Investigation of Nitrate Pollution in Groundwater Used for Irrigation in Konya Karapinar Region, Central Anatolia

Year 2016, Volume: 19 Issue: 2, 168 - 173, 28.07.2016

Gökhan Büyük , Erhan Akça , Takashi Kume Takanori Nagano

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Groundwater nitrate pollution risks via excess agrochemical use are a serious problem for human health, livestock and environment both in Turkeyand the world. This is a particularly serious threat in areas where irrigation is undertaken by groundwater as in the closed basin of Konya in Central Turkey. The 70% of groundwater irrigation wells in Konya run privately or by state institutions. contain  NO₃-N level of  greater than 10 mg/L. The remaining wells’ nitrate content varied from 3 mg/L to 10 g/L, which all indicate an anthropogenic pollution although the levels of N is still not harmful for crop production. Moreover, about %20 wells EC is greater than the recommended levels for livestock (EC>1000 mg/L). Thus, the nitrate level of groundwater wells used for irrigation is within the permissible (tolarable) level for agricultural uses. However, the consumption by humans and animals is not recommended, because the irrigation in Konya Closed basin, extends to almost 5 M ha, is undertaken by 100.000 groundwater wells and out of 60% are illegally operated.

This study was conducted from 2009 and 2012 in Karapınar region of the Konya Basin, which is intensively irrigated with ground water. The average NO₃-N level of groundwater wells was 11.7 mg/L due to excess irrigation from May to August. During irrigation season 83.4 kg NO₃-N.ha^-1 was unconsciously applied to fields with irrigation. The high fertilizer use and excess irrigation by groundwater wells in the region necessitate precise calculation of nitrate which is contributed from groundwater wells. Thus, chemical nitrogen use will be optimized for preventing pollution of water resources particularly in sugar beet and second crop maize production as irrigation is undertaken 10 to 12 times and 12 to 15 hours. Otherwise, in near future the environment and human health will face  a serious consequences.

Key Words: Nitrate, Groundwater, Pollution, Konya closed basin.

Konya-Karapınar Bölgesinde, İç Anadolu, Sulama için Kullanılan Yeraltı Sularında Nitrat Kirliliğinin Araştırılması  

Yeraltı sularında nitrat kirliliği  riski aşırı azot gübrelerinin kullanımıyla insan sağlığı, çevre ve çiftlik hayvanları için Türkiye hem de Dünya’da ciddi bir problemdir. Bu durum, özellikle Türkiye’de Konya gibi kapalı havzalarda yeraltı suları ile yapılan sulama alanlarında ciddi bir tehdittir. Konya’daki kamu veya özel kişiler tarafından tarımsal amaçlı sulamalar için açılmış yeraltı su kuyularının % 70’inde NO3-N  dzüeyi 10 mg/L’nin  üzerindedir. Geriye kalan kuyuların N içeriği 3-10 mg /L arasında değişmektedir ki tarımsal üretim için zararlı düzey olmamasına karşın bu insan etkisini ortaya koymaktadır . Ayrıca, su kuyularının % 20‘sinde EC konsantrasyonu tavsiye edilen seviyenin olan EC>1000 mg/L üzerindedir.  Bu nedenle, sulama amaçlı kullanılan yeraltı kuyularında nitrat seviyesitarımsal kullanım için izin verilen değerler içinde iken insanlar ve hayvanlar tarafından kullanımı önerilmemektedir çünkü Konya Kapalı Havzasında neredeyse 5 milyon ha’a ulaşan sulama, %60’ı resmi izin alınmadan işletilen 100.000 yeraltı kuyusundan gerçekleştirilmektedir. Bu çalışma, 2009 ile 2012 yıllarında Konya havzasında sulamanın yoğun olarak yeraltı kuyularıyla yapıldığı Karapınar Bölgesine gerçekleştirilmiştir. Mayıs-Ağustos döneminde aşırı sulamadan dolayı yeraltı kuyu sularında ortalama NO3-N düzeyi 11.7 mg/L‘dir.Sulama dönemindeki 83.4kg NO3-N.ha-1 bilinçsizce sulama ile tarım alanlarına uygulanmaktadır. Yüksek azotlu gübre uygulaması ve nitratça zengin yeraltı sularıyla yapılan aşırı sulamadan dolayı yeraltı kuyularından gelen nitrat hesabı dikkatli yapılmalıdır. Bu yüzden, su kaynaklarının kirliliğini önlemek için kimyasal azot kullanımı özellikle şeker pancarı ve mısır tarımının yoğun olduğu bu bölgede sulama 10-12 kez ve her sulama 12-15 saat süreyle kuyu sularından yapıldığından optimize edilmelidir. Aksi durumda yakın gelecekte çevre ve insan sağlığı sorun yaşayabilecektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Nitrat, Yeraltı suyu, Kirlilik, Konya kapalı havza  

Keywords

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