Hydrology and Earth System Sciences www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net 1027-5606 1607-7938 10 6 2006 10.5194/hess-10-913-2006 http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/10/913/2006/ http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/10/913/2006/hess-10-913-2006.html http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/10/913/2006/hess-10-913-2006.pdf 913 922 2006-11-28 Effects of watershed and riparian zone characteristics on nutrient concentrations in the River Scheldt Basin J. Meynendonckx G. Heuvelmans B. Muys J. Feyen jan.feyen@biw.kuleuven.be Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium Ecorem consultants nv, Kontichsesteenweg 38, 2630 Aartselaar, Belgium Department of Land Management and Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Vital Decosterstraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium The relative influence of a set of watershed characteristics on surface water nutrient concentrations was examined in 173 watersheds within two subcatchments (Upper-Scheldt and Nete) of the River Scheldt Basin (Flanders, Belgium). Each watershed was described by seasonal rainfall, discharge loading of point sources, morphological characteristics (area, average slope, drainage density, elongation), land use and soil properties (soil texture and drainage). Partial regression analysis revealed that soil drainage variables had the strongest influence on nutrient concentrations. 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