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. 2018 Nov 5;15(11):2466.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph15112466.

Studies on the Spatiotemporal Variability of River Water Quality and Its Relationships with Soil and Precipitation: A Case Study of the Mun River Basin in Thailand

Zhonghe Zhao  1   2 , Gaohuan Liu  3 , Qingsheng Liu  4 , Chong Huang  5 , He Li  6
Affiliations

Studies on the Spatiotemporal Variability of River Water Quality and Its Relationships with Soil and Precipitation: A Case Study of the Mun River Basin in Thailand

Zhonghe Zhao et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Human activities can affect soil nutrients, thereby influencing river water quality. The spatial pattern of precipitation also impacts distributions of water quality. In this paper, we employed a method that combines point survey, soil, and water quality data to analyze the spatial relationships between precipitation, soil nutrient and water quality in the basin on the basis of field surveys and laboratory analysis. The ordinary kriging method was applied to interpolate the precipitation and soil data, and the spatial pattern was analyzed. The water samples on the main stream and soil samples in the field were collected during both the dry and rainy seasons to analyze the water quality and soil nutrients. The results indicate: (1) The water quality in the dry season is better than that in the rainy season, the water quality in the upper reaches is better than that in the lower reaches, and agricultural activity is the direct source of water pollution. (2) The precipitation in the rainy and dry seasons is differente and the dilution effect of precipitation on pollutant concentrations and transport of water flow affect the spatial distribution of water quality. (3) There is a significant difference in the spatial pattern of soil nutrients between the dry and rainy seasons, and the soil nutrient content and the surface runoff directly affect the water quality. Soil nutrients are affected by human activities, and they potentially act as nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in this river basin. To improve the water quality, suitable agriculture measures need to be implemented.

Keywords: precipitation; soil nutrients; water quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Location of the Mun River Basin.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the water quality monitoring stations in the Mun River.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Location map of precipitation observation stations in the basin and surrounding areas.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Location map of soil sampling points.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comprehensive score of water pollution during the dry season.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comprehensive score of water pollution in the rainy season.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Spatial patterns of annual precipitation in the Mun River Basin. (a) is the map of average annual rainfall; (b) is the map of average annual rainfall contour; (c) is the map of rainfall in the rainy season; (d) is the map of rainfall contour in the rainy season; (e) is the map of rainfall in the dry season; (f) is the map of rainfall contour in the dry season.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Spatial patterns of (a) SOM, (b) TN, (c) AP, (d) pH and (e) EC in the dry season.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Spatial patterns of (a) SOM, (b) TN, (c) AP, (d) pH, and (e) EC in the rainy season.
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