Analysis of Pathogen-Microbiota Indicator Responses in Surface Karst Springs under Various Conditions in a Rocky Desertification Area: A Case Study of the Xiaojiang Watershed in Yunnan

Abstract

The Xiaojiang watershed in Luxi, Yunnan, is a typical rocky desertification area, in which karst groundwater pollution is severe and water resources are scarce. This article takes the watershed as an example and investigates the response mechanisms of surface karst spring water quality to agricultural pollution in rocky desertification areas. Specifically, the study was conducted as follows: (I) A total of 108 water samples from 54 sources were collected during the dry and wet seasons for analysis. (i) Principal component and correlation analyses identified the main pollution indicators in the soil surface karst zone of the area, including total bacterial count, total coliforms, COD, pH, and redox potential. (ii) It was also discovered that surface soil, impacted by agricultural activities, directly contributes to groundwater pollution in the soil surface karst zone. (II) Local soil was used to prepare soil columns under various conditions for simulation. The findings indicate: (i) Temperature significantly affects the surface karst springs, with higher temperatures leading to more pronounced water quality responses, increased enrichment of pathogen-microbiota indicators, and degraded water quality. (ii) Soil porosity substantially influences the water quality of surface karst springs. Increased porosity results in looser soil, more oxidizing conditions in the storage matrix, reduced pathogen-microbiota development, and consequently, less water pollution. This study offers theoretical and technical references for evaluating, monitoring, and issuing early warnings for pathogenic bacteria-microbiota pollution in groundwater in rocky desertification areas.

Keywords

• rocky desertification
• surface karst spring
• groundwater pollution
• pathogenic microbiota
• simulated in situ experiment