Exploring the effects of urban and agricultural land use on surface water chemistry,across a regional watershed,using multivariate statistics

In this paper, the influence of anthropogenic activity on surface water chemistry is investigated. Base flow samples from dominant land use streams in the Muskegon River Watershed, Michigan, USA, were analyzed for nutrients, major ions, and trace elements. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to investigate the processes controlling the effects of land use on the biogeochemistry of streams in this Watershed. Biogeochemical fingerprints of land use were developed based on the results of the cluster analysis. Spider diagrams which referenced the natural environment aided the identification of the individual contributions of urban and agricultural land uses to surface water chemistry. The biogeochemical fingerprints quantified support previous findings (Urb: Na, K, Cl/Ag: Ca, Mg) and produced new insights into the effects of land use on the behavior of nutrients (Ag: N and Urb: N, P) and trace elements (Urb: V, Cr, Co, Cu, Se, Rb, Mo, Sr, Cd, Pb and Ba/Ag: U and As). The higher correlations of urban than agricultural land uses with nutrients, specifically P, were not expected and may reflect the effects of fertilization and wastewater or the season the samples were taken. More study in different geologic and urban settings is needed to help refine these fingerprints, but it is becoming apparent that despite obscuring factors, land use produces consistent, quantifiable associations between biogeochemical analytes.     

Transport and fate of chloride from road salt within a mixed urban and agricultural watershed in Illinois (USA): assessing the influence of chloride application rates

In a typical winter season, approximately 471,000 tons of road salt are deposited along roadways in Illinois, USA. An estimated 45% of the deposited road salt will infiltrate through the soils and into shallow aquifers. Transported through shallow aquifers, chloride associated with the road salts has the potential to reside within groundwater for years based on the pathway, the geologic material, and the recharge rate of the aquifer system. Utilizing MODFLOW and MT3D, simulations employing various road-salt application rates were conducted to assess the net accumulation of chloride and the residence times of chloride in an agriculture-dominated watershed that originates in an urban area. A positive-linear relationship was observed between the application rate of chloride and both the maximum chloride concentration and total mass accumulated within the watershed. Simulated annual recharge rates along impacted surfaces ranged from 1,000 to 10,000 mg/L. After 60 years of application, simulated chloride concentrations in groundwater ranged from 197 to 1,900 mg/L. For all application rates, chloride concentrations within the groundwater rose at an annual rate of >3 mg/L. While concentrations increase throughout the system, the majority of chloride accumulation occurs near the roads and the urban areas. Model simulations reveal a positive relationship between application rate and residence time of chloride (1,123–1,288 days based on application rate). The models indicate that continued accumulation of chloride in shallow aquifers can be expected, and methods that apply less chloride effectively need to be examined.

     

Aspects of agricultural land use in Ireland

Ireland's soil regions consist largely of Luvisols, Cambisols, and Gleysols. Approximately 60% of Ireland's land area is subject to varying degrees of soil limitations. Twenty-five percent of the land area comprises wet lowland mineral soils. Ninety percent of Ireland's agricultural area comprises pasture, hay, and silage. Approximately 30% of the agricultural area is devoted to dairying, and 55% to cattle production. is devoted to dairying, and 55% to cattle production. Trends in agricultural land use indicate that tillage declined substantially while livestock showed a substantial increase particularly in the decade 1965–1975. Research concludes that over 2.8 million ha has a capacity to carry at least 100 LU/40 ha (100 acres). Levels of fertilizer use in Ireland are below EEC levels. The highest fertilizer use levels are associated with the eastern and southern areas of Ireland. Tillage crops occupy only 10% of the agricultural area, while they account for 26% of tertilizer and lime use.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in urban soils representing different land use categories in Shanghai

An extensive soil survey was carried out in Shanghai to investigate the spatial distribution and possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils. Soil samples were collected from highways, iron-smelting plants, steel-smelting plants, shipbuilding yards, coking plants, power plants, chemical plants, urban parks, university campuses and residential areas and were analyzed for 16 PAHs by gas chromatography with mass detection. High PAH concentrations were found in all locations investigated, with mean values of soil total PAH concentrations in the range 3,279–38,868 μg/kg DM, and the PAH concentrations were significantly influenced by soil organic matter content. Soil PAH profiles in all districts were dominated by PAHs with 4–6 rings. Principal components analysis and diagnostic ratios of PAHs indicate that they were mainly derived from coal combustion and petroleum but in soils from highways the PAHs were derived largely from vehicle exhaust emissions. The high concentrations of PAHs found indicate that many urban soils in Shanghai represent a potential hazard to public health.     

Land use land cover dynamics as a function of changing demography and hydrology

This paper describes the spatiotemporal changes pertaining to land use land cover (LULC) and the driving forces behind these changes in Doodhganga watershed of Jhelum Basin. An integrated approach utilizing remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) was used to extract information pertaining to LULC change. Multi-date LULC maps were generated by analyzing remotely sensed images of three dates which include LandSat TM 1992, LandSat ETM+ 2001 and IRS LISS-III 2005. The LULC information was extracted by adopting on-screen image interpretation technique in a GIS environment at 1:25,000 scale. Based on the analysis, changes were observed in the spatial extent of different LULC types over a period of 13 years. Significant changes were observed in the spatial extent of forest, horticulture, built-up and agriculture. Forest cover in the watershed has decreased by 1.47 %, Agricultural by 0.93 % while as built-up area has increased by 0.92 %. The net decrease in forest cover and agriculture land indicate the anthropogenic interference into surrounding natural ecosystems. From the study it was found that the major driving forces for these changes were population growth and changes in the stream discharge. The changes in the stream discharge were found responsible for the conversion of agricultural land into horticulture, as horticulture has increased by 1.14 % in spatial extent. It has been found that increasing human population together with decreasing stream discharge account for LULC changes in the watershed. Therefore, the existing policy framework needs to focus upon mitigating the impacts of forces responsible for LULC change so as to ensure sustainable development of land resources.     

Perspective of urban land use in Beijing

This paper illustrates the features of urban land use in Beijing and approaches the factors particularly influencing the urban internal structure model. The brief review of the development process proves that the historical background and human decisions determined the basic framework of the structure. The spatial structure of land use shows that Beijing still keeps the characteristics of an industrialized city due to the importance of industry. Another particular feature was the absence of a central business district in Beijing, although in socialist system urban spatial structure also displays zonal, sectoral and star forms. The particular form in Beijing is the separated integrated district as the basic subdistrict. Finally the urban problems are discussed and suggestions made.     

Urban land use transformation and determinants of urban land use size in China

Astract Recent economic reforms and shifts in land use planning in China have greatly changed the size and structure of urban land use. In this paper, an overview of the problems in urban land use and the impacts of economic reforms and planning policies on rapid urban land expansion and structural transformation is outlined. This is followed by statistical analyses to reveal determinants of urban land size. The study shows that urban land use in China has been improved, and urban land use size is related to urban reforms, urban land use adjustment, as well as to population growth and economic development.     

Spatial and temporal variability of trace element concentrations in an urban subtropical watershed,Honolulu, Hawaii

Trace metal concentrations in soils and in stream and estuarine sediments from a subtropical urban watershed in Hawaii are presented. The results are placed in the context of historical studies of environmental quality (water, soils, and sediment) in Hawaii to elucidate sources of trace elements and the processes responsible for their distribution. This work builds on earlier studies on sediments of Ala Wai Canal of urban Honolulu by examining spatial and temporal variations in the trace elements throughout the watershed. Natural processes and anthropogenic activity in urban Honolulu contribute to spatial and temporal variations of trace element concentrations throughout the watershed. Enrichment of trace elements in watershed soils result, in some cases, from contributions attributed to the weathering of volcanic rocks, as well as to a more variable anthropogenic input that reflects changes in land use in Honolulu. Varying concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in sediments reflect about 60 a of anthropogenic activity in Honolulu. Land use has a strong impact on the spatial distribution and abundance of selected trace elements in soils and stream sediments. As noted in continental US settings, the phasing out of Pb-alkyl fuel additives has decreased Pb inputs to recently deposited estuarine sediments. Yet, a substantial historical anthropogenic Pb inventory remains in soils of the watershed and erosion of surface soils continues to contribute to its enrichment in estuarine sediments. Concentrations of other elements (e.g., Cu, Zn, Cd), however, have not decreased with time, suggesting continued active inputs. Concentrations of Ba, Co, Cr, Ni, V and U, although elevated in some cases, typically reflect greater proportions attributed to natural sources rather than anthropogenic input.     

Impact of land use types on the concentrations of metals in soils of urban environment in Nigeria

The concentrations of metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) were determined in soils under different land use types in an urban environment in order to study the impact of land uses on the concentrations of metals in the soils. The mean concentration range of metals for all land use types were 42.1 to 410, 11.2 to 118.2, 4388.2 to 31891.1, 9.7 to 65.4, 0.1 to 1.8, 4.7 to 35.2, 2.0 to 16.8 and 77.9 to 881.7 mg/kg, for Mn, Pb, Fe, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn, respectively. The computed multiple pollution index (MPI) indicated that 67 % of the examined sites had MPI values between 1 and 20 i.e. at the pollution range, while 33 % of sites had MPI values of zero which indicated that these sites were not polluted with the studied metals. Zinc had the highest impact on the multiple pollution index values. Three main principal components were identified from the principal component analysis which include (i) Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Ni originating from both industrial and agricultural sources, and as well as automobile exhausts; (ii) Fe and Mn which originated from both natural and anthropogenic sources; (iii) Cd which its anthropogenic origin is different from components I and II. This study provided information on the sources of metals in the urban environment and extent of contamination associated with each land use, which are useful in the ranking of contaminated sites, environmental quality management, environmental forensic studies and guidance for remediation/redevelopment of contaminated land.     

Impact of land use change on groundwater quality in a typical karst watershed of southwest China: a case study of the Xiaojiang watershed,Yunnan Province

The impact of land-use change on the quality of groundwater in the Xiaotjiang watershed, China was assessed for the period 1982–2004. Groundwater samples were collected from 30 monitoring points across the watershed, and were representative of the various changes, determined by remote sensing and geographical information systems. The results indicate that 610 km² (60% of the total watershed area) were subject to land-use change during the period. The most important changes were the conversion of 135 km² of forested land to cultivated land, and 211 km² of unused land to cultivated land. The main impact was ascribed to diffuse pollution from fertilizers applied to newly cultivated land, and from building development. Overall the groundwater pH value was significantly increased, as were the concentrations of ions , , , , and Cl⁻ in groundwater whilst the concentrations of Ca²⁺ and declined. More precisely, in the regions where forested land and unused land were converted into cultivated land, the pH value and the concentrations of Mg²⁺, , , , , Cl⁻ increased whilst the concentrations of Ca²⁺ and declined. However in the region where cultivated land was converted into construction land, the pH value and the concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, , , , , , Cl⁻ increased.

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Résumé  L’impact des changements de l’utilisation du territoire sur la qualité de l’eau souterraine dans le bassin versant de Xiaojiang, en Chine, a été évalué de 1982 à 2004. Des échantillons d’eau souterraine ont été récoltés à partir de 30 points d’observation éparpillés sur le bassin, représentant les divers changements déterminés par télédétection et système d’information géographique. Les résultats indiquent que 610 km² (soit 60% de la surface du bassin) ont été sujets à des modifications de l’utilisation du territoire sur cette période. Les changements les plus importants furent la conversion de 135 km² de forêt et 211 km² de terres inutilisées en terres cultivées. Le principal impact est attribué à la pollution diffuse des engrais utilisés en agriculture et pour les batiments. De manière générale le pH de l’eau souterraine a augmenté significativement, ainsi que les concentrations des ions , , , , et Cl⁻, tandis que les concentration en Ca²⁺ et ont diminué. Plus précisément dans les régions transformées en terres cultivées, la valeur du pH et les concentrations en Mg²⁺, , , , , Cl⁻ ont augmenté tandis que les concentrations en Ca²⁺ et ont diminué. Toutefois dans les régions cultivées converties en zones de construction, le pH et les concentrations en Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, , , , , , Cl⁻ ont augmenté.

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Resumen  El impacto del cambio en uso de la tierra en la calidad del agua en la cuenca Xiaojiang, China fue evaluado para el periodo 1982–2004. Muestras de agua subterránea fueron tomadas de 30 puntos de monitoreo a través de la cuenca, y fueron representativas de los múltiples cambios, determinados por sensores remotos y sistemas de información geográfica. Los resultados indican que 610 km² (60% del área total de la cuenca) estaban sujetos a cambios de uso de la tierra durante el periodo estudiado. Los cambios más importantes fueron la conversión de 135 km² de bosques a tierra cultivada, y 211 km² de tierra sin uso (ociosa) a tierra cultivada. El impacto principal fue causado por contaminación difusa de fertilizantes aplicados a la tierra recientemente cultivada, y a desarrollo de construcciones. En general el pH en agua subterránea creció significantemente, al igual que las concentraciones de los iones , , , , y Cl⁻ en agua subterránea mientras que las concentraciones de Ca²⁺ y decrecieron. Mas precisamente, en las regiones donde bosque y tierra ociosa fueron convertidas en tierra cultivada, el valor de pH y las concentraciones de Mg²⁺, , , , , Cl⁻ crecieron mientras las concentraciones de Ca²⁺ y decrecieron. Sin embargo en la región donde tierra cultivada fue convertida en construcciones, el valor de pH y las concentraciones de Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, , , , , , Cl⁻ crecieron.

     

Mapping land limitations for agricultural land use planning using fuzzy logic approach: a case study for Marinduque Island,Philippines

This study demonstrated the use of fuzzy logic approach in mapping land limitations for agricultural land use planning using publicly available data for the province of Marinduque, Philippines. The paper focused only on the two major crops in the province, coconut, and banana. Based on the results, slope is the major factor limiting the production of these two crops. Slope is identified as a limitation in approximately 80% and 18% of the agricultural land of the province for coconut and banana production, respectively. Other land limitations for coconut production in the province include rainfall, soil, and combination of these factors with slope. In the case of banana, soil and combination of this factor with slope were identified as land limitations.

     

Spatio-temporal land cover changes in a semi-arid watershed: Central India

Land use/land cover change is a global phenomenon which reflects natural resources degradation and/or utilization. Remote sensing and GIS have been widely used to monitor such changes at watershed level. The present study evaluates the LU/LC change during 1989 - 2001 in a semi-arid watershed of central India. Geocoded satellite data of 1989 and 2001 on 1:50,000 scale, were visually interpreted to prepare thematic maps which were later digitized using ArcGIS softwares. The analysis shows that vast tracts of cultivated land have become uncultivated and at some places even converted to wasteland. However, the land under dense forest and open forest has decreased due to expansion of built-up land and other anthropogenic activities. Increase in area of uncultivated land, wasteland and decrease in cultivated land and open scrub is also supported by rainfall analysis, which shows a declining trend and a fall of 186.93 mm in average annual rainfall for 1986-2003 period. The change detection map prepared using land use/land cover of 1989 and 2001 as inputs shows that out of the total geographical area of the watershed, 25.78% of the watershed area has seen a change from one land use category to another, however rest 74.22% has remained unchanged.     

Assessing the impacts of land use changes on watershed hydrology using MIKE SHE

A fully distributed, physically-based hydrologic modeling system, MIKE SHE, was used in this study to investigate whole-watershed hydrologic response to land use changes within the Gyeongancheon watershed in Korea. A grid of 200 × 200 m was established to represent spatial variations in geology, soil, and land use. Initial model performance was evaluated by comparing observed and simulated streamflow from 1988 to 1991. Results indicated that the calibrated MIKE SHE model was able to predict streamflow well during the calibration and validation periods. Proportional changes in five classes of land use within the watershed were derived from multi-temporal Landsat TM imageries taken in 1980, 1990 and 2000. These imageries revealed that the watershed experienced conversion of approximately 10% non-urban area to urban area between 1980 and 2000. The calibrated MIKE SHE model was then programmed to repeatedly analyze an artificial dataset under the various land use proportions identified in the Landsat TM imageries. The analysis was made to quantitatively assess the impact of land use changes (predominantly urbanization) on watershed hydrology. There were increases in total runoff (5.5%) and overland flow (24.8%) as a response to the land use change.     

Implications of urban expansion on land use and land cover: towards sustainable development of Mega Manila,Philippines

GeoJournal - Planning of land use and infrastructure in advance for a population that is projected to grow rapidly is highly important for its sustainable development. A correlative approach of...     

Landsat data to evaluate urban expansion and determine land use/land cover changes in Penang Island,Malaysia

Land surface temperature (LST) plays an important role in local, regional and global climate studies. LST controls the distribution of the budget for radiation heat between the atmosphere and the earth’s surface. Therefore, it is important to evaluate abrupt changes in land use/land cover (LULC). Penang Island, Malaysia has been experiencing a rapid and drastic change in urban expansion over the past two decades due to growth in industrial and residential areas. The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the impact of LST with respect to land use changes in Penang Island, Malaysia. Three supervised classification techniques known as maximum likelihood, minimum distance-to-mean and parallelepiped were applied to the images to extract thematic information from the acquired scene by using PCI Geomatica 10.1 image processing software. These remote sensing classification techniques help to examine land-use changes in Penang Island using multi-temporal Landsat data for the period of 1999–2007. Training sites were selected within each scene and seven land cover classes were assigned to each classifier. The relative performance of each technique was evaluated. The accuracy of each classification map was assessed using a reference data set consisting of a large number of samples collected per category. Two Landsat satellite images captured in 1999 and 2007 were chosen to classify the LULC types using the maximum likelihood classification method, determined from visible and near-infrared bands. The study revealed that the maximum likelihood classifier produced superior results and achieved a high degree of accuracy. The LST and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) were computed based on changes in LULC. The results showed that the urban (highly built-up) area increased dramatically, and grassland area increased moderately. Inversely, barren land decreased obviously, and forest area decreased moderately. While urban (minimally built-up) area decreased slightly. These changes in LULC caused at significant difference in LST between urban and rural areas. Strong correlation values were observed between LST and NDVI for all LULC classes. The remote sensing technique used in this study was found to be efficient; it reduced the time for the analysis of the urban expansion, and it was found to be a useful tool to evaluate the impact of urbanisation with LST.     

Impact of regional geology, land use and flow path on stream water chemistry in a small watershed

Stream water chemistry is dependent on the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in the watershed. Understanding the governing mechanism of the stream water chemistry in a watershed is the first step for the water quality management. The study area drains a total catchment area of 1.46 km^2 and consists of forest （80%）, upland （15%） and rice paddy field （5%）. The studied area has two distinctive bedrocks, quartzite and schist. We periodically collected the stream water samples at mainstream and tributaries and the pH, electrical conductivity （EC）, alkalinity and the concentrations of cations and anions of the collected stream water samples were determined in the field and laboratory. The all collected water samples were nearly neutral and the EC and concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Sr, Si and HCO3 of the stream water samples collected from the schist terrain had greater values than those from the quartzite terrain. The mainstream running along the boundary of schist and quartzite terrains had the intermediate values of the tributaries. The stream water samples collected in and near the upland showed a high concentration of NO3^- than those of forest regardless the lithology. The stream pathway was also directly reflected on the chemistry of stream water. The stream water drained in the forest of quartzite terrain had the lowest values of alkalinity, EC and concentrations of cations and anions but the stream water drain in the upland of schist terrain had the highest values of EC and concentrations of cations and anions, especially NO3^-.     

Land use and land cover change and implication to watershed degradation by using GIS and remote sensing in the Koga watershed,North Western Ethiopia

Information on use/land cover change is important for planners and decision makers to implement sustainable use and management of resources. This study was intended to assess the land use land cover (LULC) change in the Koga watershed. The MSS of 1973, TM images of 1986, 1995 and 2011 were used together with survey and demographic data to detect the drivers of land cover changes. The result revealed that a remarkable LULC change occurred in the study area for the past thirty eight years. The area of cultivated and settlement has increased by 7054.6 ha, while, grass and bush lands decreased by 4846.5 and 3376 ha respectively. Wetland also declined from 580.2 ha to 68.3 ha. The growing demand for cultivable land and fuel wood were the major causes to the deterioration of grass and bush lands. Hence, the appropriate land use policy should be employed to sustain available resource in the watershed.     

The role of hydrologic regimes on dissolved organic carbon composition in an agricultural watershed

Willow Slough, a seasonally irrigated agricultural watershed in the Sacramento River valley, California, was sampled weekly in 2006 in order to investigate seasonal concentrations and compositions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Average DOC concentrations nearly doubled from winter baseflow (2.75 mg L⁻¹) to summer irrigation (5.14 mg L⁻¹), while a concomitant increase in carbon-normalized vanillyl phenols (0.11 mg 100 mg OC⁻¹ increasing to 0.31 mg 100 mg OC⁻¹, on average) indicates that this additional carbon is likely vascular plant-derived. A strong linear relationship between lignin concentration and total suspended sediments (r² = 0.79) demonstrates that agricultural management practices that mobilize sediments will likely have a direct and significant impact on DOC composition. The original source of vascular plant-derived DOC to Willow Slough appears to be the same throughout the year as evidenced by similar syringyl to vanillyl and cinnamyl to vanillyl ratios. However, differing diagenetic pathways during winter baseflow as compared to the rest of the year are evident in acid to aldehyde ratios of both vanillyl and syringyl phenols. The chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption coefficient at 350 nm showed a strong correlation with lignin concentration (r² = 0.83). Other CDOM measurements related to aromaticity and molecular weight also showed correlations with carbon-normalized yields (e.g. specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (r² = 0.57) and spectral slope (r² = 0.54)). Our overall findings suggest that irrigated agricultural watersheds like Willow Slough can potentially have a significant impact on mainstem DOC concentration and composition when scaled to the entire watershed of the main tributary.