Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment

The aim of the present study was to investigate stream turbidity and water chemical parameters under varying environmental conditions. We analyzed a three-year-long (2021-2023) daily and bi-weekly dataset collected at six points (P1-P6) along a small stream. We measured stream water turbidity (FNU),...

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Main Authors: Zsigmond Tibor, Farkas Csilla, Bódi Andor, Bakacsi Zsófia, Tóth Eszter, Dencső Márton, Horel Ágota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2025-0017
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author Zsigmond Tibor
Farkas Csilla
Bódi Andor
Bakacsi Zsófia
Tóth Eszter
Dencső Márton
Horel Ágota
author_facet Zsigmond Tibor
Farkas Csilla
Bódi Andor
Bakacsi Zsófia
Tóth Eszter
Dencső Márton
Horel Ágota
author_sort Zsigmond Tibor
collection DOAJ
description The aim of the present study was to investigate stream turbidity and water chemical parameters under varying environmental conditions. We analyzed a three-year-long (2021-2023) daily and bi-weekly dataset collected at six points (P1-P6) along a small stream. We measured stream water turbidity (FNU), total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (TDIN) content, water pH, and specific conductivity (SPC). Meteorological data were collected at the catchment outlet. Daily data showed a moderate positive correlation between FNU and precipitation (r=0.42, p<0.001), while weak negative connections were observed between SPC and FNU values (r=-0.14, p=0.011, n=349). The FNU values at the groundwater spring-fed sampling point (P3) were significantly different from the other sampling points on most parameters (p<0.05). The results of the cluster analysis revealed three main clusters based on daily turbidity data. These groups of daily precipitation totals were i) below 4.8 mm, ii) averaging 6.3 mm, and iii) averaging 23.7 mm. The clusters were most significantly separated along precipitation and FNU values. Turbidity values were strongly correlated with precipitation events for two days, after which stream water quality returned to baseline. Stream water quality was not significantly influenced by soil management or antecedent moisture content but rather by water origin (i.e., precipitation, groundwater).
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-cd811508c760430d9bd4b077d7df2aaf2025-08-20T02:37:11ZengSciendoJournal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics1338-43332025-06-0173222122910.2478/johh-2025-0017Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchmentZsigmond Tibor0Farkas Csilla1Bódi Andor2Bakacsi Zsófia3Tóth Eszter4Dencső Márton5Horel Ágota6Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute for Soil Sciences, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, H-1116 Fehérvári út 132-144., Hungary.The aim of the present study was to investigate stream turbidity and water chemical parameters under varying environmental conditions. We analyzed a three-year-long (2021-2023) daily and bi-weekly dataset collected at six points (P1-P6) along a small stream. We measured stream water turbidity (FNU), total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (TDIN) content, water pH, and specific conductivity (SPC). Meteorological data were collected at the catchment outlet. Daily data showed a moderate positive correlation between FNU and precipitation (r=0.42, p<0.001), while weak negative connections were observed between SPC and FNU values (r=-0.14, p=0.011, n=349). The FNU values at the groundwater spring-fed sampling point (P3) were significantly different from the other sampling points on most parameters (p<0.05). The results of the cluster analysis revealed three main clusters based on daily turbidity data. These groups of daily precipitation totals were i) below 4.8 mm, ii) averaging 6.3 mm, and iii) averaging 23.7 mm. The clusters were most significantly separated along precipitation and FNU values. Turbidity values were strongly correlated with precipitation events for two days, after which stream water quality returned to baseline. Stream water quality was not significantly influenced by soil management or antecedent moisture content but rather by water origin (i.e., precipitation, groundwater).https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2025-0017turbiditysuspended sedimentantecedent soil moisture contentsmall catchment
spellingShingle Zsigmond Tibor
Farkas Csilla
Bódi Andor
Bakacsi Zsófia
Tóth Eszter
Dencső Márton
Horel Ágota
Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics
turbidity
suspended sediment
antecedent soil moisture content
small catchment
title Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
title_full Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
title_fullStr Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
title_full_unstemmed Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
title_short Stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
title_sort stream water quality variation as a function of physical environmental conditions in an agriculturally dominated catchment
topic turbidity
suspended sediment
antecedent soil moisture content
small catchment
url https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2025-0017
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