Evaluating the Influence of Land Use and Landscape Pattern on the Spatial Pattern of Water Quality in the Pearl River Basin

Abstract

Differences in land use and landscape patterns have become crucial factors affecting regional water quality. In order to investigate the effects of different land use and landscape patterns on water quality, this study used dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and potassium permanganate index (CODMn) from 147 conventional water quality monitoring stations in the Pearl River basin of China from January to December 2021 as representative water quality parameters. The quantitative relationship between land use, landscape pattern, and water quality in the Pearl River basin was investigated using geographic information system technology (GIS) and partial least squares (PLS). The results showed that the overall water quality of the Pearl River basin was relatively positive and mainly threatened by organic pollution. The water quality of the Pearl River basin was affected by the spatial characteristics of land use and landscape pattern, showing a poorer spatial pattern on the eastern and western ends and a better one in the central part of the basin. The developed PLS regression model could better explain the quantitative relationship between water quality, land use, and landscape pattern, concluding that unused urban land has the greatest impact on water quality, with an impact coefficient of more than 0.10. The interspersion juxtaposition index (IJI) for representing landscape patterns had the greatest impact on water quality indicators, with an impact coefficient of −0.15 on DO, 0.13 on NH4+-N, and 0.15 on CODMn, respectively. Meanwhile, land use types such as unused land and water and landscape patterns indicated by the Shannon diversity index (SHDI) and the contagion index (CONTAG) had significant effects on watershed water quality. The results of the study provide a reference value for the optimal adjustment of land use structure and water quality improvement in the basin.