Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (7): 924-933.doi: 10.19741/j.issn.1673-4831.2022.0725

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Multi-scale Assessment of Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution Loadings and Its Changing Characteristics in Guangdong Province

CAO Jia-lin1, HU Mao-chuan1,2,3,4, HE Kai1,3,4, DAI Chao1,3,4, HE Bin2   

  1. 1. School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China;
    2. Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China;
    3. Center of Water Resources and Environment, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China;
    4. Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Water Security Regulation and Control for Southern China, Guangzhou 510275, China
  • Received:2022-07-14 Online:2023-07-25 Published:2023-07-19

Abstract: The second national pollution source survey show that agricultural non-point source pollution (ANP) has become one of the main causes of water environment deterioration in Guangdong Province. Therefore, it is important to clarify the ANP status in the province for the prevention and control of water pollution and for rural revitalization. The improved export coefficient method was used to analyze the annual ANP loads and its spatial and temporal variation characteristics in Guangdong Province from 2009 to 2019. On this basis, the seasonal and monthly pollution loads of ANP in the province were evaluated with consideration of monthly differences in fertilizer application, precipitation, livestock and aquaculture. The impact of ANP on the water environment was evaluated by unit area load coefficient method, and the main sources of ANP were explored. The results indicate that:(1) from 2009 to 2019, the total nitrogen load in Guangdong Province showed a decreasing trend and the total phosphorus load showed a rising trend with spring and summer being the peak seasons of pollution discharge in a year, and the total nitrogen and phosphorus discharge from April to October accounting for 68.8% and 67.2% of the annual load, respectively. (2) The total nitrogen load trended decreasing in 76.2% of the cities and the total phosphorus load trended increasing in 61.9% of the cities, and compared to 2009, the total nitrogen load in 71.4% of the cities decreased the threat to the environment and the total phosphorus load in 52.4% of the cities enhanced the threat to the environment in 2019. (3) In general, the environmental damage caused by agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus loads in western Guangdong was more serious than that in Pearl River Delta, and in northern and eastern Guangdong. (4) The contribution rate of each pollution source to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution loads from high to low is livestock and poultry breeding, crop farming and aquaculture. The evaluation results of the current situation and change characteristics of ANP in the province are of great significance to the prevention and control of ANP and the construction of beautiful countryside in the province.

Key words: nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, monthly pollution load, temporal and spatial variation, pollution level, contribution ratio

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