SOIL AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING TECHINIQUES

Ramesh KanwarProfessor and Chair, Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa USA

Objectives of Soil and Water Monitoring

1. To determine the impact of any activity on the landscape (agriculture, chemicals, manure use, industry, human or industry waste etc) on surface or groundwater quality

2. To make sure our drinking water supplies are safe for human consumption.

World Water Supply

97.2% Saline2.15% Icecaps& Glaciers

0.307% in GroundWater < 0.5mi deep

0.307% in GroundWater > 0.5mi deep

0.005% soilmoisture

0.01% in surfacewaters & theatmosphere

2.8% Fresh

Water Quality Issues Related to Human Health

Main compounds are - N, P, pathogens, and antibiotics Surface and groundwater pollution potential High NO3-N levels can cause blue baby syndrome

(methemoglobinemia) High NO3-N can lead to etiology of stomach cancer (only

limited evidence available) Bacteria and pathogens can be disease causing Antibiotics as feed supplements are finding ways to water

WATER QUALITY CONCERNS FROM ANIMAL WASTES

• Main concern is infant health– Nitrate/nitrite causes “blue baby” disease– Newborn babies essentially suffocate– Water Quality Standard for Nitrate-nitrogen is 10 mg/l

• SURFACE WATER WATER BODIES:– Ammonia > 2 mg/L Kills Fish– Phosphate > 0.05 mg/L promotes excess algae growth which

leads to Fish Kills - Eutophication– BOD depletes oxygen which causes Fish Kills - Hypoxia

Agricultural Contribution: World Perspective

• 60% N and 25% P from European Ag to North Sea

• 48% of nutrient pollution in the former Czechoslovakia

• Significant levels flowing into the Adriatic Sea

• Eutrophication problems in Lake Erie

NITROGEN LOSSES FROM FARMS IN THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN – US Example

Water Quality Issue: HYPOXIA• The worst hypoxic conditions are in the

Baltic Sea and the Black Sea• Hypoxic conditions have been increasing

since the 1960’s• The Gulf of Mexico, outside the delta of

the Mississippi River is the worlds third largest hypoxic area

• 12400 sq. km. (4800 sq. mi)