The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Lixia Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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grass barriers for mitigating Diffuse Pollution within a source water area a case study of northeast china
Agricultural Water Management, 2021Co-Authors: Alain N Rousseau, Baixing Yan, Lixia Wang, Yu ZhangAbstract:Abstract Agricultural Diffuse Pollution caused by runoff and soil loss from cropland has been a serious environmental problem in the black soil area of Northeast China. While water and soil conservation measures have led to a sharp decrease in overland flow within source water sub-watersheds, they have, on the other end, affected the water security of agricultural and domestic use as the water storage capacity of downstream reservoirs decreases year by year. For this study, grass barriers, which are generally considered to have high sediment reduction efficiency, were evaluated for their efficiency as a mitigation measure of Diffuse Pollution within source water areas. Standard field plots were used to monitor two groups of grass barriers, alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) and native grass (dominated by Setaria viridis(L.)Beauv.), and slope gradients (3° and 5°) under natural rainfall events over the 2012–2015 period. The results indicated that, during the maize (Zea maysL.) growing season, runoff and sediment reduction efficiencies for the alfalfa barrier were 37.91 % and 62.30 %, respectively. And more than 50 % of the nutrient loads (e.g., total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and nitrate (NO3--N)) could be removed by the alfalfa barrier. The environmental loads mitigation efficiency of grass barrier in spring was relatively low and unstable. Both slope and barrier width had a significant impact on the water and soil conservation function of grass barriers, while rainfall intensity and grass type were mainly related to runoff reduction. Overall, these finding could provide some specific recommendations for future grass barrier design and large-scale application in a source water area of Northeast China.
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a dual isotopic framework for identifying nitrate sources in surface runoff in a small agricultural watershed northeast china
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020Co-Authors: Yuanyuan Sui, Runzhe Geng, Alain N Rousseau, Baixing Yan, Yunting Fang, Lixia WangAbstract:Abstract The northeast black soil region of China, an important area of grain production, currently faces serious Diffuse Pollution issues. In this study, a dual isotopic (δ15N and δ18O) framework was used to determine nitrate sources in runoff of a small agricultural watershed of this region. The results indicated that the ranges of δ15N and δ18O values of NO3-sources were significantly affected by natural geographic features and human activities. Nitrate in cropland runoff was mainly derived from soil, fertilizer and precipitation. Meanwhile, natural inputs, including those of soil and precipitation, represented the main nitrate sources in forest runoff. Domestic sewage, manure and precipitation contributed to most of the nitrate in runoff from villages. In addition, based on runoff export from different land uses and results from a stable isotope mixing model, soil and chemical fertilizer were identified as the main NO3-source in the whole watershed; suggesting that soil erosion could lead to serious Diffuse Pollution in the study area. Over all, this study not only provided suggestions to the optimal selection of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Northeast China, but also could contribute to the identification and quantification of NO3-sources in agricultural watersheds of the black soil regions worldwide.
Paula Novo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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mitigating agricultural Diffuse Pollution uncovering the evidence base of the awareness behaviour water quality pathway
Water, 2018Co-Authors: Murat Okumah, Julia Martinortega, P J Chapman, Paula NovoAbstract:Diffuse water Pollution from agriculture (DWPA) is a major environmental issue worldwide causing eutrophication, human health problems, increased water treatment costs and reducing the recreational potential of water bodies. In addition to penalties and provision of incentives, policy efforts are increasingly focusing on raising land managers’ awareness regarding Diffuse Pollution under the expectation that this would influence behaviours and thus increase uptake of best management practices that would, in turn, improve water quality. Given the multimillion financial investments in these awareness-focused approaches, a good understanding of the awareness–behavioural change–water quality pathway is critical to set the basis for assessing the real potential of these policy interventions. We systematically review the evidence across the full pathway drawing on published peer-reviewed papers from both the social and natural sciences, with a focus on Europe and North America. Results indicate that there is no one study that looks at the pathway in full, evidencing the paucity of research on the topic. For the limited studies that focus on the different components of the pathway, we find mixed evidence for the relationship between awareness and behaviour, and behavioural change and water quality. Furthermore, complexity within the pathway (e.g., through the study of factors mediating and moderating such relationships) has hardly been addressed by the literature. An in-depth understanding and analysis of this complexity—through an integrative model covering the entire pathway—could help in the design and implementation of effective policy strategies to encourage best land management practices and ultimately improve water quality.
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effects of awareness on farmers compliance with Diffuse Pollution mitigation measures a conditional process modelling
Land Use Policy, 2018Co-Authors: Murat Okumah, Julia Martinortega, Paula NovoAbstract:Despite several decades of research and financial commitment, Diffuse water Pollution remains a major problem threatening the health and resilience of social-ecological systems. New approaches to tackle Diffuse Pollution emphasise awareness raising and provision of advice with the aim of triggering behavioural change. However, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of this approach remains scarce and mixed, with most studies relying on smaller datasets and case studies. Using one of the largest datasets (N = 1,995) with this information, this study seeks to establish quantitatively the relationship between farmers’ stated awareness of Diffuse Pollution mitigation measures and their compliance with them, through the analysis of Scotland’s pioneer advice-driven approach. Results from a conditional process modelling suggest awareness might not directly determine compliance but influences it indirectly through the mediating effect of other environmental management practices (in this study reflected in participation in agri-environmental schemes). This mediated relationship appears to be contingent on farm type and location. This would indicate that while public efforts in awareness creation is important, awareness alone is not sufficient to improve compliance; farmers may need to consistently engage in environmental management practices to develop a deeper understanding of the problem and action strategies. In this context, agri-environmental schemes appear to provide an opportunity for the creation of tacit knowledge and understanding of Diffuse Pollution mitigation measures through experiential learning which may also lead to the creation of new values.
A L Collins - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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tackling agricultural Diffuse Pollution what might uptake of farmer preferred measures deliver for emissions to water and air
Science of The Total Environment, 2016Co-Authors: A L Collins, Yusheng Zhang, Michael Winter, Alex Inman, J I Jones, Penny J Johnes, Will Cleasby, Emilie Vrain, Andrew A Lovett, Lister NobleAbstract:Mitigation of agricultural Diffuse Pollution poses a significant policy challenge across Europe and particularly in the UK. Existing combined regulatory and voluntary approaches applied in the UK continue to fail to deliver the necessary environmental outcomes for a variety of reasons including failure to achieve high adoption rates. It is therefore logical to identify specific on-farm mitigation measures towards which farmers express positive attitudes for higher future uptake rates. Accordingly, a farmer attitudinal survey was undertaken during phase one of the Demonstration Test Catchment programme in England to understand those measures towards which surveyed farmers are most receptive to increasing implementation in the future. A total of 29 on-farm measures were shortlisted by this baseline farm survey. This shortlist comprised many low cost or cost-neutral measures suggesting that costs continue to represent a principal selection criterion for many farmers. The 29 measures were mapped onto relevant major farm types and input, assuming 95% uptake, to a national scale multi-pollutant modelling framework to predict the technically feasible impact on annual agricultural emissions to water and air, relative to business as usual. Simulated median emission reductions, relative to current practise, for water management catchments across England and Wales, were estimated to be in the order sediment (20%)>ammonia (16%)>total phosphorus (15%) ≫ nitrate/methane (11%)>nitrous oxide (7%). The corresponding median annual total cost of the modelled scenario to farmers was £3 ha(-1)yr(-1), with a corresponding range of -£84 ha(-1)yr(-1) (i.e. a net saving) to £33 ha(-1)yr(-1). The results suggest that those mitigation measures which surveyed farmers are most inclined to implement in the future would improve the environmental performance of agriculture in England and Wales at minimum to low cost per hectare.
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application of the farmscoper tool for assessing agricultural Diffuse Pollution mitigation methods across the hampshire avon demonstration test catchment uk
Environmental Science & Policy, 2012Co-Authors: Y Zhang, A L Collins, R GoodayAbstract:Abstract Agricultural Diffuse Pollution is a significant contributor to water and air quality in many catchments and the need to control harmful emissions remains paramount for government policy. In England, the Demonstration Test Catchments (DTCs) have been established to provide a basis for testing on-farm mitigation measures using collaborative multi-partner research and some of this work is targeting the Hampshire Avon (∼1700 km2) catchment. To help provide integrated farm advice across England and Wales, a new Excel-based tool, FARM Scale Optimisation of Pollutant Emission Reductions (FARMSCOPER), has recently been developed for characterising Diffuse agricultural pollutant emissions from representative farm types and quantifying the expected impacts of control options on those losses to the environment. Against this background, this paper describes the application of FARMSCOPER in the Hampshire Avon DTC in order to assess its utility at catchment scale and the potential benefits of relevant and practical mitigation options. Spatial datasets and the Agricultural Census returns for 2009 specific to the River Avon catchment were integrated to produce a collection of representative farm types which capture the characteristics of the local physical environment, land use patterns and farm management practices. FARMSCOPER was used to estimate the annual emissions of nitrate, phosphorus, sediment, nitrous oxide, methane and ammonia for each representative farm type. The scenarios investigated comprised baseline losses with no mitigation measures implemented, current emissions using information on the present implementation of options under existing schemes and initiatives and, the maximum potential reduction possible on the basis of implementing all available and relevant options. Model outputs suggested that reductions in pollutant loads in response to the existing uptake of mitigation methods are small (e.g. 10% for phosphorus, 7% for sediment, 4% for nitrate and 5% for nitrous oxide). FARMSCOPER suggested that technically feasible pollutant reductions on the basis of the implementation of more mitigation options could be of the order of 47% for phosphorus, 66% for sediment, 22% for nitrate and 16% for nitrous oxide. This work represents the first catchment scale application of the FARMSCOPER tool.
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monitoring and modelling Diffuse Pollution from agriculture for policy support uk and european experience
Environmental Science & Policy, 2008Co-Authors: A L Collins, Daniel F. McgonigleAbstract:The need to understand and mitigate Diffuse water Pollution from agriculture (DWPA) using a range of monitoring or modelling techniques and abatement methods has never been greater. In response to the widely reported detrimental environmental impacts of such Pollution and the desire to safeguard water resources, a number of important legislative drivers have been introduced, including the Water Framework Directive (WFD) for EU member states. Efforts to commission research and introduce policy options that address the key requirements of over-arching legislation, increasingly point to a number of common and important issues for policy makers. Whereas our understanding of, and ability to predict, pollutant loadings is reasonably well developed, coupling such pressures to ecological impacts remains a difficult task due to the limited functionality of available toolkits. It is important for mitigation programmes to consider multiple pollutants especially given the risks of Pollution swapping and to support the uptake of abatement options that are economically and socially acceptable to the stakeholders involved. Appropriate spatial targeting of mitigation methods will continue to come under scrutiny, especially in the context of additional environmental pressures like climate change. Given its key role in governing the transfer and fate of priority nutrients and contaminants and its well-documented negative habitat impacts, sediment must be given a higher profile in Diffuse Pollution policy. The latter does, however, require further investigation of background sediment loads necessary for healthy habitats and associated sediment standards or thresholds, in order that catchment compliance can be more reliably assessed. Delayed water quality response to the mitigation of DWPA must be assessed and understood, as a means of informing stakeholders and policy options. A further challenge is posed by the need to place DWPA in the context of Pollution from alternative sectors so that a more holistic approach to understanding and managing pressures and impacts and engaging stakeholders can be encouraged.
Thomas Kistemann - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the impact of land use on microbial surface water Pollution
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2015Co-Authors: Christiane Schreiber, Andrea Rechenburg, Esther Rind, Thomas KistemannAbstract:Our knowledge relating to water contamination from point and Diffuse sources has increased in recent years and there have been many studies undertaken focusing on effluent from sewage plants or combined sewer overflows. However, there is still only a limited amount of microbial data on non-point sources leading to Diffuse Pollution of surface waters. In this study, the concentrations of several indicator micro-organisms and pathogens in the upper reaches of a river system were examined over a period of 16 months. In addition to bacteria, Diffuse Pollution caused by Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp. was analysed. A single land use type predestined to cause high concentrations of all microbial parameters could not be identified. The influence of different land use types varies between microbial species. The microbial concentration in river water cannot be explained by stable non-point effluent concentrations from different land use types. There is variation in the ranking of the potential of different land use types resulting in surface water contamination with regard to minimum, median and maximum effects. These differences between median and maximum impact indicate that small-scale events like spreading manure substantially influence the general contamination potential of a land use type and may cause increasing micro-organism concentrations in the river water by mobilisation during the next rainfall event.
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effect of sewage treatment plants and Diffuse Pollution on the occurrence of protozoal parasites in the course of a small river
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2012Co-Authors: Thomas Kistemann, Esther Rind, Christoph Koch, Thomas Clasen, Charis Lengen, Martin Exner, Andrea RechenburgAbstract:In Germany, protozoal parasites are detected frequently in surface waters. This study aims to assess the parasitological Pollution in a river course and two of its tributaries under regular weather conditions. Cryptosporidium was detected in 67% of all samples. The median concentration was 4 oocysts/100l. Giardia lamblia were detected in 90% of the samples. The median concentration of G. lamblia was 22 cysts/100l and increased significantly following the river course. A statistically significant correlation was found between both parasites and the faecal indicators Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. The intermittent occurrence of Cryptosporidium in the streams investigated was ascribed primarily to Diffuse Pollution, particularly during rainfall events. The relatively frequent detection of G. lamblia derived mainly from sewage treatment plants. The pathogen concentrations observed present a relevant public health risk as the river is used for recreational activities and agricultural purposes.
Alain N Rousseau - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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grass barriers for mitigating Diffuse Pollution within a source water area a case study of northeast china
Agricultural Water Management, 2021Co-Authors: Alain N Rousseau, Baixing Yan, Lixia Wang, Yu ZhangAbstract:Abstract Agricultural Diffuse Pollution caused by runoff and soil loss from cropland has been a serious environmental problem in the black soil area of Northeast China. While water and soil conservation measures have led to a sharp decrease in overland flow within source water sub-watersheds, they have, on the other end, affected the water security of agricultural and domestic use as the water storage capacity of downstream reservoirs decreases year by year. For this study, grass barriers, which are generally considered to have high sediment reduction efficiency, were evaluated for their efficiency as a mitigation measure of Diffuse Pollution within source water areas. Standard field plots were used to monitor two groups of grass barriers, alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) and native grass (dominated by Setaria viridis(L.)Beauv.), and slope gradients (3° and 5°) under natural rainfall events over the 2012–2015 period. The results indicated that, during the maize (Zea maysL.) growing season, runoff and sediment reduction efficiencies for the alfalfa barrier were 37.91 % and 62.30 %, respectively. And more than 50 % of the nutrient loads (e.g., total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and nitrate (NO3--N)) could be removed by the alfalfa barrier. The environmental loads mitigation efficiency of grass barrier in spring was relatively low and unstable. Both slope and barrier width had a significant impact on the water and soil conservation function of grass barriers, while rainfall intensity and grass type were mainly related to runoff reduction. Overall, these finding could provide some specific recommendations for future grass barrier design and large-scale application in a source water area of Northeast China.
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a dual isotopic framework for identifying nitrate sources in surface runoff in a small agricultural watershed northeast china
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020Co-Authors: Yuanyuan Sui, Runzhe Geng, Alain N Rousseau, Baixing Yan, Yunting Fang, Lixia WangAbstract:Abstract The northeast black soil region of China, an important area of grain production, currently faces serious Diffuse Pollution issues. In this study, a dual isotopic (δ15N and δ18O) framework was used to determine nitrate sources in runoff of a small agricultural watershed of this region. The results indicated that the ranges of δ15N and δ18O values of NO3-sources were significantly affected by natural geographic features and human activities. Nitrate in cropland runoff was mainly derived from soil, fertilizer and precipitation. Meanwhile, natural inputs, including those of soil and precipitation, represented the main nitrate sources in forest runoff. Domestic sewage, manure and precipitation contributed to most of the nitrate in runoff from villages. In addition, based on runoff export from different land uses and results from a stable isotope mixing model, soil and chemical fertilizer were identified as the main NO3-source in the whole watershed; suggesting that soil erosion could lead to serious Diffuse Pollution in the study area. Over all, this study not only provided suggestions to the optimal selection of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Northeast China, but also could contribute to the identification and quantification of NO3-sources in agricultural watersheds of the black soil regions worldwide.