Impacts of Anthropogenic Land Use Changes on Nutrient Concentrations in Surface Waterbodies: A Review

• Published in: Clean : soil, air, water Vol. 46; no. 5
• Main Authors: Delkash, Madjid, Al‐Faraj, Furat A.M., Scholz, Miklas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Agricultural Sciences; Annan lantbruksvetenskap; Anthropogenic factors; Anthropogenic land use planning; Artificial wetlands; Barren lands; Best management practices; Buffer zones; Civil Engineering; Climatic conditions; Computer simulation; Engineering and Technology; Environmental Analysis and Construction Information Technology; Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use; Fertilizer; Fertilizers; Forest management; Groundwater; Groundwater flow; Human influences; Interactions; Land use; Landscape; Lantbruksvetenskap och veterinärmedicin; Metropolitan areas; Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap; Miljöanalys och bygginformationsteknik; Mineral nutrients; Modelling; Nitrogen; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrients; Other Agricultural Sciences; Quality control; Riparian environments; Riparian vegetation; Rural areas; Rural land use; Samhällsbyggnadsteknik; Surface water; Surface water modelling; Teknik; Urban areas; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Water flow; Water quality; Water quality assessments; Water quality control
• ISSN: 1863-0650; 1863-0669
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.201800051

Increased population leads to land use (LU) changes from natural to urban and agricultural LU. These disturbances not only decrease the natural treatment potential but they also worsen surface water quality (SWQ). The aim of this review is to assess studies about impacts of anthropogenic LU changes on levels of nutrient concentrations in surface waterbodies, highlighting the important parameters needed for an integrated simulation. The results reported in the literature are not always fully consistent. These contradictory results can sometimes be explained by field measurements under different climatic conditions, different features of landscapes, air deposition rates on ground surfaces, and groundwater flow interactions with surface water. Integrated modelling has been suggested to overcome these inconsistencies. Physical‐based and empirical models are the most popular approaches for LU‐SWQ studies. Generally, anthropogenic LU such as agricultural and urban areas usually enhances nutrient concentrations much more than natural lands such as forest and barren. Developing sustainable metropolitan areas instead of rural areas, establishing high‐standard wastewater treatment plants, and practicing efficient fertiliser application would ameliorate the poor nutrient conditions in SWQ. Riparian vegetation, grassed swales, and construction of artificial wetlands as buffer zones are the most promising natural water quality control measures. Urbanization leads to an increase in surface runoff, decrease in evapotranspiration, and reduction in both shallow and deep infiltration. This influences the fate of nutrients, solids, and metals. Impermeable surfaces are increased during urban land use development, which causes increases in surface runoff volume and washing‐out of contaminants.