Practical estimation and distribution of diffuse pollutants arising from a watershed in Turkey

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 221 - 230
• Main Authors: Tanik, A, Ozalp, D, Seker, D.Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS) 01-03-2013; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural activities; Agriculture; Aquatic Pollution; Diffuse loads; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Land-use distribution; Livestock; Nitrogen; Nitrogen and phosphorous; Original Paper; Phosphorus; Pollutants; Population; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Watersheds; Turkey; MED, Turkey; Land-use distribution; Nitrogen and phosphorous; Population; Agricultural activities; Diffuse loads
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-012-0140-9

This study presents the diffuse pollution profile of a coastal
watershed with respect to the dominating sector of agriculture
including forestry. A rough estimation of the diffuse loads expressed
by two major nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorous is realized by
calculations based on unit loads obtained from literature for each
land-use activity. The key concern is to rank the different diffuse
loads arising from the watershed. The major diffuse nitrogen loads are
estimated to arise from agricultural activities with 54%, followed by
livestock breeding that contribute to the nitrogen budget by 11%.
Almost 7% of the nitrogen loads come from meadows and pasture, and 5%
from forests. In the distribution of diffuse phosphorus loads, it is
estimated that 48% of the loads arise from agricultural activities, and
18% from livestock breeding. Almost 14% of the phosphorous loads come
from septic tank effluents; however, 13% of the loads are due to rural
run-off. The future loads for years 2028 and 2039 are also estimated;
30-40% decrease is foreseen in the agricultural pollutants and animal
manure through the stepwise application of ecological agriculture and
livestock breeding. The basic aim of this study is to put forth a
practical methodology for estimating diffuse loads in a watershed for
the decision-makers and local administrative authorities with limited
available data especially. Through such, distribution of various
diffuse loads becomes available among the administrative units
composing the watershed.