Please note that this session was withdrawn and is no longer available in the respective programme. This withdrawal might have been the result of a merge with another session.
HS2.3.4 | Options for minimizing the agricultural impact on groundwater and surface water quality
Options for minimizing the agricultural impact on groundwater and surface water quality
Convener: Inge van DriezumECSECS | Co-conveners: Joachim Rozemeijer, Brian Kronvang, Katrin Bieger, Daniel Graeber
The enrichment of ecosystems with nutrients and other contaminants is strongly impairing the recreational, industrial, and ecological functions of water resources around the world. Anthropogenic activities like agriculture and wastewater discharge have resulted in the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality with severe implications for both human and environmental health. Together with the Water Framework Directive deadline of 2027 coming up soon, it is of vital importance to reduce the impact of agriculture on water quality. At the same time the agricultural sector is required to become increasingly productive due to global population growth, which without changing land use practices will further increase its pressure on downstream ecosystems. There are many options to reduce agricultural nutrient losses, but the implementation of measures requires the commitment of many stakeholders. Furthermore, next to (cost-)effectiveness also robustness and user friendliness are essential for acceptance. The effect of a certain measure may also be hampered by local climatic and hydrochemical conditions.
This session invites studies on mitigation measures and other solutions to decrease nutrient loading as well as studies on nutrient dynamics in agricultural catchments. We strongly encourage to share both best practices in mitigation measures as well as innovative measures which are under development or tested under lab-scale conditions. Also, catchment modeling with the aim of optimizing the placement of mitigation measures and prevent shadowing effects are encouraged.