The entrance of nutrients and sediments to the water resources has become a challenge in water quality management. Accordingly, identifying main polluting sources and estimating total loads discharged to the surface waters are indispensable for simulation and management More
The entrance of nutrients and sediments to the water resources has become a challenge in water quality management. Accordingly, identifying main polluting sources and estimating total loads discharged to the surface waters are indispensable for simulation and management. The purpose of this study is to use Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to estimate nitrogen and phosphor loads discharging to the Zrebar Lake. In addition, it is intended to identify the effects of land uses and variations of time and spatial pattern of discharges. Currently, this lake contains fresh water and is used for recreational purposes while tackles with eutrophication problem because of agricultural activities. Regarding the results, the irrigated farmlands have the highest nitrogen discharge on June and August while it is on May for phosphorous. For dry crops, the highest value of nitrogen and phosphorous loads respectively belong to October and September. These are attributed to the way farms are irrigated and the amounts of fertilizers applied.
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