Small streams and water reservoirs as indicators of environmental problems in agricultural landscapes (on the example of the Belgorod region)

Abstract

The main object of the article is to show indicator functions of small water bodies (streams, ponds) for 4 rural areas in agricultural landscapes (Belgorod region). In the course of the study the groups of anthropogenic objects with their special impacts are identified and ranked. The correlation between concentrations of chemical forms of biogenic elements (N, P) demonstrates the contribution of typical problems of agricultural landscapes in ecological situation (rural areas) as well as contribution of adjacent urban areas. The results have revealed that some rural areas are particularly susceptible to nitrate or phosphate pollution, possible reasons have been indicated. The approved research methods will be helpful for further improvement of the indicator approach.

Keywords

• small streams
• hydrochemical characteristics
• agricultural landscapes
• biogenic elements (n
• p)
• rural areas