The Influence of Intensive Fertilization on Some Indicators of Groundwater Quality in the Area of the Western Plain of Romania

Abstract

After the change of the communist regime and the takeover of agricultural areas by private permits, they, in the context of the presence on the market of a limited range of chemical fertilizers at low prices, began their irrational application, in order to obtain large yields. Although most farmers currently apply fertilizer resources on a scientific basis, the effect of previous practices is still felt, affecting groundwater quality. This paper aims to assess the impact of chemical fertilizers on water quality indicators in a former rural area, now peri urban in the Banat Plain. 10 water sampling points were established (wells and boreholes), and the sampling was done over a period of 6 months (from November 2020 till June 2021). The parameters determined and the range of values were: pH: 6,65 ÷ 7,90; NO3- (mg·l-1): 1,23 ÷ 158,15; NO2- (mg·l-1): 0 ÷ 10,76; NH4+ (mg·l-1): 0 ÷ 5,12, EC (μS/cm): 420 ÷ 1918; PO43- (mg·l-1): 0,0107 ÷ 1,518; Cl- (mg·l-1): 9,35 ÷ 174; SO42- (mg·l-1): 18,79 ÷229,18. The interdependencies between these parameters were also studied.