Diffuse pollution loads on water resources from Turkey's livestock production

Abstract

In recent years, the increase in animal production with the increase in population has caused a rise in pollution due to the improper storage of animal wastes and inappropriate land applications. Diffuse pollution caused by pathogens sourced from manure and organic nutrient loads leaking into ground and surface waters is becoming more and more of a concern. Identifying and controlling point and diffuse pollution constitute the first step to improving and protecting the quality of water resources. Non-point source pollution is much more difficult to detect, measure and control than point sources. In this study, a load of waste amounts from animal enterprises (cattle, small ruminant and poultry) according to geographical regions of Turkey and the non-point diffuse pollution load potentials caused by these loads were determined for the last five years, and their effects on water resources were evaluated. Accordingly, nitrogen loads for the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, Southeastern Anatolia, Marmara, Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia regions are 95 486 tons, 161 921 tons, 110 489 tons, 113 784 tons, 150 013 tons, 207 005 tons and 187 379 tons, respectively. Pollutant phosphorus loads are 8 806 tons, 17 116 tons, 11 777 tons, 9 558 tons, 16 155 tons, 19 306 tons and 18 130 tons for the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, Southeastern Anatolia, Marmara, Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia regions, respectively. As a result of the calculations, it has been revealed that the livestock type that has the most significant effect on non-point source pollutants originates from cattle. In addition, according to animal species for the last five years, the annual dry matter amounts of manure are 79 402 kilotons, 7 848 kilotons and 23 022 kilotons for cattle, small ruminant and poultry, respectively. At the end of the study, some suggestions were offered for the prevention of nonpoint source pollution.