Nitrate Analysis of Sungai Ulung in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Abstract

Excessive fertiliser application in agricultural activities, can be washed into the streams and decline the water quality. Nitrate from fertiliser may increase the oxidising activity especially chemical oxygen demand (COD) and also affect the quality of the river. This research aims to determine the relationship between nitrate concentration with COD, Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN), temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and pH of a stream flows within the vegetable farm area. This study used a cross-sectional study design and water samples were collected at seven sampling points of Sungai Ulung. The concentration for nitrate, AN and COD at downstream was higher than those in the upstream. The result showed a positive correlation of nitrate concentration with COD (r = 0.865*, p =0.012), AN (r = 0.753, p = 0.051) and temperature (r = 0.847*, p = 0.016). While, there were negative correlation of nitrate with DO (r = -0.775, p = 0.041) and weak negative correlation towards pH value (r = -0.126, p = 0.788). The degradation river quality of Sungai Ulung was probably due to the agricultural activity near the river. Farmers can practice Best Management Practices (BMPs) for their crop to reduce the chance of nutrient losses to the impaired water bodies.