Abstract
Hydrologic, chemical and physical factors controlling P export from 10 livestock farms located in Wensleydale were considered in order to estimate the risk of P loss to surface waters in a Non Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (non NVZ). Phosphorus source factors were obtained from a farm investigation questionnaire as well as from soil analysis results. Transport factors were examined using a GIS as a tool to implement a predictive model of delivery of P to watercourses. The classification of grassland into different risk categories was carried out using the Pennsylvanian P Index in a GIS. Finally, this risk assessment has yielded that non NVZ areas can pose a risk of breaching the Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives. A wide range of mechanisms including voluntary schemes are needed in order to reach good ecological status of freshwaters by 2015 in the UK.
Highlights
Several published studies have demonstrated the impact of diffuse agricultural pollution on rivers ecological functions as a result of poor water quality [1,2,3,4].The increase use of fertilisers in order to increase production efficiency in farming systems has been pointed out as the main factor that leads to nutrient emissions to freshwaters [5,6]
Despite the fact that all the farms are not in a NVZ area, 90 accepted to receive advice from the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives
Data for fertiliser inputs, this is mineral as well as organic fertiliser, were crucial to determine the risk of P loss when the P Index assessment was carried out (Table 8)
Summary
The increase use of fertilisers in order to increase production efficiency in farming systems has been pointed out as the main factor that leads to nutrient emissions to freshwaters [5,6]. In this regard, agricultural stewardship alongside physicochemical soil properties, geomorphology or even weather, are other factors that may contribute to increasing nutrient water pollution [7,8]. Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) have been widely studied due to the important role they play on water eutrophication [9,10]. This excessive enrichment of water with N and P leads to algal blooms and anoxic conditions of receiving waters that have proven to be harmful to aquatic life [9,11].
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