Best management practices for agricultural nonpoint source pollution: Policy interventions and way forward

• Author: Surya Singh,Chakresh Kumar Jain
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12015
• Published date: 01 November 2019
• Date: 01 November 2019

World Water Policy. 2019;5:207–228. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/wwp2

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207

© 2019 Policy Studies Organization

Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DOI: 10.1002/wwp2.12015

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Best management practices for agricultural

nonpoint source pollution: Policy interventions and

way forward

Chakresh Kumar Jain

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SuryaSingh

National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee,

India

Correspondence

Surya Singh, National Institute of

Hydrology, Roorkee, India.

Email: suryasingh.er@gmail.com

Abstract

Best management practices (BMPs) are the tools which are

adopted to run any activity while inflicting least negative

impacts on the surrounding environment. Since, water pol-

lution is one of the most important issues in today's world; it

is indispensable to discuss the activities which are deterio-

rating its quality. Although, a number of treatment technol-

ogies and methods are in place for treating the point sources

of pollution, there is a need to address nonpoint sources of

pollution. There are many successful practices which are

capable of curtailing the impacts of nonpoint source pollu-

tion, if adopted. In this paper an attempt has been made to

evaluate the performance and trade‐offs of various manage-

ment practices to address the issues of agricultural nonpoint

source pollution. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of guiding

principles which can pave a way for adoption of these prac-

tices. Therefore, an attempt has also been made to explore

the aspects of policy formulations along with emphasizing

the factors which can lead to adoption/ non‐adoption of such

practices.

KEYWORDS

agriculture, best management practices (BMPs), fertilizers, nonpoint

source pollution, policy interventions

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JAIN ANd SINGH

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INTRODUCTION

Nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution is one of the most neglected and under‐rated pollution prob-

lems observed across the globe (Braskerud, 2002; Ongley, Xiaolan, & Tao, 2010; USEPA, 2003;

Wang, Ju, et al., 2015). Since it is so complex, diffuse in nature, and difficult to locate, there are

no precise control methods. Excess nonpoint discharge of agricultural chemicals (esp. nitrogen and

phosphorous) and other pollutants have resulted in severe degradation in the quality of various sur-

face water as well as groundwater resources (Abbas & Fares, 2009; Jiang, Fan, Cui, & Zhang, 2007;

Ongley et al., 2010; Paudel & Devkota, 2016; Sharpley, 2016; Sun et al., 2012). Moreover, it has also

resulted in several health problems, financial losses, as well as environmental quality degradation

(Duda, 1993; Mishra, 2015; Tonderski, 1996).

Nonpoint source pollution is primarily caused by the rainwater/ storm‐water runoff and snow-

melt runoff from the agricultural lands (Guo, Wang, & Zhu, 2004; Ma, Ding, Wei, Zhao, & Huang,

2009; Sun et al., 2012), forest lands (Chang, Wen, Huang, Chang, & Lee, 2008; Park et al., 2010),

urban settlements (Behera, Adams, & Li, 2006; Chow, Yusop, & Toriman, 2012; Maharjan, Pachel,

& Loigu, 2017; Tsihrintzis & Hamid, 1998), mining areas (Shaw et al., 2006; Xiao & Ji, 2007),

highways (Lord, 1987; Mir, Kapoor, & Parray, 2017) etc. In most cases, the sources and concentra-

tions of nonpoint source pollutants are the result of land use interactions with the transport system

(Jain, 2002). The contaminants of nonpoint source pollution generally affect surface water bodies,

groundwater, soils (both surface and sub‐surface), human population, and other living beings (Wolff

& Stein, 1999). Some of the common pollutants are sediments, agricultural chemicals (fertilizers and

pesticides), salts, acid drainage, atmospheric deposition, heavy metals, and other elements. These

pollutants may be of both natural as well as anthropogenic origin (Zhang et al., 2015). In the coming

years, this problem will become more serious due to the climate change and subsequent alterations in

the environmental chemistry (Jain & Singh, 2018; Lee, Seong, Kim, Park, & Kang, 2010; Park et al.,

2010; Wang et al., 2018). According to an estimate, for example, there may be approximately 40%

increase in the sediment load of River Brahmaputra (India) by 2075–2100, compared to 1986–1991

levels (Fischer, Pietron, Bring, Thorslund, & Jarsjo, 2017). Similarly, an increase in sediment load

has also been observed in the Amazon River basin (Brazil) (Martinez, Guyot, Filizola, & Sondag,

2009). Furthermore, altered hydrological regimes owing to climate change will decrease flow in

dry periods (Pike & Scherer, 2003) and hence it will concentrate nutrients and contaminants in sur-

face water, thus making the water unfit for consumption. Soil and water assessment tool (SWAT),

Artificial neural network (ANN), General circulation model (GCM), and many other techniques

have been used to study the impacts of future climate change on nonpoint source pollution. These

studies have predicted that nonpoint source pollution will increase in future (Cho, Oh, Choi, &

Cho, 2016; Khoi & Thang, 2017; Mimikou, Baltas, Varanou, & Pantazis, 2000; Zhang et al., 2012),

because pollution load is expected to rise due to alterations in stream flow, sediments, and nutrient

yields as a result of changes in temperature and precipitation events (Lee et al., 2010; Park et al.,

2010; Wang et al., 2018).

Although the problem of nonpoint source pollution varies across the globe, it is more pronounced

in developing countries due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure for abating pollution (Jamwal,

Mittal, & Mouchel, 2011), unsustainable urbanization (Kuai, Li, & Liu, 2015), and comparatively

less technological advancements (Singer, 1972). The origin of the problem can be traced back to the

historical development of various modifications in cropping pattern (Lunetta, Shao, Ediriwickrema,

& Lyon, 2010), pressure to enhance agricultural growth in order to feed ever‐increasing population

(Edgerton, 2009), monoculture crop production (Johannsen & Armitage, 2010), negligence of nat-

ural methods of cropping (Norberg‐Hodge, Goering, & Page, 2001), and loss of forests along with