestimating the effectiveness of riparian buffers.
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Jarvie, H. P., C. Neal, P. J. A. Withers, A. Robinson, and N. Salter. "Nutrient water quality of the Wye catchment, UK: exploring patterns and fluxes using the Environment Agency data archives." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 7, no. 5 (October 31, 2003): 722–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-7-722-2003.
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Abstract. Water quality data, collected by the Environment Agency in England and Wales over 10 years (1991 – 2000) were used to examine the spatial distribution of nutrient pollution risk and for assessing broad-scale spatial and temporal variability in nutrient fluxes across the Wye catchment. Nutrient water quality across the upper and middle Wye catchment, and along the main River Wye, is generally very good. However, the main areas of concern lie in the small tributaries in the south and east of the catchment, which have lower dilution capacity and high agricultural and effluent inputs, and where mean Total Reactive Phosphorus (TRP) in some cases exceed 1 mg-P l-1. Indeed, mass load calculations have demonstrated that the lowland south and east portion of the catchment contributes more than 85% of the whole-catchment TRP and more than 78% of nitrate (NO3‾) loads. Ratios of NO3‾:Ca were used to fingerprint different water-types across the catchment, linked to weathering and agricultural activity. The Wye catchment has been subject to two major sets of perturbations during the study period: (i) climatic fluctuations, with a drought during 1995-6, followed by a subsequent drought-break in 1997/8, and extreme high river flows in the autumn/winter of 2000/2001, and (ii) introduction of tertiary P-treatment at major sewage treatment works in the catchment. The implications of these perturbations for the nutrient water quality of the Wye catchment are discussed. Recommendations are made for more targeted monitoring to directly assess diffuse source nutrient contributions. Keywords: nutrients, phosphate, phosphorus, nitrate, nitrogen, river, Wye, PSYCHIC, Defra
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Schmalz, B., F. Tavares, and N. Fohrer. "Assessment of nutrient entry pathways and dominating hydrological processes in lowland catchments." Advances in Geosciences 11 (June 15, 2007): 107–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-11-107-2007.
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Abstract. The achievement of a good water quality in all water bodies until 2015 is legally regulated since December 2000 for all European Union member states by the European Water Framework Directive (EU, 2000). The aim of this project is to detect nutrient entry pathways and to assess the dominating hydrological processes in complex mesoscale catchments. The investigated Treene catchment is located in Northern Germany as a part of a lowland area. Sandy, loamy and peat soils are characteristic for this area. Land use is dominated by agriculture and pasture. Drainage changed the natural water balance. In a nested approach we examined two catchment areas: a) Treene catchment 517 km2, b) Kielstau catchment 50 km2. The nested approach assists to improve the process understanding by using data of different scales. Therefore these catchments serve not only as an example but the results are transferable to other lowland catchment areas. In a first step the river basin scale model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool, Arnold et al., 1998) was used successfully to model the water balance. Furthermore the water quality was analysed to distinguish the impact of point and diffuse sources. The results show that the tributaries in the Kielstau catchment contribute high amounts of nutrients, mainly nitrate and ammonium. For the parameters nitrate, ammonium and phosphorus it was observed as a tendency that the annual loads were increasing along the river profile of the Kielstau.
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Ockenden, Mary C., Wlodek Tych, Keith J. Beven, Adrian L. Collins, Robert Evans, Peter D. Falloon, Kirsty J. Forber, et al. "Prediction of storm transfers and annual loads with data-based mechanistic models using high-frequency data." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 21, no. 12 (December 18, 2017): 6425–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6425-2017.
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Abstract. Excess nutrients in surface waters, such as phosphorus (P) from agriculture, result in poor water quality, with adverse effects on ecological health and costs for remediation. However, understanding and prediction of P transfers in catchments have been limited by inadequate data and over-parameterised models with high uncertainty. We show that, with high temporal resolution data, we are able to identify simple dynamic models that capture the P load dynamics in three contrasting agricultural catchments in the UK. For a flashy catchment, a linear, second-order (two pathways) model for discharge gave high simulation efficiencies for short-term storm sequences and was useful in highlighting uncertainties in out-of-bank flows. A model with non-linear rainfall input was appropriate for predicting seasonal or annual cumulative P loads where antecedent conditions affected the catchment response. For second-order models, the time constant for the fast pathway varied between 2 and 15 h for all three catchments and for both discharge and P, confirming that high temporal resolution data are necessary to capture the dynamic responses in small catchments (10–50 km2). The models led to a better understanding of the dominant nutrient transfer modes, which will be helpful in determining phosphorus transfers following changes in precipitation patterns in the future.
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van der Velde, Y., J. C. Rozemeijer, G. H. de Rooij, F. C. van Geer, P. J. J. F. Torfs, and P. G. B. de Louw. "Nested-scale discharge and groundwater level monitoring to improve predictions of flow route discharges and nitrate loads." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 7, no. 5 (October 26, 2010): 8427–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-7-8427-2010.
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Abstract. Identifying effective measures to reduce nutrient loads of headwaters in lowland catchments requires a thorough understanding of flow routes of water and nutrients. In this paper we assess the value of nested-scale discharge and groundwater level measurements for predictions of catchment-scale discharge and nitrate loads. In order to relate field-site measurements to the catchment-scale an upscaling approach is introduced that assumes that scale differences in flow route fluxes originate from differences in the relationship between groundwater storage and the spatial structure of the groundwater table. This relationship is characterized by the Groundwater Depth Distribution (GDD) curve that relates spatial variation in groundwater depths to the average groundwater depth. The GDD-curve was measured for a single field site (0.009 km2) and simple process descriptions were applied to relate the groundwater levels to flow route discharges. This parsimonious model could accurately describe observed storage, tube drain discharge, overland flow and groundwater flow simultaneously with Nash-Sutcliff coefficients exceeding 0.8. A probabilistic Monte Carlo approach was applied to upscale field-site measurements to catchment scales by inferring scale-specific GDD-curves from hydrographs of two nested catchments (0.4 and 6.5 km2). The estimated contribution of tube drain effluent (a dominant source for nitrates) decreased with increasing scale from 76–79% at the field-site to 34–61% and 25–50% for both catchment scales. These results were validated by demonstrating that a model conditioned on nested-scale measurements simulates better nitrate loads and better predictions of extreme discharges during validation periods compared to a model that was conditioned on catchment discharge only.
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Davis, J. Richard, Trevor F. N. Farley, William J. Young, and Susan M. Cuddy. "The experience of using a decision support system for nutrient management in Australia." Water Science and Technology 37, no. 3 (February 1, 1998): 209–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1998.0209.
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Australia experienced an outbreak of algal blooms in the early 1990s that led to a concerted national program to reduce eutrophication. Most Australian States drew up nutrient management strategies which required catchment management groups to produce plans for nutrient reduction within their catchments. Most catchment management groups used the Catchment Management Support System (CMSS) to assist them in the preparation of these plans. CMSS is a simple decision support system developed by CSIRO (the national research organisation) which allows managers to assess the effects of Land Use and Land Management policies on nutrient loads. CMSS has been widely adopted by managers and community groups throughout eastern Australia and has been instrumental in drawing up many nutrient management plans. The program's success is attributed to its design features such as its simplicity of use, very low data demand, suitability for the specific institution task and the degree of documentation, training and support offered. In this paper the application of CMSS to the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment in New South Wales is used to illustrate features of the decision support system, and its relevance to policy formulation.
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Caille, F., J. L. Riera, and A. Rosell-Melé. "Modelling nitrogen and phosphorus loads in a Mediterranean river catchment (La Tordera, NE Spain)." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 8, no. 4 (August 2, 2011): 7555–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-8-7555-2011.
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Abstract. Human activities have resulted in increased nutrient levels in many rivers all over Europe. Sustainable management of river basins demands an assessment of the causes and consequences of human alteration of nutrient flows, together with an evaluation of management options. In the context of an integrated and interdisciplinary environmental assessment (IEA) of nutrient flows, we present and discuss the application of the nutrient emission model MONERIS (MOdelling Nutrient Emissions into River Systems) to the Catalan river basin, La Tordera (North-East of Spain), for the period 1996-2002. After a successful calibration and verification process (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies E = 0.85 for phosphorus, and E = 0.86 for nitrogen), the application of the model MONERIS proved to be useful to estimate nutrient loads. Crucial for model calibration, in-stream retention (mainly affected by variability in precipitation) was estimated to be about 50 % of nutrient emissions on an annual basis. Through this process, we identified the importance of point sources for phosphorus emissions (about 94 % for 1996–2002), and diffuse sources, especially inputs via groundwater, for nitrogen emissions (about 31 % for 1996–2002). Despite potential hurdles related to model structure, observed loads, and input data encountered during the modelling process, MONERIS provided a good representation of the major interannual and spatial patterns in nutrient emissions. An analysis of the model uncertainty and sensitivity to input data indicates that the model MONERIS, even in data-starved Mediterranean catchments, may be profitably used for evaluating quantitative nutrient emission scenarios that may help catchment managers and planners to develop effective policy and management measures to reduce nutrient loads.
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Lam, Q. D., B. Schmalz, and N. Fohrer. "Ecohydrological modelling of water discharge and nitrate loads in a mesoscale lowland catchment, Germany." Advances in Geosciences 21 (August 11, 2009): 49–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-21-49-2009.
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Abstract. The aims of this study are to identify the capacities of applying an ecohydrological model for simulating flow and to assess the impact of point and non-point source pollution on nitrate loads in a complex lowland catchment, which has special hydrological characteristics in comparison with those of other catchments. The study area Kielstau catchment has a size of approximately 50 km2 and is located in the North German lowlands. The water quality is not only influenced by the predominating agricultural land use in the catchment as cropland and pasture, but also by six municipal wastewater treatment plants. Ecohydrological models like the SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) are useful tools for simulating nutrient loads in river catchments. Diffuse entries from the agriculture resulting from fertilizers as well as punctual entries from the wastewater treatment plants are implemented in the model set-up. The results of this study show good agreement between simulated and measured daily discharges with a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency and a correlation coefficient of 0.76 and 0.88 for the calibration period (November 1998 to October 2004); 0.75 and 0.92 for the validation period (November 2004 to December 2007). The model efficiency for daily nitrate loads is 0.64 and 0.5 for the calibration period (June 2005 to May 2007) and the validation period (June 2007 to December 2007), respectively. The study revealed that SWAT performed satisfactorily in simulating daily flow and nitrate loads at the lowland catchment in Northern Germany.
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van der Velde, Y., J. C. Rozemeijer, G. H. de Rooij, F. C. van Geer, P. J. J. F. Torfs, and P. G. B. de Louw. "Improving catchment discharge predictions by inferring flow route contributions from a nested-scale monitoring and model setup." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 15, no. 3 (March 15, 2011): 913–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-913-2011.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. Identifying effective measures to reduce nutrient loads of headwaters in lowland catchments requires a thorough understanding of flow routes of water and nutrients. In this paper we assess the value of nested-scale discharge and groundwater level measurements for the estimation of flow route volumes and for predictions of catchment discharge. In order to relate field-site measurements to the catchment-scale an upscaling approach is introduced that assumes that scale differences in flow route fluxes originate from differences in the relationship between groundwater storage and the spatial structure of the groundwater table. This relationship is characterized by the Groundwater Depth Distribution (GDD) curve that relates spatial variation in groundwater depths to the average groundwater depth. The GDD-curve was measured for a single field site (0.009 km2) and simple process descriptions were applied to relate groundwater levels to flow route discharges. This parsimonious model could accurately describe observed storage, tube drain discharge, overland flow and groundwater flow simultaneously with Nash-Sutcliff coefficients exceeding 0.8. A probabilistic Monte Carlo approach was applied to upscale field-site measurements to catchment scales by inferring scale-specific GDD-curves from the hydrographs of two nested catchments (0.4 and 6.5 km2). The estimated contribution of tube drain effluent (a dominant source for nitrates) decreased with increasing scale from 76–79% at the field-site to 34–61% and 25–50% for both catchment scales. These results were validated by demonstrating that a model conditioned on nested-scale measurements improves simulations of nitrate loads and predictions of extreme discharges during validation periods compared to a model that was conditioned on catchment discharge only.
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Barron, O., A. Barr, M. Donn, and D. Pollock. "Combined consideration for decentralised non-potable water supply from local groundwater and nutrient load reduction in urban drainage." Water Science and Technology 63, no. 6 (March 1, 2011): 1289–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.373.
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Integrated analysis of land use change and its effect on catchment water balance allows the selection of appropriate water and land management options for new urban developments to minimise the environmental impacts of urbanisation. A process-based coupled surface water-groundwater model was developed for Southern River catchment (Perth, Western Australia) to investigate the effect of urban development on catchment water balance. It was shown that urbanisation of highly permeable flat catchments with shallow groundwater resulted in significant increase in net groundwater recharge. The increased recharge creates the opportunity to use local groundwater resources for non-potable water supply with the added advantage of reducing the total discharge from new urban developments. This minimises the environmental impacts of increased urbanisation, as higher discharge is often associated with greater nutrient loads to receiving environments. Through the used of water balance modelling it was demonstrated that there are both water and nutrient benefits from local groundwater use in terms of reduced nutrient exports to receiving waters and additional water resources for non-potable water supply.
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Tanzer, Julia, Ralf Hermann, and Ludwig Hermann. "Remediating Agricultural Legacy Nutrient Loads in the Baltic Sea Region." Sustainability 13, no. 7 (March 31, 2021): 3872. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13073872.
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The Baltic Sea is considered the marine water body most severely affected by eutrophication within Europe. Due to its limited water exchange nutrients have a particularly long residence time in the sea. While several studies have analysed the costs of reducing current nutrient emissions, the costs for remediating legacy nutrient loads of past emissions remain unknown. Although the Baltic Sea is a comparatively well-monitored region, current data and knowledge is insufficient to provide a sound quantification of legacy nutrient loads and much less their abatement costs. A first rough estimation of agricultural legacy nutrient loads yields an accumulation of 0.5–4.0 Mt N and 0.3–1.2 Mt P in the Baltic Sea and 0.4–0.5 Mt P in agricultural soils within the catchment. The costs for removing or immobilising this amount of nutrients via deep water oxygenation, mussel farming and soil gypsum amendment are in the range of few tens to over 100 billion €. These preliminary results are meant as a basis for future studies and show that while requiring serious commitment to funding and implementation, remediating agricultural legacy loads is not infeasible and may even provide economic benefits to local communities in the long run.
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Adams, R., P. F. Quinn, and M. J. Bowes. "The Catchment Runoff Attenuation Flux Tool, a minimum information requirement nutrient pollution model." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 19, no. 4 (April 9, 2015): 1641–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1641-2015.
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Abstract. A model for simulating runoff pathways and water quality fluxes has been developed using the minimum information requirement (MIR) approach. The model, the Catchment Runoff Attenuation Flux Tool (CRAFT), is applicable to mesoscale catchments and focusses primarily on hydrological pathways that mobilise nutrients. Hence CRAFT can be used to investigate the impact of flow pathway management intervention strategies designed to reduce the loads of nutrients into receiving watercourses. The model can help policy makers meet water quality targets and consider methods to obtain "good" ecological status. A case study of the 414 km2 Frome catchment, Dorset, UK, has been described here as an application of CRAFT in order to highlight the above issues at the mesoscale. The model was primarily calibrated on 10-year records of weekly data to reproduce the observed flows and nutrient (nitrate nitrogen – N; phosphorus – P) concentrations. Data from 2 years with sub-daily monitoring at the same site were also analysed. These data highlighted some additional signals in the nutrient flux, particularly of soluble reactive phosphorus, which were not observable in the weekly data. This analysis has prompted the choice of using a daily time step as the minimum information requirement to simulate the processes observed at the mesoscale, including the impact of uncertainty. A management intervention scenario was also run to demonstrate how the model can support catchment managers investigating how reducing the concentrations of N and P in the various flow pathways. This mesoscale modelling tool can help policy makers consider a range of strategies to meet the European Union (EU) water quality targets for this type of catchment.
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Zhu, Yafei, Andrew McCowan, and Perran L. M. Cook. "Effects of changes in nutrient loading and composition on hypoxia dynamics and internal nutrient cycling of a stratified coastal lagoon." Biogeosciences 14, no. 19 (October 6, 2017): 4423–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4423-2017.
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Abstract. The effects of changes in catchment nutrient loading and composition on the phytoplankton dynamics, development of hypoxia and internal nutrient dynamics in a stratified coastal lagoon system (the Gippsland Lakes) were investigated using a 3-D coupled hydrodynamic biogeochemical water quality model. The study showed that primary production was equally sensitive to changed dissolved inorganic and particulate organic nitrogen loads, highlighting the need for a better understanding of particulate organic matter bioavailability. Stratification and sediment carbon enrichment were the main drivers for the hypoxia and subsequent sediment phosphorus release in Lake King. High primary production stimulated by large nitrogen loading brought on by a winter flood contributed almost all the sediment carbon deposition (as opposed to catchment loads), which was ultimately responsible for summer bottom-water hypoxia. Interestingly, internal recycling of phosphorus was more sensitive to changed nitrogen loads than total phosphorus loads, highlighting the potential importance of nitrogen loads exerting a control over systems that become phosphorus limited (such as during summer nitrogen-fixing blooms of cyanobacteria). Therefore, the current study highlighted the need to reduce both total nitrogen and total phosphorus for water quality improvement in estuarine systems.
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Adams, R., P. F. Quinn, and M. J. Bowes. "Developing a nutrient pollution model to assist policy makers by using a meso-scale Minimum Information Requirement (MIR) approach." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 11, no. 9 (September 17, 2014): 10365–410. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-10365-2014.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. A model for simulating runoff pathways and water quality fluxes has been developed using the Minimum Information (MIR) approach. The model, the Catchment Runoff Attenuation Tool (CRAFT) is applicable to meso-scale catchments which focusses primarily on hydrological pathways that mobilise nutrients. Hence CRAFT can be used investigate the impact of management intervention strategies designed to reduce the loads of nutrients into receiving watercourses. The model can help policy makers, for example in Europe, meet water quality targets and consider methods to obtain "good" ecological status. A case study of the 414 km2 Frome catchment, Dorset UK, has been described here as an application of the CRAFT model. The model was primarily calibrated on ten years of weekly data to reproduce the observed flows and nutrient (nitrate nitrogen – N – and phosphorus – P) concentrations. Also data from two years of sub-daily high resolution monitoring at the same site were also analysed. These data highlighted some additional signals in the nutrient flux, particularly of soluble reactive phosphorus, which were not observable in the weekly data. This analysis has prompted the choice of using a daily timestep for this meso-scale modelling study as the minimum information requirement. A management intervention scenario was also run to show how the model can support catchment managers to investigate how reducing the concentrations of N and P in the various flow pathways. This scale appropriate modelling tool can help policy makers consider a range of strategies to to meet the European Union (EU) water quality targets for this type of catchment.
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Langusch, J. J., and E. Matzner. "Long-term modelling of nitrogen turnover and critical loads in a forested catchment using the INCA model." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 6, no. 3 (June 30, 2002): 395–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-6-395-2002.
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Abstract. Many forest ecosystems in Central Europe have reached the status of N saturation due to chronically high N deposition. In consequence, the NO3 leaching into ground- and surface waters is often substantial. Critical loads have been defined to abate the negative consequences of the NO3 leaching such as soil acidification and nutrient losses. The steady state mass balance method is normally used to calculate critical loads for N deposition in forest ecosystems. However, the steady state mass balance approach is limited because it does not take into account hydrology and the time until the steady state is reached. The aim of this study was to test the suitability of another approach: the dynamic model INCA (Integrated Nitrogen Model for European Catchments). Long-term effects of changing N deposition and critical loads for N were simulated using INCA for the Lehstenbach spruce catchment (Fichtelgebirge, NE Bavaria, Germany) under different hydrological conditions. Long-term scenarios of either increasing or decreasing N deposition indicated that, in this catchment, the response of nitrate concentrations in runoff to changing N deposition is buffered by a large groundwater reservoir. The critical load simulated by the INCA model with respect to a nitrate concentration of 0.4 mg N l–1 as threshold value in runoff was 9.7 kg N ha–1yr–1 compared to 10 kg ha–1yr–1 for the steady state model. Under conditions of lower precipitation (520 mm) the resulting critical load was 7.7 kg N ha–1yr–1 , suggesting the necessity to account for different hydrological conditions when calculating critical loads. The INCA model seems to be suitable to calculate critical loads for N in forested catchments under varying hydrological conditions e.g. as a consequence of climate change. Keywords: forest ecosystem, N saturation, critical load, modelling, long-term scenario, nitrate leaching, critical loads reduction, INCA
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O'Brien, Katherine R., Tony R. Weber, Catherine Leigh, and Michele A. Burford. "Sediment and nutrient budgets are inherently dynamic: evidence from a long-term study of two subtropical reservoirs." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 20, no. 12 (December 13, 2016): 4881–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4881-2016.
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Abstract. Accurate reservoir budgets are important for understanding regional fluxes of sediment and nutrients. Here we present a comprehensive budget of sediment (based on total suspended solids, TSS), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) for two subtropical reservoirs on rivers with highly intermittent flow regimes. The budget is completed from July 1997 to June 2011 on the Somerset and Wivenhoe reservoirs in southeast Queensland, Australia, using a combination of monitoring data and catchment model predictions. A major flood in January 2011 accounted for more than half of the water entering and leaving both reservoirs in that year, and approximately 30 % of water delivered to and released from Wivenhoe over the 14-year study period. The flood accounted for an even larger proportion of total TSS and nutrient loads: in Wivenhoe more than one-third of TSS inputs and two-thirds of TSS outputs between 1997 and 2011 occurred during January 2011. During non-flood years, mean historical concentrations provided reasonable estimates of TSS and nutrient loads leaving the reservoirs. Calculating loads from historical mean TSS and TP concentrations during January 2011, however, would have substantially underestimated outputs over the entire study period, by up to a factor of 10. The results have important implications for sediment and nutrient budgets in catchments with highly episodic flow. First, quantifying inputs and outputs during major floods is essential for producing reliable long-term budgets. Second, sediment and nutrient budgets are dynamic, not static. Characterizing uncertainty and variability is therefore just as important for meaningful reservoir budgets as accurate quantification of loads.
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Szatten, Dawid, and Michał Habel. "Effects of Land Cover Changes on Sediment and Nutrient Balance in the Catchment with Cascade-Dammed Waters." Remote Sensing 12, no. 20 (October 18, 2020): 3414. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/rs12203414.
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It is commonly believed that changes in the use of the catchment area have a direct impact on the quality of the water environment. Rivers with dams and reservoirs are characterized by a disturbed outflow of sediments and nutrients from the catchment area. The research was based on indicating the variation in time and space of loads of selected parameters of the water quality of the Brda River (Northern Poland) against the land cover changes based on the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data for the 1990–2018 period. In the lower part of the Brda catchment area, there are three hydropower dams with reservoirs in the form of a cascade, whose work clearly affects the hydrological regime of the river. The analysis of the dependence of the dynamics of water quality changes on the usage of CLC was based on indicators such as sediments (suspended sediment load) and nutrients (total phosphorus load and total nitrogen load). The use of hydrological data on the Brda discharge above and below the reservoirs made it possible to calculate sediment and nutrient trapping efficiency. Linking the CLC data with the indices responsible for the mechanical denudation of the catchment area made it possible to show the strength of changes taking place in the catchment area. The results of the research do not indicate any direct correlation between land cover changes and the dynamics of the denudation process and matter transport in the Brda catchment area. As our research shows, the strong influence on the hydrological regime of the catchment points out the necessity to search for still other research methods supporting the decision-making cycle in the field of water management in the face of climate change.
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Matej-Lukowicz, Karolina, Ewa Wojciechowska, Nicole Nawrot, and Lidia Anita Dzierzbicka-Głowacka. "Seasonal contributions of nutrients from small urban and agricultural watersheds in northern Poland." PeerJ 8 (February 6, 2020): e8381. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8381.
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Diffuse sources of pollution like agricultural or urban runoff are important factors in determining the quality of surface waters, although they are more difficult to monitor than point sources. The objective of our study was to verify assumptions that the inflow from agricultural nutrient sources is higher than from urbanized ones. It has been done by comparing the nutrients and organic matter concentrations and loads for three small streams in northern Poland (Pomerania Region). Two streams flowing through agricultural catchments and an urban stream flowing through the city of Gdansk were analysed. Concentrations of nutrients: N-NO${}_{3}^{-}$ N-NH${}_{4}^{+}$, P-PO${}_{4}^{3-}$, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and COD were measured 1–3 times per month in the period from July 2017 to December 2018 in agricultural watersheds and from October 2016 to March 2018 for an urban stream. Seasonal changes in concentrations were analysed with descriptive statistics tools. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to point out the most significant factors determining variations in nutrients and organic matter concentrations with respect to different seasons. The factors included a number of characteristics regarding the catchment and streams: total catchment area, stream length, watershed form ratio, stream slope, flow rate and land use with respect to paved areas, agricultural areas and green areas (parks, forests, meadows and pastures). Although concentrations of nitrogen compounds were higher in streams flowing through agricultural areas, our study showed that total concentrations of phosphorus were higher in the urban stream, especially in summer. In agricultural areas the summer concentrations of nutrients were not high, which was probably due to dense vegetation. The correlation between P-PO${}_{4}^{3-}$ concentration and size of agricultural area in the catchment was observed in winter when no vegetation field cover exists. Our study shows an urgent need to monitor the nutrient loads carried with urban streams especially if discharged into receivers prone to eutrophication.
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Magnuszewski, Artur, Edyta Kiedrzyńska, Marcin Kiedrzyński, and Sharon Moran. "Gis Approach to Estimation of the Total Phosphorous Transfer in the Pilica River Lowland Catchment." Quaestiones Geographicae 33, no. 3 (September 1, 2014): 101–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2014-0033.
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Abstract In this paper, the Pilica River catchment (central Poland) is analyzed with a focus on understanding the total phosphorous transfer along the river system which also contains the large artificial Sulejów Reservoir. The paper presents a GIS method for estimating the total phosphorous (TP) load from proxy data representing sub-catchment land use and census data. The modelled load of TP is compared to the actual transfer of TP in the Pilica River system. The results shows that the metrics of connectivity between river system and dwelling areas as well as settlement density in the sub-catchments are useful predictors of the total phosphorous load. The presence of a large reservoir in the middle course of the river can disrupt nutrient transport along a river continuum by trapping and retaining suspended sediment and its associated TP load. Analysis of the indirect estimation of TP loads with the GIS analysis can be useful for identifying beneficial reservoir locations in a catchment. The study has shown that the Sulejów Reservoir has been located in a subcatchment with a largest load of the TP, and this feature helps determine the problem of reservoir eutrphication
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Kubiak, Jacek, Sylwia Machula, Dorota Oszkinis, and Dominik Rokicki. "Anthropogenic pressure on the largest lakes of the River Tywa catchment." Limnological Review 17, no. 3 (September 1, 2017): 123–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/limre-2017-0012.
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Abstract The largest lakes of the River Tywa basin i.e. Strzeszowskie, Dołgie, Swobnica and Dłużec (north-west Poland, West Pomeranian Lakeland) were studied in the period 2008–2013, usually in a six week cycle. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of anthropogenic pressure on the lakes. Anthropogenic pressure was assessed against the natural vulnerability of lakes to degradation and the actual rate of eutrophication, with particular consideration of the catchment areas. Catchments of the studied lakes were classified as III class – catchment with moderate possibility of matter supply to lakes. Lakes Swobnica and Dłużec are characterised by low resistance to degradation. Lake Strzeszowskie is categorised as having moderate resistance and Lake Dołgie is non-resistant to degradation and highly susceptible to external pressure. The rate of eutrophication of lakes Strzeszowskie and Dłużec was found to be moderate, whereas lakes Dołgie and Swobnica show a high rate of eutrophication. The analysis of nutrient loading reaching the waters of the aforementioned lakes shows that the main area source is arable land, and the fundamental point source is the inflow of river waters to each of the analysed reservoirs. Nutrient loading supplied by the river is several times higher than area load. Such conditions require protective action to be taken within the catchment area and particularly, intensive implementation of good agricultural practice. In the studied lakes, there is a significant predominance of incoming nutrient loadings over dangerous and admissible loads.
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Caille, F., J. L. Riera, and A. Rosell-Melé. "Modelling nitrogen and phosphorus loads in a Mediterranean river catchment (La Tordera, NE Spain)." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 16, no. 8 (August 3, 2012): 2417–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2417-2012.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. Human activities have resulted in increased nutrient levels in many rivers all over Europe. Sustainable management of river basins demands an assessment of the causes and consequences of human alteration of nutrient flows, together with an evaluation of management options. In the context of an integrated and interdisciplinary environmental assessment (IEA) of nutrient flows, we present and discuss the application of the nutrient emission model MONERIS (MOdelling Nutrient Emissions into River Systems) to the Catalan river basin, La Tordera (north-east Spain), for the period 1996–2002. After a successful calibration and verification process (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies E=0.85 for phosphorus and E=0.86 for nitrogen), the application of the model MONERIS proved to be useful in estimating nutrient loads. Crucial for model calibration, in-stream retention was estimated to be about 50 % of nutrient emissions on an annual basis. Through this process, we identified the importance of point sources for phosphorus emissions (about 94% for 1996–2002), and diffuse sources, especially inputs via groundwater, for nitrogen emissions (about 31% for 1996–2002). Despite hurdles related to model structure, observed loads, and input data encountered during the modelling process, MONERIS provided a good representation of the major interannual and spatial patterns in nutrient emissions. An analysis of the model uncertainty and sensitivity to input data indicates that the model MONERIS, even in data-starved Mediterranean catchments, may be profitably used by water managers for evaluating quantitative nutrient emission scenarios for the purpose of managing river basins. As an example of scenario modelling, an analysis of the changes in nutrient emissions through two different future scenarios allowed the identification of a set of relevant measures to reduce nutrient loads.
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Kirkkala, Teija, Anne-Mari Ventelä, and Marjo Tarvainen. "Fosfilt filters in an agricultural catchment: a long-term field-scale." Agricultural and Food Science 21, no. 3 (September 28, 2012): 237–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.23986/afsci.6830.
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Diffuse load mitigation is a prevailing global challenge due to the eutrophication of water bodies. We report here long-term nutrient removal performance of two on-site sand filters (F1 and F2) in southwestern Finland, established in the 1990s. The sand filters were enhanced with a layer of phosphorus binding material Fosfilt-s, a side product of titanium dioxide production. The monitoring periods were 4.5 and 3.5years for F1 and F2, respectively. F1 only worked for some months due to blockage of the crushed stone layer. After renovation (1999), the filter worked for a year but then the Fosfilt-s layer clogged and the filter increased suspended solids (SS) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) loads by 36% and 19% on average, respectively. Total P (PTOT) load was not affected. The structure and performance of F2 were more successful due to a better water distribution system. On average, 61% ofthe inflowing suspended solids, 37% of the PTOT and 45% of the DRP were removed during the monitoring period. We conclude that these filter types have the potential to be further developed into useful tools for nutrient load reduction. Development work should be focused on the treatment of subsurface drainage waters with high concentrations of dissolved nutrients, in particular. Long term field data is needed, because laboratory tests cannot fully simulate natural circumstances.
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Earl, Timothy J., Graham J. G. Upton, and David B. Nedwell. "UK catchment nutrient loads 1993–2003, a new approach using harmonised monitoring scheme data: temporal changes, geographical distribution, limiting nutrients and loads to coastal waters." Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts 16, no. 7 (2014): 1646–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4em00021h.
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The work provides robust estimates of nutrient loads (nitrate and phosphate) from all UK catchments: as required by the Water Framework Directive to monitor catchments' health, and to inform management of these environments.
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Shimizu, Y., S. I. Onodera, G. Jin, and M. Saito. "Estimation of long-term nutrient loadings into a hyper eutrophic artificial lake in a lowland catchment, western Japan." Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences 368 (May 7, 2015): 337–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/piahs-368-337-2015.
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Abstract. Lake Kojima, an artificial lake located in the coastal area of western Japan, is categorized as a hyper eutrophic lake due to the nutrient inputs from the Sasagase River, Kurashiki River and Kamo River. The input nutrient loads from the rivers have never been assessed because there are no observation stations for runoff rate. The objective of this study is to confirm the total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) loads into Lake Kojima using the SWAT model for 60 years and considering changes in land use and the amount of domestic wastewater in the watersheds. Estimation results show that more than 90% of the total nutrient load comes from the Sasagase and Kurashiki rivers. The estimated T-N and T-P loads indicated two different trends in the rivers; an increasing trend is found during the period from 1950 to 1980, while a decreasing trend is found during the period from 1980 to 2009. It was suggested that the increasing trend was commonly caused by the combined effects of increase of the amount of domestic wastewater and agricultural wastewater in the watersheds, while the decreasing trend was caused by the expansion of domestic wastewater treatment and decrease of agricultural land use. The contribution ratio of domestic wastewater to the total amount of nutrient load was estimated to be 60% in Sasagase River and 15% in Kurashiki River because the treatment ratio of domestic wastewater in Kurashiki River was higher than in Sasagase River.
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Waltham, Nathan J., Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, Damian McCann, and Bradley D. Eyre. "Water and sediment quality, nutrient biochemistry and pollution loads in an urban freshwater lake: balancing human and ecological services." Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts 16, no. 12 (2014): 2804–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4em00243a.
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Bouraoui, F., L. Galbiati, and G. Bidoglio. "Climate change impacts on nutrient loads in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment (UK)." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 6, no. 2 (April 30, 2002): 197–209. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-6-197-2002.
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Abstract. This study assessed the impact of potential climate change on the nutrient loads to surface and sub-surface waters from agricultural areas and was conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The study focused on a 3500 km2 catchment located in northern England, the Yorkshire Ouse. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using sets of five years' measurements of nitrate and ortho-phosphorus concentrations and water flow. To increase the reliability of the hydrological model predictions, an uncertainty analysis was conducted by perturbing input parameters using a Monte-Carlo technique. The SWAT model was then run using a baseline scenario corresponding to an actual measured time series of daily temperature and precipitation, and six climate change scenarios. Because of the increase in temperature, all climate scenarios introduced an increase of actual evapotranspiration. Faster crop growth and an increased nutrient uptake resulted, as did an increase of annual losses of total nitrogen and phosphorus, however, with strong seasonal differences. Keywords: SWAT model, climate change, nutrient loads
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Ramos, Tiago, Hanaa Darouich, Maria Gonçalves, David Brito, Maria Castelo Branco, José Martins, Manuel Fernandes, Fernando Pires, Manuela Morais, and Ramiro Neves. "An Integrated Analysis of the Eutrophication Process in the Enxoé Reservoir within the DPSIR Framework." Water 10, no. 11 (November 4, 2018): 1576. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w10111576.
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The Enxoé reservoir in southern Portugal has been exhibiting the highest trophic state in the country since its early years of operation. The problem has attracted water managers’ and researchers’ attention as the reservoir is the water supply for two municipalities. Extensive research was thus conducted over the last few years, including field monitoring and modelling at the plot, catchment, and reservoir scales. This study now frames all partial findings within the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to better understand the eutrophication process in the Enxoé reservoir. Agriculture and grazing were found to have a reduced role in the eutrophication of the reservoir, with annual sediment and nutrient loads being comparably smaller or similar to those reported for other Mediterranean catchments. Flash floods were the main mechanism for transporting particle elements to the reservoir, being in some cases able to carry up three times the average annual load. However, the main eutrophication mechanisms in the reservoir were P release from deposited sediment under anoxic conditions and the process of internal recycling of organic matter and nutrients. Reducing the P load from the catchment and deposited sediment could lead to a mesotrophic state level in the reservoir. However, this level would only be sustainable by limiting the P internal load ability to reach the photic zone.
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Nguyen, Hong, Friedrich Recknagel, and Wayne Meyer. "Water Quality Control Options in Response to Catchment Urbanization: A Scenario Analysis by SWAT." Water 10, no. 12 (December 13, 2018): 1846. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w10121846.
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Urbanization poses a challenge to sustainable catchment management worldwide. This study compares streamflows and nutrient loads in the urbanized Torrens catchment in South Australia at present and future urbanization levels, and addresses possible mitigation of urbanization effects by means of the control measures: river bank stabilization, buffer strip expansion, and wetland construction. A scenario analysis by means of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) based on the anticipated urban population density growth in the Torrens catchment over the next 30 years predicted a remarkable increase of streamflow and Total Phosphorous loads but decreased Total Nitrogen loads. In contrast, minor changes of model outputs were predicted under the present urbanization scenario, i.e. urban area expansion on the grassland. Scenarios of three feasible control measures demonstrated best results for expanding buffer zone to sustain stream water quality. The construction of wetlands along the Torrens River resulted in the reduction of catchment runoff, but only slight decreases in TN and TP loads. Overall, the results of this study suggested that combining the three best management practices by the adaptive development of buffer zones, wetlands and stabilized river banks might help to control efficiently the increased run-off and TP loads by the projected urbanization of the River Torrens catchment.
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Durdu, Ö. F., and V. Cvetkovic. "Modeling water and nutrients fluxes in the Büyük Menderes drainage basin, Turkey." Water Science and Technology 59, no. 3 (February 1, 2009): 531–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.013.
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Büyük Menderes catchment, located in the southwestern part of Turkey, is one of the most populated river basins in Turkey with 2.5 millions inhabitants. Due to increasing activities in agriculture and industrial sectors, water resources management in the basin is one of the biggest matters for the future. During the past decade, it has been observed a basinwide shift to larger monocultural, intensively operated farm units. Therefore, there is land use conversion from native lands to agriculture. The threat of nutrients pollution, nitrogen and phosphorus, has become a preoccupation since many lands and rivers undergo a eutrophication process. The discharge of nutrients from Büyük Menderes basin to the Aegean Sea through Büyük Menderes river also needs to be reduced in order to bring the eutrophication problems under lasting control. In this paper, the PolFlow model embedded in PCraster is applied to the catchment for quantifying water and substances fluxes for the five-year period, 1999–2004. The implementation of the model in the catchment allows describing the water balance and thus nutrient transport on the landscape surface but also through the soil and aquifer's layers. Modeling process is complicated by the transfer of nutrients from diffuse and point-source emissions, managed by retention and periodic release from storages within the catchment. Modeling diffuse and point-source nutrient emissions contribution to river loads can be improved by better knowledge about spatial and temporal distribution of this retention and release in the basin.
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McCormack, T., O. Naughton, P. M. Johnston, and L. W. Gill. "Quantifying the nutrient flux within a lowland karstic catchment." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 12, no. 1 (January 7, 2015): 93–134. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-93-2015.
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Abstract. Nutrient contamination of surface and groundwaters is an issue of growing importance as the risks associated with agricultural runoff escalate due to increasing demands on global food production. In this study, the nutrient flux occurring within the surface and groundwaters of a lowland karst catchment in western Ireland was investigated with the aid of alkalinity sampling and a hydrological model. Water samples were collected and tested from a variety of rivers, lakes (or turloughs), boreholes and springs at monthly intervals over a three year period. Alkalinity sampling was used to elucidate the contrasting hydrological functioning between different turloughs. Such disparate hydrological functioning was further investigated with the aid of a hydrological model which allowed for an estimate of allogenic and autogenic derived nutrient loading into the karst system. The model also allowed for an investigation of mixing within the turloughs, comparing observed behaviours with the hypothetical conservative behaviour allowed for by the model. Results indicated that at the system outlet to the sea, autogenic recharge had added approximately 35% to the total flow and approximately 85% to the total N-load. Within some turloughs, nutrient loads were found to reduce over the flooded period, even though the turloughs hydrological functioning (and the hydrological model) suggested this should not occur. As such, it was determined that nutrient loss processes were occurring within the system. Denitrification was deemed to be the main process reducing nitrogen concentrations within the turloughs whereas phosphorus loss is thought to occur mostly within the diffuse/epikarst zone.
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Marcinkowski, Paweł, Mikołaj Piniewski, Ignacy Kardel, Marek Giełczewski, and Tomasz Okruszko. "Modelling of discharge, nitrate and phosphate loads from the Reda catchment to the Puck Lagoon using SWAT." Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW. Land Reclamation 45, no. 2 (December 1, 2013): 125–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/sggw-2013-0011.
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AbstractModelling of discharge, nitrate and phosphate loads from the Reda catchment to the Puck Lagoon using SWAT. This study presents an application of the SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) in an agricultural, coastal catchment situated in northern Poland, draining an area of 482 km2 (the Reda catchment). The main objective of this study was calibration and validation of the model against daily discharge and water quality parameters (bi-monthly total suspended solids [TSS], nitrate nitrogen [N-NO3] and phosphate phosphorus [P-PO4] loads). Calibration and validation were conducted using the SWAT-CUP program and SUFI-2 (Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Version 2) algorithm. The Nash- -Sutcliffe efficiency, which was set as an objective function in calibration of all variables, was equal for discharge to 0.75 and 0.61 for calibration and validation periods, respectively. For TSS, N-NO3 and P-PO4 loads NSE was equal to 0.56, 0.62 and 0.53 in calibration period, and 0.22, 0.64 and -1.78 in validation period, respectively. For the calibration period all the results are satisfactory or good, while for the validation period the results for TSS and P-PO4 loads are rather poor, which is related mainly to the lack of homogeneity between calibration and validation periods. These results demonstrate that SWAT is an appropriate tool for quantification of nutrient loads in Polish agricultural catchments, in particular for N-NO3. The model can therefore be applied for water resources management, for quantification of scenarios of climate and land use change, and for estimation of the Best Management Practices efficiency
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Pugliese, Lorenzo, Henrik Skovgaard, Lipe R. D. Mendes, and Bo V. Iversen. "Treatment of Agricultural Drainage Water by Surface-Flow Wetlands Paired with Woodchip Bioreactors." Water 12, no. 7 (July 2, 2020): 1891. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12071891.
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Nutrient losses from agricultural fields have long been a matter of concern worldwide due to the ecological disturbance this can cause to surface waters downstream. In this paper a new design concept, which pairs a surface-flow constructed wetland (SFW) with a woodchip bioreactor (WB), was tested in relation to its capacity to reduce both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loads from agricultural tile drainage water. A nutrient mass balance and a comparative analysis were carried out together with statistical regressions in order to evaluate the performance of four SFW+WBs under different catchment conditions. We found marked variations between the systems in regard to hydraulic loading rate (0.0 to 5.0 m/day) and hydraulic retention time (1 to 87 days). The paired system worked as nutrient sinks throughout the study period. Total N and total P removal efficiencies varied from 8% to 51% and from 0% to 80%, respectively. The results support the use of the new design concept for nutrient removal from tile-drained agricultural catchments in Denmark as part of national management plans, with the added advantage that smaller areas are needed for construction (0.1% to 0.2% of the catchment area) in comparison to standalone and currently used SCWs (~1%).
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Feikema, Paul M., Gary J. Sheridan, Robert M. Argent, Patrick N. J. Lane, and Rodger B. Grayson. "Estimating catchment-scale impacts of wildfire on sediment and nutrient loads using the E2 catchment modelling framework." Environmental Modelling & Software 26, no. 7 (July 2011): 913–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2011.02.002.
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Aaltonen, Heidi, Tapio Tuukkanen, Marjo Palviainen, Annamari (Ari) Laurén, Sirkka Tattari, Sirpa Piirainen, Tuija Mattsson, Anne Ojala, Samuli Launiainen, and Leena Finér. "Controls of Organic Carbon and Nutrient Export from Unmanaged and Managed Boreal Forested Catchments." Water 13, no. 17 (August 28, 2021): 2363. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13172363.
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Understanding the anthropogenic and natural factors that affect runoff water quality is essential for proper planning of water protection and forest management, particularly in the changing climate. We measured water quality and runoff from 10 unmanaged and 20 managed forested headwater catchments (7–12,149 ha) located in Finland. We used linear mixed effect models to test whether the differences in total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) export and concentrations observed can be explained by catchment characteristics, land use, forest management, soil fertility, tree volume and hydrometeorological variables. Results show that much of variation in TOC, TN and TP concentrations and export was explained by drainage, temperature sum, peatland percentage and the proportion of arable area in the catchment. These models explained 45–63% of variation in concentrations and exports. Mean annual TOC export in unmanaged catchments was 56.4 ± 9.6 kg ha−1 a−1, while in managed it was 79.3 ± 3.3 kg ha−1 a−1. Same values for TN export were 1.43 ± 0.2 kg ha−1 a−1 and 2.31 ± 0.2 kg ha−1 a−1, while TP export was 0.053 ± 0.009 kg ha−1 a−1 and 0.095 ± 0.008 kg ha−1 a−1 for unmanaged and managed, respectively. Corresponding values for concentrations were: TOC 17.7 ± 2.1 mg L−1 and 28.7 ± 1.6 mg L−1, for TN 420 ± 45 µg L−1 and 825 ± 51 µg L−1 and TP 15.3 ± 2.3 µg L−1 and 35.6 ± 3.3 µg L−1. Overall concentrations and exports were significantly higher in managed than in unmanaged catchments. Long term temperature sum had an increasing effect on all concentrations and exports, indicating that climate warming may set new challenges to controlling nutrient loads from catchment areas.