Water quality under intensive banana production and extensive pastureland in tropical Mexico
The effects of intensive banana production with high mineral-fertilizer application and of exten- sive pastures were compared regarding water quality in a lowland region of SE Mexico. We monitored NOÿ 3 , NOÿ 2 , and PO4 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 NOÿ 3 concentrations in all water bodies were lower than the threshold value for drinking water and aquatic life. Particularly in areas with intense banana pro- duction, the NOÿ 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 PO4 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.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Bananos, Abonos y fertilizantes, Productividad agrícola, Calidad del agua, Artfrosur, |
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