Effect of intensive fertilizer use on groundwater quality

Abstract

Although fertilizer make a great contribution to an increase in crop yields, increased applications of chemical fertilizers in irrigated lands are likely to create nonpoint contamination sources of chemical fertilizer species. This study was conducted to investigate the contamination of groundwater system in the Ourmieh plain aquifer by chemical fertilizers. For this purpose first all data and information is collected and analyses. The study area divided in to three zone(A,B,C) risk of groundwater pollution by nitrate and sulfate from applied fertilizer. Our study indicates the major ion concentration index contamination of groundwater (NO₃,PO₄,SO₄,K) is not greater than their permissible limits in drinking water, but concentration of N0₃, SO₄ in the some area is greater than their permissible in drinking water. Best management practices should be employed to control the amount and time of use fertilizers. Finally, there is a strong need to complete a groundwater quality and quantity monitoring system in the study area