Role of Riparian Zones in Reducing Pollution of Surface and Ground Water, Increase Agricultural Production and Nutrient Acquisition and Storage in River Catchments

Abstract

AbstractRomania is a country relatively poor in water resources: almost 75 000 millions m3 from which 67 000 millions m3 surface water and 8000 millions m3 ground water. Half of the surface water (68%) of Romania is of the first quality, while degraded water represents only about 11% of the whole volume. The average amount of water used in Romania annually is of ca. 9.051 billions m3, of which: industry 4.823, domestic 2.887, agriculture 1.299 and others 0.042. Irrigation in Romania is fully controlled. Nutrients input of from agriculture into the surface waters by percolation from the soil in river basins is high, majority of domestically wastewater (74%) are not collected and treated [1]. Riparian zones are an important role in nutrient acquisition and storage reducing pollution of surface water, ground water and increase agricultural production. In river catchment a green infrastructure with lakes and rivers, wetland, different types of forest, pastures, shrubs including different types of crops, it represent the ideal structure to harmonize the development and nature conservation. Plants have limited ability in uptake and storing nutrients, and storage time is different, finally the nutrients reach the litter that is decomposed. Decomposition and the nutrient cycles are fundamental to ecosystem biomass production. Most natural ecosystems are nitrogen (N) limited and biomass production is closely correlated with N turnover [2, 3]. In natural ecosystems, external input of nutrients is very low and efficient recycling of nutrients maintains productivity [4]. This chapter presents the effectiveness of different types of riparian zone in nutrient acquisition and storage with a role in reducing pollution of surface water, ground water and increase agricultural production.KeywordsRiparian vegetationVillagesSmall townsWater pollutionNutrient storage