Best management practices for a mature karst area
Abstract
Interrupted surface drainage and conduit flow in mature karst terrain causes a rapid and direct connection between surface and groundwater. Nitrate and faecal bacteria concentrations were measured in karst springs in the Greenbrier Hydrologic Unit Area of West Virginia, USA, to determine the impact of grazing agriculture on water quality of the karst groundwater system. There was a strong linear relationship between nitrate concn and the percentage of agricultural land. Karst basins with 79, 51, 16, and 0% agriculture had mean nitrate concn of 3.4, 2.7, 0.6, and 0.1 p.p.m., respectively. Faecal bacteria concn also significantly increased with percent agricultural land. Agricultural activity was adversely affecting the groundwater quality in the karst groundwater system.
Sign up today - FREE
Mendeley saves you time finding and organizing research. Learn more
- All your research in one place
- Add and import papers easily
- Access it anywhere, anytime