Influence of organic agricultural production on the condition of surface water

Abstract

Agriculture and its methods of operation constantly influence the quality of water of surface water bodies. It was established in 2021 that in Lithuania, 63% of water bodies of the river and 64% of the lake categories are classified as risk water bodies and do not meet the good condition criteria. One of the main factors leading to the deterioration of the condition of surface water bodies is the continuing and increasing diffuse pollution, mainly from agricultural activities, together with pollution from agriculture; also, the condition in some water bodies deteriorates because of concentrated pollution, persistent effects of hydromorphological changes in surface water bodies, natural processes, and changing climatic conditions. This study aimed to determine the degree at which the ecological method of agricultural production affects the nearby surface water bodies. The obtained results show that the larger the area of organic farms from the entire area of the nutrient basin of a lake, the lower the values of biochemical oxygen consumption, total phosphorus, phosphate phosphorus, nitrate nitrogen, and total nitrogen concentrations. The ecological method of agricultural production has a positive effect on the condition of surface water bodies.