Abstract
Pollution by fertilizers containing nitrogen is one of the most significant sources of water pollution, and agriculture sector has a considerable share in this type of pollution. In this study, factors affecting the level of contamination of surface and underground water resources by agricultural activities were examined. Data of 254 wheat farmers in the plain of Mashhad in Khorasan Razavi province in Iran were used for investigating the effect of some explanatory variables on the level of water pollution utilizing Ordered Logit Regression Model. The results show that main activity of farmers, years of experience, the level of education, awareness of organic farming, level of income, price of fertilizers and irrigation method have significant effect on the amount of fertilizers utilized by farmers and hence the level of water resources pollution. Efforts for decreasing pollution of water resources require strategies such as changing the main activity of farmers, increase the cost of using chemical fertilizers, create economic incentives for organic farming, and increase general information and knowledge of farmers.
Highlights
Population growth and increasing water demand in various sectors of agriculture, industry and drinking water, has caused great pressure on groundwater resources
Due to the use of nitrogen fertilizers, pollution of water resources by farmers is classified into three groups of; low pollution (1), medium pollution (2) and high pollution (3)
The results show that main activity of farmers, years of experience, the level of education, awareness of organic farming, level of income, price of fertilizers and irrigation method have significant effect on the amount of nitrogen entering into the water resources and water pollution
Summary
Population growth and increasing water demand in various sectors of agriculture, industry and drinking water, has caused great pressure on groundwater resources. Concerns about groundwater pollution caused by excessive utilization of nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural areas have increased (de Paz & Ramos, 2004). Nutrient pollution is one of the most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water. When too much nitrogen and phosphorus enters the environment, usually from a wide range of human activities, the air and water can be polluted (EPA, 2016). Collins et al (2016) emphasize that controlling excessive emissions of pollutants into water and air is a major policy challenge in several countries When too much nitrogen and phosphorus enters the environment, usually from a wide range of human activities, the air and water can be polluted (EPA, 2016). Collins et al (2016) emphasize that controlling excessive emissions of pollutants into water and air is a major policy challenge in several countries
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