Small-Scale Pond Effects on Reducing Pollutants Load from a Paddy Field

BACKGROUND: Water-born pollution loads by agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution are expected to become intensified due to ongoing precipitation change. Therefore, it is essential to develop a best management practice (BMP) that is suitable to agricultural environments in Korea. This study aimed to develop an environmental-friendly BMP to reduce NPS pollution load by agricultural activities. An eco-friendly way, small drainage pond, was suggested in this study to avoid direct drainage of agricultural runoffs and eventually reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the surrounding aqua-environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A small pond ($12m^2$) was constructed at the corner of a rice paddy field ($1,715m^2$) located in Suwon, Korea. Water was allowed to drain only via a small drainage pond. Sampling was repeatedly made at two locations, one from an entrance and the other from an exit of a pond, during the rice cultivation period (May to October, 2012). Generally, sampling was made only when runoff water drained through a pond, such as during and/or after rain (irrigation). The water quality analysis showed that all quality parameters (SS, $COD_{Mn}$, T-N, and T-P) were improved as water passed through the pond. The amount of runoff water was reduced by 96~100%. Suspended solids and COD concentrations was reduced by 79.3% and 45.6%, respectively. In case of T-N and T-P concentrations, the reduction rates were 52.2% and 60.5%, respectively and the amount of T-N and T-P were reduced by 16.3~73.0% and 15.4~70.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): Our data implies that agricultural NPS pollution from rice paddy fields can be effectively managed when an appropriate drainage water management practice is imposed. In this paper, it was suggested that an installation of a small drainage pond can be effective to prevent not only the nutrient loss from rice fields but also pollutant discharge to surrounding water environments.

논의 양분유출 저감을 위한 저류지 효과

논에서의 비점오염원 관리는 배출수 관리방안이 현실적인 방안으로 판단되어 본 연구에서는 논 배수 저감을 위한 저류지 효과를 구명하고자 2012년 5월부터 9월까지 경기도 수원시 권선구 서둔동 국립농업과학원 기후변화생태과 시험포장($1,715m^2$)에서 배수로 말단에 논 저류지($12m^2$)를 조성하였다. 영농기간 동안 강우사상시 저류지 유입 전인 논 배출수와 저류지를 통과한 배출수의 토사 및 양분물질(질소, 인) 부하량을 평가하여 저류지의 효과를 평가하였다. 영농기간 동안 논 저류지를 이용한 논 배출수 중 수질농도는 SS와 $COD_{Mn}$은 각각 79.3%와 45.6% 저감되었고 T-N과 T-P는 각각 52.2%와 60.5% 저감되었다. 또한 저류지를 이용한 월별 논 배출수의 유출량 및 양분물질 부하는 유출량의 경우 96~100% 저감되었고 T-N과 T-P의 부하량은 각각 16.3~73.0%와 15.4~70.1% 저감되었다. 따라서 경지기반 정리되어 용수의 취 배수가 용이한 논에서는 외부 수계로 배출되기 전 저류지를 설치하면 양분물질의 배출이 저감될 것으로 생각되며 특히 농업보호구역 및 농업진흥지역에는 논 배수 저류시설 등의 자연 정화형 비점오염 저감방안을 마련하도록 정책부서의 제도 개선이 필요하다고 생각된다.