PREDICTING RETENTION EFFECTS OF A RIPARIAN ZONE IN AN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE: IMPLICATION FOR EUTROPHICATION CONTROL OF THE TISZA RIVER, SERBIA
Authors:   University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia, CVIJANOVIĆ Dušanka , GAVRILOVIĆ Olivera ,   Public Water Management Company ‘Vode Vojvodine’, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia, NOVKOVIĆ Maja ,   University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia, MILOŠEVIĆ Djuradj ,   University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology and Ecology, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia, STOJKOVIĆ PIPERAC Milica ,   University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology and Ecology, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia, ANĐELKOVIĆ Ana A. ,   Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Department of Weed Research, Teodora Drajzera 9, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia;, DAMNJANOVIĆ Bojan ,   Academy of Applied Studies Šabac, Unit for Medical, Technological and Business Studies, Hajduk Veljkova 10, 15000 Šabac, Serbia, DENIĆ Ljubiša ,   Environmental Protection Agency, Ruže Jovanovića 27a, 11160 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, DREŠKOVIĆ Nusret ,   University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, RADULOVIĆ Snežana ,   University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia,   University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Published: January 2023

We explored the long-term influence of land use in the riparian zone on the water quality of the Tisza River, as a model of a non-wadeable lowland river located in a temperate, predominantly agricultural landscape. The analysis was based on a comparison of water quality variables between three river sites having contrasting, but constant land use patterns (in 500 m upstream radius) during the study period (2006-2019). While the first river site was characterized primarily by forests, the second and the third were dominated by urban and agricultural areas respectively. The variables which showed a significant difference between the pairs of sampling sites were oxygen saturation, nitrite nitrogen, total nitrogen, and orthophosphates. In contrast to urban and agricultural land, riparian forests showed a positive long-term influence on the river water quality. Natural and seminatural forests and shrubs had a favorable long-term influence on nutrient concentrations and oxygen regime of the Tisza River. However, the retention effects of orthophosphates and nitrite/nitrate content here were relatively low, demonstrating the limited performance of riparian buffers as a main or only management option in the Pannonian landscape, as the agricultural hotspot of Central and Eastern Europe. In conclusion, the riparian buffer assessment design applied in this study may be successfully used in pre-restoration monitoring, prior to the construction of buffer strips.