Impact of Agricultural Practices on Nitrate Pollution in Groundwater in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/ijes.2636Keywords:
Agricultural Practices, Nitrate Pollution, GroundwaterAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine impact of agricultural practices on nitrate pollution in groundwater in India
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: a significant environmental concern with far-reaching implications for human health, ecosystem integrity, and water resource management. It is evident that agricultural activities such as fertilizer application, irrigation methods, and land management practices play a pivotal role in exacerbating nitrate contamination of groundwater. The studies highlighted the complex interactions between agricultural activities and hydrological processes, elucidating the pathways through which nitrates migrate from soil to groundwater.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Diffuse Pollution Theory, Hydrological Connectivity Theory & Sustainable Agriculture Theory may be used to anchor future studies on impact of agricultural practices on nitrate pollution in groundwater in India. Encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that minimize nitrate pollution while maintaining agricultural productivity. This includes promoting precision agriculture techniques, cover cropping, and integrated nutrient management systems to optimize fertilizer use and reduce nitrate leaching. Strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms to limit nitrate pollution from agricultural activities. This may include setting stringent water quality standards for nitrate concentrations in groundwater and implementing monitoring programs to assess compliance.
Downloads
References
Awoke, A., Beyene, A., Abate, D., Worku, A., Bayabil, H. K., & Kloos, H. (2019). Nitrate pollution of groundwater and associated human health disorders in central Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 29(6), 650-663. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2019.1627151
Awomeso, J. A., Taiwo, A. M., Adebowale, K. O., & Idowu, O. A. (2017). Spatial distribution and sources of nitrate pollution in groundwater of a typical rural settlement in Southwestern Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189(11), 585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6291-0
Berry, W. (2019). The unsettling of America: Culture & agriculture. Counterpoint.
Burow, K. R., Belitz, K., Dubrovsky, N. M., & Jurgens, B. C. (2018). The quality of our Nation's waters"”Water quality in the High Plains Aquifer, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 2012-2015. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1440. https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1440
Burow, K. R., Belitz, K., Dubrovsky, N. M., & Jurgens, B. C. (2018). The quality of our Nation's waters"”Water quality in the High Plains Aquifer, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 2012-2015. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1440.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). (2019). Ground water quality in shallow aquifers of India. Retrieved from http://cgwb.gov.in/GWQ/GW%20Quality%20in%20Shallow%20Aquifers%20of%20India%20-January%202019.pdf
Chimuka, L., Hlekelele, L., Msagati, T., Nindi, M., & Muganda, S. (2019). Determination of nitrate pollution sources in surface and groundwater in the Upper Olifants River Catchment, South Africa. Water SA, 45(1), 50-61. https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i1.6692
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). (2017). Water quality in England 2016. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/663848/water-quality-uk-2016.pdf
Environment Agency. (2019). Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ). Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nitrate-vulnerable-zones
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2018). Nitrate in drinking water. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/nitrate-drinking-water
Garcia, M. D., & Patel, R. H. (2017). Effects of irrigation practices on nitrate leaching to groundwater. Agricultural Water Management, 184, 123-135.
Gathenya, J. W., Mwangi, J. K., Wakibia, J. G., & Kithinji, J. (2017). Nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in urban and rural areas of Thika municipality, Kenya. Applied Water Science, 7(4), 1779-1790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-016-0421-0
Gebrehiwot, S. G., Gebremariam, Z. A., Gebrekidan, H. G., & Haile, A. T. (2017). Nitrate pollution in groundwater of Northern Ethiopia: A review. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 9(3), 180-193. https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2017.93013
Guo, F., Wang, R., Huang, X., Deng, Y., Zhang, T., & Li, X. (2017). Spatial distribution, sources, and risk assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater in North China Plain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), 869. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080869
Guo, F., Wang, R., Huang, X., Deng, Y., Zhang, T., & Li, X. (2017). Spatial distribution, sources, and risk assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater in North China Plain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), 869. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080869
Guo, Q., & Huang, G. (2019). Assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater under different land use scenarios. Science of the Total Environment, 654, 1101-1113.
Hagedorn, C., Fox, G., Liang, X., & Zeglin, L. H. (2014). Nitrate loss to groundwater from irrigated cropland in the U.S. Midwest. Journal of Environmental Quality, 43(6), 1995-2005. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2014.04.0146
Harter, T., Davis, R., & Mathews, M. C. (2012). Nitrate in groundwater of the United States: Assessing the risk. BioScience, 62(4), 275-288. https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2012.62.4.5
Harter, T., Davis, R., & Mathews, M. C. (2012). Nitrate in groundwater of the United States: Assessing the risk. BioScience, 62(4), 275-288.
Jenkins, A., Smith, M. H., & Rekolainen, S. (2003). Diffuse pollution of water resources: Principles and case studies in the Southern African Region. IWA Publishing.
Johnson, L. E., & Martinez, C. A. (2019). Long-term trends in nitrate pollution in groundwater: Implications for agricultural management. Journal of Hydrology, 567, 89-102.
Kiprop, A. K., Khunga, R., Mureithi, E. W., & Ngetich, W. K. (2019). Assessment of nitrate pollution levels in groundwater and soil profiles in Kesses Sub-county, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Journal of Environmental and Analytical Toxicology, 9(3), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0525.1000591
Kumar, P., Tiwari, K. K., & Singh, A. K. (2019). Nitrate pollution in groundwater: Occurrence, sources, and management options in India. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 4(3-4), 127-138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41101-019-00100-5
Li, X., Han, F., Zhang, T., & Li, Y. (2020). Challenges and solutions of groundwater pollution control in China. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 18(3), 901-919. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01000-3
Magubane, N., Wegelin-Schuringa, M., & Du Preez, M. (2018). Groundwater quality and associated health risks in the Eastern Free State, South Africa. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190(2), 84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6447-6
Mutua, B. M., Kiiyukia, C., & Kamau, J. (2018). Assessment of groundwater pollution in peri-urban areas: A case of Joska, Nairobi County, Kenya. Journal of Environmental and Earth Science, 8(8), 33-39. https://doi.org/10.7176/JEES/8-8-05
Ogunbanwo, O. A., Jimoda, L. A., & Oyewole, S. A. (2018). Assessment of nitrate contamination in groundwater within Abeokuta, Nigeria, using geostatistical and GIS approaches. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190(8), 481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6834-1
Porcella, D. B., & Wolman, M. G. (1989). Connectivity of streams and overland flow at the landscape scale. Water Resources Research, 25(5), 1041-1054. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR025i005p01041
Rosenblueth, A., MartÃnez-Romero, E., Reyes, I., & Mora, Y. (2018). Nitrate pollution in groundwater associated with agriculture. In R. J. Delgado, C. W. Huang, & T. M. Lo (Eds.), Groundwater pollution in Africa (pp. 41-52). CRC Press.
Rosenblueth, A., MartÃnez-Romero, E., Reyes, I., & Mora, Y. (2018). Nitrate pollution in groundwater associated with agriculture. In R. J. Delgado, C. W. Huang, & T. M. Lo (Eds.), Groundwater pollution in Africa (pp. 41-52). CRC Press.
Schoups, G., Hopmans, J. W., Young, C. A., Vrugt, J. A., Wallender, W. W., Tanji, K. K., & Panday, S. (2015). A coupled surface-subsurface hydrological model to simulate variable source area hydrology in a managed agricultural watershed. Advances in Water Resources, 86, 102-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2015.09.013
Smith, J. K., & Brown, A. L. (2016). Assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater from agricultural areas. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45(2), 321-335.Top of Form
Smith, V. H., Berthrong, S. T., & Mahaffey, K. R. (2020). Nitrogen pollution: Sources and consequences in the U.S. and Europe. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18(3), 146-152.
Tanaka, Y., Fujioka, Y., Saito, K., Matsui, S., & Tsujimoto, Y. (2016). Nitrate pollution and its management in Japan. In: Nitrogen Pollution: Sources and Countermeasures. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0313-8_2
Wang, H., & Li, X. (2020). Temporal dynamics of nitrate pollution in groundwater: Implications for land management practices. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 230, 103593.
Ward, M. H., deKok, T. M., Levallois, P., Brender, J., Gulis, G., Nolan, B. T., & VanDerslice, J. (2018). Workgroup report: Drinking-water nitrate and health"”recent findings and research needs. Environmental Health Perspectives, 126(10), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP483
Zhang, Q., & Wang, Y. (2018). Assessing nitrate pollution hotspots in groundwater: A spatial analysis approach. Science of the Total Environment, 642, 1154-1166.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Shristi Kiara
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
