Environmental decision support system development for seasonal wetland salt management in a river basin subjected to water quality regulation

Seasonally managed wetlands in the Grasslands Basin on the west-side of California’s San Joaquin Valley provide food and shelter for migratory wildfowl during winter months and sport for waterfowl hunters during the annual duck season. Surface water supply to these wetlands contain salt which, when drained to the San Joaquin River (SJR) during the annual drawdown period, can negatively impact water quality and cause concern to downstream agricultural riparian water diverters. Recent environmental regulation, limiting discharges salinity to the SJR and primarily targeting agricultural non-point sources, now also targets return flows from seasonally managed wetlands. Real-time water quality management has been advocated as a means of continuously matching salt loads discharged from agricultural, wetland and municipal operations to the assimilative capacity of the SJR. Past attempts to build environmental monitoring and decision support systems (EDSS’s) to implement this concept have enjoyed limited success for reasons that are discussed in this paper. These reasons are discussed in the context of more general challenges facing the successful implementation of a comprehensive environmental monitoring, modelling and decision support system for the SJR Basin.     

生态沟-湿地系统对稻田排水中氮素的去除效果

为研究灌排调控下生态沟-湿地系统对稻田排水中氮素的原位削减效果,探讨低碳氮比对于系统氮素去除效果的影响.依据大田试验观测资料,分析了控制灌排模式下生态沟-湿地系统水体中氮素质量浓度变化规律和碳氮比分布特征.结果表明,控制灌排模式下生态沟-湿地系统对稻田排水中氮素去除效果显著,施肥后排水中TN,NH4＋-N和NO3--N质量浓度出现峰值,在农沟拦蓄后质量浓度大幅下降,氮素平均去除率分别为63.9%,67.8%和83.2%.进入湿地再次净化后,氮素质量浓度进一步降低,平均去除率分别为47.7%,44.3%和82.0%.控制灌排模式下系统水体中有机质对水环境影响较小,水体碳氮比水平总体偏低.控制灌排模式下生态沟-湿地系统很好地实现了对氮素的原位削减,低碳氮比对于系统氮素去除效果的影响不大.     

Applying SWAT for TMDL programs to a small watershed containing rice paddy fields

The main objective of this study was to apply the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) to develop total maximum daily load (TMDL) programs for a small watershed containing rice paddy fields in the Republic of Korea. The total maximum daily load system (TOLOS), based on ArcView SWAT (AVSWAT) using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS), was incorporated with the SWAT model to simulate water balance and water quality from irrigated paddy fields. Model parameters related to hydrology and water quality were calibrated and validated by comparing model predictions with the field data collected for 4 years. The results indicated that the simulated runoff and water quality values were acceptably close to the observed data. Water quality parameters also appeared to be reasonably comparable to the field data. The applicability of the system for TMDL development was tested in terms of TMDL allocations and the redistribution of load reductions to 23 sub-areas within the watershed. The results demonstrated that the urbanized subwatershed #2, with residences and other community activities, required the largest allocation of road reduction. TOLOS thus appears to be a useful tool for planning TMDL for a small watershed including rice paddies in Korea.     

Salinity dynamics of wetland ditches receiving drainage from irrigated agricultural land in arid and semi-arid regions

Agricultural drainage ditches are considered as wetland ecosystems when they possess the characteristic hydrology, soil and vegetation of wetlands. In arid and semi-arid regions, wetlands receiving agricultural drainage have to cope with the conservative nature of salts leached from soils. Excessive accumulation of salts in wetlands may threaten the ecological functions of the system, thus endanger the sustainability of the drainage disposal system and the productivity of the farmlands. Based on the salt and water balance in a farmland drainage and wetland disposal system in arid regions, this paper presents a thorough investigation on salinity dynamics of wetland ditches receiving agricultural drainage. Theoretical equations were derived to describe salinity changes in water and soils of wetlands under both equilibrium and pre-equilibrium conditions; a case example was then used to display model predictions of salinity variations over time under different salinity management goals. The example wetlands are de facto drainage ditches that possess wetland characteristics, and the ditch to farmland area ratio is 9.1%. The results showed that salt as a conservative substance will eventually concentrate in the ditches to a very high level if there is little outflow discharge; but the salt accumulation process may develop over a relatively long time, which opens a time window for management practice, such as flushing the salts when fresh water is available. By assuming different threshold salinity levels in the ditches, the proposed analytical models were used to predict time intervals when fresh water recharge is needed to bring down the salinity level in the ditches. For the study area under current drainage practice, the predicted outflow to inflow ratio for salinity was 58.2% and reached an equilibrium level of 9.60 g L⁻¹ in the ditches; salinity levels in the ditches reached threshold values of 5, 7 and 9 g L⁻¹, in about 1, 4 and 12 years, respectively. Salinity analysis showed that the salt retention capacity of the ditch soil is limited, the soil salinity varied according to the ditch water; salt removal through plant uptake and harvest was insignificant. This study indicates that although salt concentration in wetlands receiving agricultural drainage may eventually build up to a critical level, timely recharge with fresh water may bring down salt content in the wetlands and sustain adequate environmental and ecological functions of such a drainage disposal system in arid and semi-arid regions.     

生态灌区农田排水沟塘湿地系统的构建和运行管理

建设生态型灌区是灌区现代化发展的重要内容。针对传统灌区农业面源污染日益严重的现状,总结了当前利用农田排水沟渠塘堰系统去除农业面源污染的研究进展,探讨了减污型农田排水沟渠塘堰湿地系统的构建方法,其基本特征包括:水利工程属性(排渍排涝及水流的不冲不淤要求),沟塘末端修建控制排水闸(低坝),种植优势植被,生态护岸(护底)工程,排水闸(退水闸)等水工建筑物减污型工况设计。分析了该系统的运行管理方式。     

Determination of the permissible amount of liquid animal waste applied to soil filters

Protection against water pollution by agricultural wastes makes decomposition of organic effluents necessary. The problem of oxidation of liquid animal wastes in soil filters is described. The theory of oxygen diffusion in soil in which the oxygen consumption rates vary with time, was applied to determine the aerobic and anaerobic zones in the irrigated soil profile. The results of calculations for different biochemical oxygen demands (BOD) of pig slurry and for different soil air-filled porosity (n_g) allow the determination of maximum BOD loads for the given air porosity of soils. The permissible amount of organic pollutants as BOD₅ in wastewater is 0.2 kg m⁻³ for n_g = 0.10 m³ m⁻³, BOD₅ = 0.9 kg m⁻³ for n_g = 0.20 m³ m⁻³, and BOD₅ = 2.75 kg m⁻³ for n_g = 0.30 m³ m⁻³. These limits were obtained under several assumptions, such as uniform distribution of air-filled porosity in the upper part of soil, oxygen respiration of soil similar to that of pig slurry, aerobic zone present in the upper 50 cm of the soil profile, and irrigation every 5 days.     

宁夏银南灌区湿地分析

宁夏银南灌区湿地季节性变化明显,受灌溉水的影响极大,随着节水灌溉等缓解水资源矛盾措施的实施,湿地已经出现萎缩,这必然加大农田排水中氮磷等化合物的含量.从湿地功能的角度出发,结合湿地的成因、概况、湿地与农田的关系,阐述湿地存在的必要性,并建议在目前水资源紧缺情况下给湿地留出一定的水量,为恢复湿地功能、发挥湿地效益提供前提,也为减少农业非点源污染、保护生态环境奠定基础.     

农田排水对塔里木河水质盐化的影响研究

在塔里木河流域农田排水的发展可以划分为三个阶段,即“旱排水”、排水渠建立和逐步完善阶段。农田排水虽对灌区内部的盐渍化治理起到了很大的作用,但排水进入河流对河水的水质盐化影响很大。所以应寻找新的排水出路,多途径排水。同时发展节水灌溉,改变传统的排水洗盐方式,才是干旱区农业发展的方向。     

Identifying sources of recharge to shallow aquifers using a groundwater model

The poor water quality of sub-surface drainage, hereafter drainage, water generated in the western San Joaquin Valley in California creates management challenges for farmers and water managers. Elevated concentrations of salt and trace elements in agricultural drainage limit the disposal options. In this constrained environment, determining the original source of drainage water is a crucial step in developing appropriate drainage management policies. Numerical modeling results of near-surface water-table fluctuations indicate that the substantial groundwater rise observed in the vicinity of the region's major water supply canal could not be attributed solely to seepage from overlying irrigated fields. An inverse solution approach is used herein to test the theory that seepage from the canal itself and/or that from surface water retention ponds (designed to protect the structure from flash floods) is responsible for an accentuated groundwater mound. The results suggest that canal seepage is the more likely source of non-agricultural aquifer recharge.     

Efficacy of constructed wetlands for removal of bacterial contamination from agricultural return flows

Water quality degradation from bacterial pathogens is one of the leading causes of surface water impairment in California agricultural watersheds. In the San Joaquin Valley, approximately 50 and 100% of water samples collected from three different irrigation return flows exceeded the Escherichia coli standard of 126 cfu 100 mL⁻¹ and the enterococci standard of 33 cfu 100 mL⁻¹, respectively, as required for water discharge into state waterways. These results show that runoff from irrigated crops can contribute a significant load of bacteria indicators and potentially pathogenic microorganisms to waterways. Constructed wetlands are gaining recognition as a management practice for use in irrigated agriculture to reduce bacterial loads and a wide variety of water quality contaminants in agricultural return flows prior to discharge into waterways. Based on input-output sampling of four wetlands, 66-91% of E. coli concentrations and 86-94% of enterococci concentrations were retained in the wetlands. Removal efficiencies in terms of bacteria load were even higher, 80-87% and 88-97% for E. coli and enterococci, respectively, due to water losses (seepage and evapotranspiration) within the wetland. Of all the parameters considered, hydraulic residence time (HRT) appeared to be the factor having the greatest effect on the efficiency of bacteria indicator removal. Remarkably, a HRT of less than a day can achieve considerable bacteria indicator retention (∼70%), which allows for relatively small wetland areas being able to treat runoff from large agricultural areas (up to 360:1 in this study).     

Implementing irrigation: Salt and nitrate exported from the Lerma basin (Spain)

The creation of a new irrigated area influences the pollutants exported from the zone and, consequently, the quality of receiving water bodies. The aim of this study was to analyze the masses of the main pollutants exported by an area before and during its gradual transformation into irrigated land. To this end, salinity balances were carried out and the nitrate exported from the Lerma basin (752 ha, Spain) was quantified during 2004–2008. The agroenvironmental impact was evaluated through the use of pollution indices. The results revealed that the transformation of the area into irrigated land decreased salinity and increased nitrate concentration in drainage. The increase in the volume of drainage increased the masses of salt and nitrate exported, which in turn increased pollution indices during the transition. However, these indices were still lower than those quantified in other irrigated lands and therefore can still be considered to be of low contamination level. This study demonstrates the important environmental influence of introducing irrigation to an area, as pollution levels change and become mainly dependent on the management of irrigation and nitrogenous fertilization. For this reason, it is highly desirable to promote the optimization of agricultural management in a way that minimizes its impact.     

Feasibility of long-term irrigation as a treatment method for municipal wastewater using natural soil in Kuwait

Passing treated wastewater through soil is a natural and economic means to improve the quality of wastewater. The United Agricultural Production Company (UAPCO) farm located in the Sulaibiya area of Kuwait has been irrigated with tertiary treated wastewater since 1976. A field investigation at the farm has been conducted by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to assess the applicability of the natural soil treatment method, in the long term, to improve the quality of the treated wastewater under the conditions prevailing in Kuwait. The collected data have been analyzed to assess the degree of improvement in quality of the infiltrated water with respect to the tertiary wastewater used for irrigation. The data analysis indicates that in spite of low clay content of the soil, improvement in the quality of the tertiary treated wastewater through soil aquifer treatment by the removal of ammonia (>90%), iron (>80%), organic carbon (>90%), biological oxygen demand (BOD) (100%) and bacteria (50-100%, depending on its type), can be expected over a long-term period. Soil leaching, however, tends to increase the total dissolved solids of the infiltrated water and the nitrification process increases the nitrate content.     

Leaching requirement for soil salinity control: Steady-state versus transient models

Water scarcity and increased frequency of drought conditions, resulting from erratic weather attributable to climatic change or alterations in historical weather patterns, have caused greater scrutiny of irrigated agriculture's demand on water resources. The traditional guidelines for the calculation of the crop-specific leaching requirement (LR) of irrigated soils have fallen under the microscope of scrutiny and criticism because the commonly used traditional method is believed to erroneously estimate LR due to its assumption of steady-state flow and disregard for processes such as salt precipitation and preferential flow. An over-estimation of the LR would result in the application of excessive amounts of irrigation water and increased salt loads in drainage systems, which can detrimentally impact the environment and reduce water supplies. The objectives of this study are (i) to evaluate the appropriateness of the traditional steady-state method for estimating LR in comparison to the transient method and (ii) to discuss the implications these findings could have on irrigation guidelines and recommendations, particularly with respect to California's Imperial Valley. Steady-state models for calculating LR including the traditional model, which is an extension of the original U.S. Salinity Laboratory LR model, WATSUIT model, and water-production-function model were compared to transient models including TETrans and UNSATCHEM. The calculated LR was lower when determined using a transient approach than when using a steady-state approach. Transient conditions and the influence of preferential flow did not have as significant an effect on lowering the LR as salt precipitation for a representative study of the Imperial Valley using Colorado River water (EC = 1.23 dS/m) for irrigation. A valley-wide LR of 0.08 for a crop rotation of alfalfa/alfalfa/alfalfa/alfalfa/wheat/lettuce, as calculated by both WATSUIT and UNSATCHEM, was concluded to be the most reasonable estimate for the entire Imperial Valley as compared to a LR of 0.13 by the commonly used traditional method. The reduced LR for the Imperial Valley would result in a diminished drainage volume of approximately 1.23 × 10⁸ m³ (i.e., 100,000 ac-ft). The most significant conclusion derived from the comparison is that the use of the traditional steady-state model for estimating LR needs to be reevaluated.     

Influence of conservation measures on groundwater regime in a semi arid tract of South India

A study was conducted in peninsular India in a predominantly agricultural watershed treated with soil and water conservation measures such as diversion drains and staggered contour trenches in nonarable land, terraces of trapezoidal cross section with graded channel on the upstream side (locally termed as graded bund) and stone checks in arable lands and rockfill dams, archweir and nala bund (a local term used for earthen embankment across the drainage channel) across the gully. Hydrological analysis has revealed that integrated management of land and water resources has consistently improved the groundwater regime. Surface runoff from the treated forest and agricultural catchment were only 27.4 and 57.4% of the untreated agricultural catchment, reflecting in high infiltration of rain water due to enhanced opportunity time. Consequently, water levels in the open wells rose by 0.5 to 1.0 m, thereby increasing the area irrigated by the wells by 172% when compared to the preproject period, which in turn improved crop yields by 70%. Hypssometric analysis indicated that water surface levels do not follow the trend of land surface levels due to the nature of the underground geological formation.     

Surface energy balance using satellite data for the water balance of a traditional irrigation—wetland system in SW Iran

A water balance of a large traditional irrigation area and a downstream adjoining wetland was determined using the surface energy balance approach (SEB), based on satellite data, to calculate the actual evaporation of both the irrigated area and the wetland at four different dates in a dry year and information of two additional images. The contribution of capillary flow by the shallow groundwater table was estimated by evaluating the actual evapotranspiration values of adjoining rangelands and non-inundated wetland areas. Those values were used to separate the total evapotranspiration into a soil moisture change component due to capillary rise, and into a component attributable to supply of river water. The only field data used for the estimated monthly water balance were air temperature, wind speed, and water inflow, since rainfall and outflow could be ignored in the year 2000. The results provided an insight for conditions of a drought year within the irrigated area, the distribution of water to irrigation and the wetland and showed the linkage between inundated wetland area and discharge.     

基于SWAT模型的伊通河流域农业非点源污染损失估算

选取伊通河流域为研究区,在构建伊通河流域数字化平台的基础上,将SWAT模型与环境经济学方法相结合定量估算了研究区的农业非点源污染损失,为伊通河流域农业非点源污染的防治与管理提供科学依据与决策支持。研究结果表明:构建的伊通河流域农业非点源污染模型达到了精度要求。研究区2010年农业非点源泥沙负荷、总氮负荷以及总磷负荷均为最高,2011年均为最低;研究区的土壤侵蚀主要是由耕地引起的,占总量的96%以上。研究区农业非点源污染损失折算成人民币约为52 845.42万元/a,年降雨量越大的年份损失越严重;总体上,伊通河流域内农业非点源污染价值损失的大小顺序为:总氮污染价值损失泥沙淤积价值损失总磷污染价值损失土地废弃价值损失。     

干旱区农业水资源供需水预测分析及对策研究

针对西北干旱区农业水资源短缺的问题,以新疆洛浦县为例,从作物种植结构调整和灌溉面积变化、灌溉水利用系数提高及灌溉方式改变等方面进行节水分析,并对预测水平年农业供需水平衡进行了预测计算,预测结果表明：现有的灌排工程不能满足农业可持续发展要求;提高灌溉水利用系数势在必行;采用滴灌技术极大地减少了农业用水量,是解决农业供需水矛盾的有效措施。最后,根据预测结果,提出了解决农业水资源短缺、可持续发展的对策,为其他区域水资源的合理开发利用提供有益的参考。     

排水工程对三江平原湿地流域的影响分析

在三江平原别拉洪河流域地形图、土地利用图和排水工程建设资料的基础上,利用地理信息系统进行流域景观制图,并根据排水工程建设量将该流域划分出4个排水分区。利用景观结构分析软件FRAGSTATS分别计算了各分区2个时期(1967年和2005年)的多种景观结构指标。结果表明:排水工程之前,除了旱地无排区的其它3个排水区域,自然湿地覆盖率均达到90%以上,且呈大块连续状分布,结构比较简单,自然状态保存完好;排水渠大量修建之后,沼泽地因排水基本消失,草甸及其它沼泽类型也大片被排干,取而代之的是以大面积的旱地和水田为基质,湿地以小的斑块体镶嵌其中的流域景观,景观结构破碎化严重并趋于复杂化。最后提出下一步的研究工作。     

The rehabilitation of an irrigation system along the Yellow River

The People's Victory Irrigation System which diverts water from the Yellow River of China covers a total irrigable area of 59 000 ha. The system encountered some serious problems in the first decade of its operation — salinity and waterlogging of irrigated land, siltation of irrigation and drainage channels, as well as a low efficiency of water use. This paper describes a series of structural and functional measures which have been adopted in the past 24 years for the rehabilitation of the system, including: improvement of the existing drainage system and construction of new drainage system on agricultural land, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater supplies, a comprehensive programme to reduce the levels of siltation as well as the implementation of improved water management practices. A model for the optimal operation of the system by using system analysis theory as an aid in reducing the operation and maintenance (O & M) costs has been developed in recent years. The results are that the soil salinity has been controlled and the agricultural production has increased whilst the efficiency of water use has improved and the siltation levels reduced. Experience gained on this system has been successfully used in developing and managing other irrigation projects along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The proposed procedure of solving the said optimal model has also embodied some benefits from reducing O & M costs in operation.     

改进暗管排水结构型式对排水性能的影响

提出一种占用耕地少、排水流量较常规暗排大且环境友好的改进暗排。基于室内土柱试验,分析改进暗排在地表积水、土体饱和条件下的排水除涝性能及其机理,提出地表积水土体饱和入渗条件下改进暗排排水流量的理论计算公式。结果表明,改进暗排可以有效提高暗管排水能力,试验条件下,反滤体宽度为2~6 cm的改进暗排在自由出流条件下的排水流量为常规暗排排水流量的2~3倍;积水层深度相同时,改进暗排排水性能随反滤体宽度的增加而增大,但增幅逐渐减小;土体介质和反滤体的渗透系数差别越大,改进暗排的排水作用越明显。理论方法计算结果与试验结果相吻合,证明提出的理论计算公式是合理可行的。