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Assessment of water quality and evaluation of best management practices in a small agricultural watershed adjacent to Coral Reef area in Japan

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  • Sith, Ratino
  • Watanabe, Atsushi
  • Nakamura, Takashi
  • Yamamoto, Takahiro
  • Nadaoka, Kazuo

Abstract

The predominantly agricultural coastal watershed located in tropical–subtropical Island has served as a pathway for nonpoint source (NPS) pollution loading into the downstream coastal ecosystems. The present study aims to assess watershed hydrology and water quality by applying a watershed model to long–term high–resolution monitoring data, and to evaluate the reduction of nonpoint–source pollution by implementing best management practices (BMPs) in a small agricultural watershed located in southwestern Japan. The Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT) was coupled to a groundwater model (MODFLOW) and applied to simulate stream flow, sediment, and nutrients discharges. The results revealed that the model successfully predicted hourly stream flow, sediment, and nutrients concentrations in the study watershed and that the model could be further used to evaluate BMP scenarios. This is the first attempt to quantify the impacts of multiple agricultural mitigation measures on long-term water quality for sediment, nitrate, and phosphate at an hourly resolution. From the model results, the land cover conversion and mulching scenarios achieved a significant reduction in sediment, followed by the cover crop, alternative tillage, and filter strip scenarios. Moreover, conversion of all summer sugarcane to pasture farmland and fertilizer control scenarios gave the superior reduction in nitrate load, while other scenarios were minimally effective. On the other hand, most of the scenarios significantly achieved the reduction of phosphate load. The results further indicated that the BMPs recommended in this study are appropriately combined scenarios, which achieved the significant reduction in all NPS loads. Although this study revealed some effective mitigation measures to improve the water quality in the study watershed, actual implementation of correct ones may be practically challenging unless other environmental and economic risks (e.g. the increase of other pollutants and reduction in agricultural productivity) are also taken into considerations.

Suggested Citation

  • Sith, Ratino & Watanabe, Atsushi & Nakamura, Takashi & Yamamoto, Takahiro & Nadaoka, Kazuo, 2019. "Assessment of water quality and evaluation of best management practices in a small agricultural watershed adjacent to Coral Reef area in Japan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 659-673.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:213:y:2019:i:c:p:659-673
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2018.11.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jang, Sun Sook & Ahn, So Ra & Kim, Seong Joon, 2017. "Evaluation of executable best management practices in Haean highland agricultural catchment of South Korea using SWAT," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 180(PB), pages 224-234.
    2. Gassman, Philip W. & Reyes, Manuel R. & Green, Colleen H. & Arnold, Jeffrey G., 2007. "The Soil and Water Assessment Tool: Historical Development, Applications, and Future Research Directions," ISU General Staff Papers 200701010800001027, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    3. Her, Younggu & Chaubey, Indrajeet & Frankenberger, Jane & Jeong, Jaehak, 2017. "Implications of spatial and temporal variations in effects of conservation practices on water management strategies," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 180(PB), pages 252-266.
    4. Maharjan, Ganga Ram & Ruidisch, Marianne & Shope, Christopher L. & Choi, Kwanghun & Huwe, Bernd & Kim, Seong Joon & Tenhunen, John & Arnhold, Sebastian, 2016. "Assessing the effectiveness of split fertilization and cover crop cultivation in order to conserve soil and water resources and improve crop productivity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 305-318.
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    2. Puertes, Cristina & Bautista, Inmaculada & Lidón, Antonio & Francés, Félix, 2021. "Best management practices scenario analysis to reduce agricultural nitrogen loads and sediment yield to the semiarid Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Spain)," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    3. Momm, Henrique G. & Bingner, Ronald L. & Moore, Katy & Herring, Glenn, 2022. "Integrated surface and groundwater modeling to enhance water resource sustainability in agricultural watersheds," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Shreeya Bhattarai & Prem B. Parajuli, 2023. "Best Management Practices Affect Water Quality in Coastal Watersheds," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, February.

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