Agricultural Load in the Chumysh River Basin

Abstract

The purpose is to assess the agricultural load in the Chumysh River basin in order to determine the geo-ecological conditions for the functioning of the water management complex under intensive agrarian development of the area. Materials and methods. Based on statistical data for 2017-2021, indicators showing the degree of agricultural impact on municipalities in the river basin and on the catchment as a whole were calculated; the area was ranked and mapped according to the degree of agricultural load; a comparative analysis of direct and indirect impacts in the catchment was performed. Verifi cation of the assessment results was carried out by means of an inventory of pollution sources (agricultural enterprises) with the use of appropriate software and space images. Results and discussion. In the basin of the Chumysh River there are areas with diff erent intensity of agricultural impact. The high degree of load is observed in Altai Krai (77 %), which is associated with intensive agricultural development of the territory. Comparative analysis of direct and indirect impacts showed that the sources of diff use pollution prevail: agricultural lands, cattle walking places. Conclusion. Under conditions of insuffi cient information, the proposed methodology makes it possible to assess the intensity of anthropogenic impact of agriculture on the catchment and water body, to rank the basin by the degree of load, and to identify sources of pollution of the water body and its catchment area.