Premium
Water quality under intensive banana production and extensive pastureland in tropical Mexico
Author(s) -
Aryal Deb R.,
Geissen Violette,
PonceMendoza Alejandro,
RamosReyes Rodimiro R.,
Becker Mathias
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.201100117
Subject(s) - ditch , environmental science , water quality , eutrophication , groundwater , aquatic ecosystem , drainage , fertilizer , hydrology (agriculture) , agronomy , environmental chemistry , nutrient , ecology , biology , chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering
The effects of intensive banana production with high mineral‐fertilizer application and of extensive pastures were compared regarding water quality in a lowland region of SE Mexico. We monitored NO $ _3^- $ , NO $ _2^- $ , and PO 4 3– concentrations in groundwater (80 m depth), subsurface water (5 m depth), and surface water (open‐ditch drainage) at monthly intervals for a one‐year period. Irrespective of the land use, the NO $ _3^- $ concentrations in all water bodies were lower than the threshold value for drinking water and aquatic life. Particularly in areas with intense banana production, the NO $ _2^- $ contents in water exceeded the safety thresholds for drinking water of 1.0 mg L –1 ( WHO , 2006) and aquatic ecosystems of 0.2 mg L –1 ( OATA , 2008). Water from pastureland showed significantly higher PO 4 3– concentration than that from the banana plantation, indicating a high risk of eutrophication. There is a need to provide recommendations for optimal time and amount of N application in commercial banana production and for limitation of P inputs in pasturelands to avoid further contamination of water bodies.