Assessment of intensive agriculture on water quality in the Culiacan River basin, Sinaloa, Mexico

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 27; no. 23; pp. 28636 - 28648
• Main Authors: Mendivil-Garcia, Kimberly, Amabilis-Sosa, Leonel Ernesto, Rodríguez-Mata, Abraham Efraim, Rangel-Peraza, Jesús Gabriel, Gonzalez-Huitron, Victor, Cedillo-Herrera, Cinthia Isabel Guadalupe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Advances in Environmental Biotechnology and Engineering 2018; Agricultural land; Agricultural practices; Agriculture; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cartography; Dry season; Earth and Environmental Science; Economic conditions; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental management; Environmental science; Fertilizers; Intensive farming; Land cover; Mathematical analysis; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrient sources; Organophosphates; Pesticides; Phosphorus; Point source pollution; Pollution sources; Rainy season; River basins; Rivers; Runoff; Soil erosion; Soil water; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Water quality; Mexico; Cropland; Land use; Water quality; Watershed; Eutrophication
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08653-z

The percentage of agricultural land cover effect on water quality in Culiacan River basin is studied in this research. The basin contains only intensive cropland as primary economic activity with 60% of the total area. Mathematical relationships between percentages of cropland and total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were established. Sampling sites in middle and lower basin and water quality information during 2013–2018 were considered, and percentages of cropland were obtained by geospatial methods including variable area buffers. During rainy season, coefficients of determination were less than 0.2, although quantified nutrient concentration was higher, related to point sources of pollution in the basin. During dry season, coefficients of determination were higher than 0.76 and 0.90 for TN and TP, respectively, with an exponential mathematical trend. Results suggest that intensive agriculture practices generate accelerated loss of soil consolidation, which is transported to water bodies. These soils are in continuous contact with fertilizers and pesticides, mostly organophosphates which have been transported by runoff and underground flows. Using the information generated will help to establish environmental management plans, and to improve environmental diagnosis and effect in countries where there is not enough historical cartographic information and/or water quality data.