[Preliminary study on linking land use & landscape pattern and water quality in the Jiulong River watershed]

Abstract

Geospatial analysis and statistical analysis were integrated to link land use & landscape pattern and water quality in 2002 and 2007 at the entire watershed and buffer zone scale in the Jiulong River Watershed. Results show that the relationships between land use & landscape pattern and water quality in 2002 and 2007 were basically consistent, namely: (1) Percentage of built-up area was positively correlated with BOD5, NO3(-)-N, NH4(+)-N and permanganate index, and negatively correlated with DO; percentage of woodland area was positively correlated with NO3(-)-N, NH4(+)-N and permanganate index; percentage of cropland area was negatively correlated with NO3(-)-N, NH4(+)-N and permanganate index. (2) SHDI was positively correlated with permanganate index, TP, NH4(+)-N, and negatively correlated with DO at the entire watershed and buffer scale; LPI was negatively correlated with BOD5, permanganate index, TP and NH4(+)-N, and positively correlated with DO at the entire watershed and buffer zone scale; PD was positively correlated with BOD5, TP and NH4(+)-N; Most of the landscape pattern metrics was not the good predictors for water quality in study watershed. (3) Water quality parameters in buffer zone area have more significant correlations with percentage of land use type areas and landscape pattern metrics, because most water quality parameters in the buffer zone can be better explained with greater adjusted coefficient of determination (Adjusted R2). (4) Compared to landscape pattern metrics, percentage of land use type area can predict water quality better because most water quality parameters have more stable correlations.