Economics of Nitrate Losses from Drained Agricultural Land

Some of the highest losses of nitrate to surface waters come from drained agricultural land. This research studied, for Belgian farming conditions, (i) the effect of subsurface drainage density on nitrate losses and (ii) the economics of nitrate losses, using the nitrogen version of the program DRAINMOD-N. DRAINMOD was used to simulate the performance of the drainage system of the Hooibeekhoeve experiment, situated in the sandy region of the Kempen (Belgium) for a 14-year (1985–1998) period. A continuous cropping with maize was assumed. Daily NO3-N losses were predicted for a range of drain spacings and depths, two drainage strategies (conventional and controlled), and three fertilizer application rates (225, 275, and 325 kg?N?ha?1). Losses of N in subsurface drainage were assumed to occur almost entirely in the NO3-N form. Losses of organic and inorganic N in the form of NO3-N in surface runoff are small and were neglected. Hydrologic results indicated that increasing drain spacing or decreasing drain depth reduces drainage discharge while it increases runoff. The use of controlled drainage reduces subsurface drainage and increases runoff. Results also revealed that increasing the drain spacing or decreasing the drain depth reduces nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) drainage losses and net mineralization, while increasing denitrification and runoff losses. Controlled drainage caused a predicted reduction in drainage losses and an increase in denitrification and runoff losses. The optimal combination of drain density and management is one that maximizes profits and minimizes environmental impacts. Simulated results indicated that NO3-N losses to the environment could be substantially reduced by reducing the drainage density below the level required for maximum profits based on grain sales. The study concluded that, if the environmental objective is of importance equal to or greater than profits, drainage systems can be designed and managed to reduce NO3-N losses while still providing an acceptable profit.     

Effect of Roof Surface Type on Storm-Water Runoff from Full-Scale Roofs in a Temperate Climate

Roof surfaces represent a significant portion of the impervious area associated with urban development. Storm-water runoff from those surfaces causes stream degradation in receiving waters attributable to excess volume of water runoff. This paper investigates the influence of roof surface type on storm-water runoff and specifically considers the benefits of a vegetated roof, or green roof, as a storm-water best management practice (BMP). Runoff data were collected over a 6-month period from three full-scale roofs, which were retrofitted with flow meters and automated water-quality samplers. The roof surfaces included an asphalt roof (for control purposes), a vegetated extensive green roof, and a stone ballasted roof. Both the green roof and stone roof were effective at reducing runoff volume and attenuating peak discharge, with the green roof being more efficient for rainfall events less than 2.54?cm. Overall, the green roof retained 68.25% of rainfall volume and reduced peak discharge by an average of 88.86%. Water-quality results were inconclusive, but did provide some indication that green roof systems could reduce nutrient loadings.     

Groundwater changes in the Wairakei–Tauhara geothermal system

Overlying most of the Wairakei–Tauhara geothermal system is a sequence of shallow aquifers. Some of these are groundwaters heated by fluids escaping from the deep geothermal reservoir, others are cold; some are extensive and confined, others are perched, unconfined and of limited extent. Water levels of some of the shallow aquifers have declined at various times throughout the history of geothermal development. One of the mechanisms causing the observed changes is an increase in groundwater downflow into depressurizing steam zones. This occurs through natural fractures that once channelled the ascent of two-phase fluids. Another important mechanism is internal downflow within boreholes connecting permeable aquifers that were otherwise hydrologically separated. These cool downflows have had a significant impact on the deeper reservoir, and also affect the discharge characteristics of surface thermal features. However, in the Southern Tauhara sector, outflows of dilute chloride fluid from shallow thermal aquifers have not been affected by the deep pressure drawdown. This could be attributed to liquid or two-phase upflow continuing to recharge the chloride component in the south, or to significant quantities of residual chloride in a large geothermally heated aquifer still masking recharge depletion that has occurred during the last 50 years.     

New Paradigm for Sizing Riparian Buffers to Reduce Risks of Polluted Storm Water: Practical Synthesis

Riparian buffers are commonly promoted to protect stream water quality. A common conceptual assumption is that buffers “intercept” and treat upland runoff. As a shift in paradigm, it is proposed instead that riparian buffers should be recognized as the parts of the landscape that most frequently generate storm runoff. Thus, water quality can be protected from contaminated storm runoff by disassociating riparian buffers from potentially polluting activities. This paper reviews and synthesizes some simple engineering approaches that can be used to delineate riparian buffers for rural watersheds based on risk of generating runoff. Although reference is made to specific future research that may improve the proposed methods for delineating riparian buffers, the approaches described here provide planners and engineers with a set of currently available scientifically defensible tools. It is recommended that planners and engineers use available rainfall and stream discharge data to parameterize the buffer-sizing equations and use variable-width buffers, based on a topographic index, to achieve a realistic representation of runoff generating areas.     

Hydrology research priorities for Dryland Agriculture in India

A conceptual approach was described and used to identify priorities for the cooperating centres of the All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA). The approach was based on AICRPDA centre information, soil available water, runoff estimates, and rainfall at each centre. Lines of equal runoff were derived from the runoff-rainfall curves of the major dryland soils. Two scenarios were described, one where vertisols are cropped during the rainy season and the second where they are left under fallowed conditions during the rainy season. Three water management zones were identified for each scenario: less than 100 mm of runoff, 100 to 260 mm of runoff and greater than 260 mm of runoff. Depending on the scenario, each AICRPDA centre was incorporated into one of the three water management zones. Research orientation and priorites were set for each zone. Research efforts in the low rainfall zone can be based on small areas and in-situ water conservation. In the medium runoff zone, research can be based on areas ranging in size from 10 to 100 ha and water harvesting techniques. For the high runoff zone, greater efforts have to be put on runoff and erosion control and also on drainage response alleviating the problems created by waterlogging over large areas of 100 to 10 000 ha. Secondary priorities were also identified for each zone.     

鄱阳湖环湖区水文站网合理分布和设置

评价、检验鄱阳湖环湖区现有水文站网.根据防汛抗旱、水资源开发利用、水环境保护、湖泊科学研究等国民经济持续发展的需要,科学、合理地布设水文站网。     

项目管理在水文自动测报系统建设中应用浅析

通过对水文自动测报系统建设项目的特点分析，结合现代项目管理理念，提出了在水文自动测报系统建设中，在材料与设备管理、进度管理、质量管理、项目信息与文档管理、沟通与冲突管理、技术管理等六个方面项目管理应注意的问题和采取的措施。     

Longitudinal development of chlorophyll and phytoplankton assemblages in a regulated large river (the Ebro River)

The distribution of chlorophyll and phytoplankton communities were compared to nutrient concentrations and hydrological parameters along the main stretch of the river Ebro. A progressive increase in planktonic chlorophyll was observed from the upper reaches to the middle section of the river. Chlorophyll reached a maximum (60-80 microg L(-1)) in the meandering section (downstream of the city of Zaragoza), where nutrient inputs (both N and P) and the residence time of the water are very high. In this meandering section phytoplankton assemblages consisted of large centric diatoms and Scenedesmus sp.pl. These longitudinal patterns were interrupted by the presence of three large reservoirs in the lower section of the river. In the section below the reservoirs, the shorter residence water time, the presence of the invasive zebra mussel, and the massive macrophyte development may explain the historical decrease in chlorophyll-a (from 20-45 microg L(-1) in the 1990s to the present 2-5 microg L(-1)). Phytoplankton densities were extremely poor in this section of the river, where large colonial Coelastrum sp.pl. and Pediastrum sp.pl. were the most characteristic taxa.