Kyoung-Jae Lim

Water Quality Prediction at Mandae Watershed using SWAT and Water Quality Improvement with Vegetated Filter Strip

Mandae watershed in Gangwon province has been known as one of soil erosion hot spot watersheds within Hanggang basin. Thus numerous efforts have been made to reduce soil erosion and pollutant loads into receiving watershed. However, proper best management practices have not been suggested because no monitoring flow and water quality data were available. Thus, modeling technique could not be utilized to evaluate water quality issue properly at Mandae watershed to develop and implement the best management practices. In this study, the SWAT model was applied to the Mandae watershed, Gangwon province to evaluate the SWAT prediction ability and water quality improvement with vegetated filter strip (VFS) in this study. The Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSE) and Coefficient of determination () values for flow simulation were 0.715 and 0.802, respectively, and the NSE and values were 0.903 and 0.920 for T-P simulation indicating the SWAT can be used to simulate flow and T-P with acceptable accuracies. The SWAT model, calibrated for flow and T-P, was used to evaluate water quality improvement with the VFS in agricultural fields. It was found that approximately 56.19 % of T-P could be reduced with vegetated filter strip of 5 m at the edge of agricultural fields within the watershed (34.86 % reduction with VFS of 1m, 48.29 % with VFS of 3 m). As shown in this study, the T-P, which plays key roles in eutrophication in the waterbodies, can be reduced with proper installation of the VFS.

Analysis of the Reduction Effect on NPS Pollution Loads by Surface Cover Application

Effect of rice straw mat and wood shaves on the reduction of runoff and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution loads from field plots were experimentally studied. Three runoff plots of m in size and 3 % in slope were prepared on a loamy sand field. Each plot was equipped with a flume to measure runoff and collect water samples. Experimental treatments of surface cover were bare, wood shaves (1,000 kg/ha) and rice straw mat cover (3,000 kg/ha). Under radish was cultivation. During the growing season of the radish, three rainfall-runoff events were monitored. Effect of wood shaves and straw mat cover on runoff reduction was 4~30 % and 33~75 % respectively compared to control. The effect on NPS pollution reduction was 36.8 and 64.3 % in BOD, 41.1 and 80.8 % in SS, 34.0 and 56.1 % in TP and 28.0 and 56.6 % in TN respectively. It was analyzed that the reduction of runoff and NPS pollution were mainly contributed by the decrease of rainfall energy impact and flow velocity and the increase of infiltration due to the surface cover materials. Rice straw mat showed very stable soil cover while large portion of wood shaves were lost during heavy storm events. It was concluded that straw mat was an efficient cover material to reduce NPS pollution from upland fields.

Analysis of Soil Erosion Reduction Effect of Rice Straw Mat by the SWAT Model

The purpose of this study is to evaluate sediment yield reduction under various field slope conditions with rice straw mat. The Vegetative Filter Strip Model-W (VFSMOD-W) and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were used for simulation of sediment yield reduction effect of rice straw mat. The Universe Soil Loss Equation Practice factor (USLE P factor), being able to reflect simulation of rice straw mat in the agricultural field, were estimated for each slope with VFSMOD-W and measured soil erosion values under 5, 10, and 20 % slopes. Then with the regression equation for slopes, USLE P factor was derived and used as input data for each Hydrological Response Unit (HRU) in the SWAT model. The SWAT Spatially Distributed-HRU (SD-HRU) pre-processor module was utilized, moreover, in order to consider spatial location and topographic features (measured topographic features by field survey) of all HRU within each subwatershed in the study watershed. Result of monthly sediment yield without rice straw mat (Jan. 2000 - Aug. 2007) was 814.72 ton/month, and with rice straw mat (Jan. 2000 - Aug. 2007) was 526.75 ton/month, which was reduced as 35.35 % compared without it. Also, during the rainy season (from Jun. to Sep. 2000 - 2007), when without vs. with rice straw mat, monthly sediment indicated 2,109.54 ton and 1,358.61 ton respectively. It showed about 35.60 % was reduced depending on rice straw mat. As shown in this study, if rice straw mat is used as a Best Management Practice (BMP) in the sloping fields, rainfall-driven sediment yield will be reduced effectively.

Applicability of PAM(Polyacrylamide) in Soil Erosion Prevention: Rainfall Simulation Experiments

Surface runoff and erosion are responsible for extensive losses of top soil and agricultural productivity. In this study, a laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different polyacrylamides (PAM) on the protection of soil from erosion and turbidity in loamy sand soil. To accomplish this, 10 and 40 kg of PAM were applied to the soil surface. The effects of rainfall on 10 and 20% slopes were then evaluated in the laboratory using a rainfall simulator. After air drying, the surface was subjected to rain at 30 mm . The silt+clay of the runoff from samples treated with 10 kg PAM reduced by 43% and 13% when the 10% and 20% slopes were evaluated, respectively, when compared with the tap water without PAM treatment as control. The mean contents of silt+clay were reduced as the amount of PAMs applied increased at both slopes. Specifically, samples treated with 40 kg PAM showed reductions in the silt+clay of the runoff to 88% and 85% when the 10% and 20% slopes were evaluated, respectively, when compared to control. Furthermore, the mean turbidity of runoff in the 40 kg PAM treatment was reduced to 94.7% and 84.8% when the samples were subjected to 10% and 20% slopes, respectively, when compared to the control. Taken together, these findings indicate that PAM treatment will improve water pollution and agricultural productivity on sloped land via a reduction in soil erosion.

Adsorption Characteristics of Heavy Metal Ions onto Chemically Modified Rice Husk and Sawdust from Aqueous Solutions

ABSTRACT: Biosorption uses adsorbents derived from non-living biomass and removes toxic metals from industrial wastewater. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of low cost biosorbents to remove heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from aqueous solutions using chemically modified rice husk and saw dust ( Pseudotsuga menziesi, Quercus, Populus ). Batch-type adsorption experiments were carried out using rice husk and saw dust treated with NaOH and/or tartaric acid in artificial wastewater (100 mg metal/L). The experimental results showed that the adsorption specificity of each biosorbent was Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn irrespective of the types of biosorbents. The adsorption capacity of Pb and Cu onto NaOH-treated sawdust was increased 2~3 times compared to the untreated one. In addition, the tartaric acid treatment increased the adsorption capacity of rice husk for Zn and Cd approximately 5~10 fold compared to the untreated one. Surface conditions and changes in functional groups by chemical modification of each biosorbent were confirmed by SEM and FT-IR. Overall, the results show that chemical modification increases the metal removal capacity of rice bran and sawdust.Key Words:

Analysis of Reduction of NPS Pollution loads using the small sediment trap at field

Various Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been suggested to reduce Nonpoint source pollutant loads from agricultural fields. However, very little research regarding water quality improvement with sediment trap has been performed in Korea. Thus, effects of sediment trap were investigated in this study. Three sediment traps were installed at the edge of six plots and flow and water quality of inflow and outflow were monitored and analyzed. It was found that approximately 64.1 % of flow reduction was observed. In addition, pollutant concentration of outflow was reduced by 39.0 % for . For SS, , DOC, T-N, T-P, approximately 62.1 %, 43.4 %, 43.5 %, 40.0 %, and 41.2 % reduction were observed, respectively. Over 80 % and 90 % of pollutant loads were reduced from sediment trap #2 and #3 because of less outflow from plots covered with rice straw/straw mat. In case of intensive rainfall events occurred from July 26~29, 2011, over 60 % of pollutant and 88.9 % of sediment reduction were observed from sediment trap #3. As shown in this study, small sediment traps could play important roles in reducing pollutant loads from agricultural fields. If proper management practices, such as rice straw/straw mat, are used to protect surface from rainfall impacts and rill formation, much pollutant reduction could be expected.

Surface Cover Application for Reduction of Runoff and Sediment Discharge from Sloping Fields

To measure effects of surface cover on runoff and sediment discharge reduction using rainfall simulator, four(5 m30 m scale) plot experiments were conducted in this study. Surface covers made with straw mat, Polyacrylamide (PAM), chaff, and sawdust were simulated 4 times under 31.1~44.4 mm/hr rainfall intensities. Compared with results from control plot, the time of runoff generation is delayed and outflow volume decreased with surface cover. Effects on runoff reduction of straw mat, PAM, sawdust and chaff ranged 4.7~81.5 % and runoff rate reduced by 6.5~76.1 % respectively, when compared with those from control plot. The percentage of decrease in sediment discharge were 99.7~99.8 % from straw mat+sawdust+PAM plots, 85.9~95.6 % from straw mat+PAM plots, and 98.5~99.4 % from straw mat+chaff+PAM plots. The runoff, sediment discharge, and SS concentration reduction efficiencies of the cover materials were outstanding when compared to control plot. It was analyzed that reduction of runoff and sediment discharge were mainly contributed by decrease in rainfall energy impact and flow velocity and increase of infiltration due to the surface cover materials. The results could be used as a base for the development of best management practices (BMPs) to reduce runoff, sediment discharge from sloping field.

Analysis of the Characteristics of NPS Runoff and Application of L-THIA model at Upper Daecheong Reservoir

Generation and transportation of runoff and pollutant loads within watershed generated eutrophication at Daecheong reservoir. To improve water quality at Daecheong reservoir, the best management practices should be developed and applied at upper watersheds for water quality improvement at downstream areas. In this study, two small watersheds of upper Daecheong reservoir were selected. The Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA) model has been widely used for the estimation of the direct runoff worldwide. To apply the L-THIA ArcView GIS model was evaluated for direct runoff and water quality estimation at small watershed. And the Web-based Hydrograph Analysis Tool (WHAT) was used for direct runoff separating from total flow. As a result, the (Coefficient of determination) value and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient value for direct runoff comparison at An-nae watershed were 0.81 and 0.71, respectively. And the value and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient value at Wol-oe were 0.95 and 0.93. The value of BOD, TOC, T-N and T-P at An-nae watershed were BOD 0.94, TOC 0.81, T-N 0.94 and T-P 0.89. And the value of BOD, TOC, T-N and T-P at Wol-oe watershed were BOD 0.80, TOC 0.93, T-N 0.86 and T-P 0.65. The result that estimated pollutant loadings using the L-THIA ArcView GIS model reflected well the measured pollutant loadings except for T-P in Wol-oe watershed. With L-THIA ArcView GIS model, the direct runoff and non-point pollutant (NPS) loadings in the watershed could be analyzed through simple input data such as daily rainfall, land uses, and hydrologic soil group.

Development and Application of SATEEC L Module for Slope Length Adjustment Based on Topography Change

Severe sediment-laden problem has been the hot issue in Korea. It was assumed that agricultural activities and landslides were the primary causes of these problems in watersheds. The USLE-based systems have been widely used in soil erosion studies. However the GIS-based USLE modeling system has limitation in USLE L factors. In this study, the SATEEC L module was developed to reflect the slope length segmentations in the fields. The SATEEC L module was applied to the study watershed to analyze the effects of using the SATEEC L module on estimated sediment. As shown in the comparisons between SATEEC estimated sediment with SWAT values, the SATEEC GA-SDR module derives the SDR with reasonably acceptable accuracies. However, it is worthy to note that the soil erosion using the SATEEC L module for the study watershed was lower than that without using the SATEEC L module by 25%, although the SATEEC estimated sediment values with and without using L module match the SWAT sediment values with similar accuracies. This is because the SATEEC GA-SDR module estimates lower SDR in case of greater soil erosion estimation without the L module and greater SDR in case of lower soil erosion estimation with the L module. This indicates that the SATEEC input parameters, especially L factor, need to be prepared with care for accurate estimation of SDR at a watershed scale and for accurate evaluation of BMPs in the watershed.

Effects of Reclaimed Wastewater and Waste Nutrient Solution Irrigation on Seedling Growth of Chinese Cabbage

ABSTRACT: Water shortages are expected to be a major impact of climate change. This study examined the growth of Chinese cabbage seedling using reclaimed wastewater and waste nutrient solution as alternative irrigation resources. Generally, the concentration of nutrients, such as K + , NH 4+ , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl - , NO 3- , PO 4- and SO 42- , in waste nutrient solution was higher than that in wastewater. However, Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with wastewater was supplied a higher concentration of Na + and Cl - than waste nutrient solution. The growth of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution was similar or higher than those irrigated with groundwater as control, while the growth of those irrigated with wastewater was similar to those irrigated with groundwater. The total nitrogen uptake in Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with groundwater, waste nutrient solution from organic and inorganic hydroponic cultures, and wastewater was 5.47, 10.02, 5.20, and 4.59 mg/plant, respectively. The nitrogen uptake of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution from organic hydroponic substrates in a 50% lower dose than recommended was 8.34 mg/plant, which is higher than that of the cabbage irrigated with groundwater. Overall, the results suggest that waste nutrient solution and wastewater can be used as alternate water resources, and can allow a reduction in the amount of fertilizer needed to raise Chinese cabbage seedling.Key Words: