ESTIMATION OF NUTRIENT LOADS IN ERGENE BASIN THROUGH GIS

Abstract

This study aims to determine the nutrient (total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP)) loads from point and diffuse sources of the river basin, and the effects of the nutrient loads on Ergene River, being one of the most polluted rivers in Turkey. To this end, Geographic Information System (GIS), was used to digitize land-use of the basin; the spatial values of land-use patterns were used to estimate the load coming from diffuse sources, Exponential Function Method was used to make population predictions and calculate the load change based on population, and Export Coefficient Model was used to estimate nutrient loads coming from diffuse sources of contamination.