Comprehensive nonpoint source pollution models for a free-range chicken farm in a rural watershed in Taiwan

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution contributed from free-range chicken farms (FRCF) is an important source for total phosphorus loads in rural watersheds of southern Taiwan. The main objective of this study is to quantify the impact of FRCF on water quality parameters. Different models were used; first, a distributed rainfall-runoff model and water quality models were pre-selected. Their relevant parameters were then calibrated and verified based on collected precipitation records, along with runoff and water quality data. Since the raising cycle of the target chicken farm, located at Longchi Township in southern Taiwan, was required for the estimation of NPS loads, three raising cycles per year were used in the case study. By using water quality models together with relevant parameter values, the unit pollution loads per raising cycle during the rainfall period were calculated. The simulated results indicate that the higher the rainfall is, the higher the unit pollution load per raising cycle will be; confirming that the NPS pollution is highly dependent on the change of seasons. The finding clearly indicates that the FRCF exerts high potential threat to reservoir.