Main authors: | Chris Christophoridis, Konstantinos Fytianos |
FAIRWAYiS Editor: | Jane Brandt |
Source documents: | »Oenema, O. et al. 2018. Review of measures to decrease nitrate pollution of drinking water sources. FAIRWAY Project Deliverable 4.1, 125 pp »Commelin, M. et al. 2018. Review of measures to decrease pesticide pollution of drinking water sources. FAIRWAY Project Deliverable 4.2, 79 pp »Velthof, G. et al. 2020. Identification of most promising measures and practices. FAIRWAY Project Deliverable 4.3, 72 pp |
One of FAIRWAY's major research themes is the identification and assessment of most promising measures and practices to decrease nitrate and pesticide pollution of drinking water supplies by agriculture (see »Farming practices: review and assessment).
Data and information collected from the North Greece case study was used in the research tasks as described here. Nitrate, rather than pesticide, pollution is the main issue in this area.
Contents table |
1. Measures to decrease nitrate pollution |
2. Effectiveness of nitrate and pesticide measures |
1. Measures to decrease nitrate pollution
In »Review of measures to decrease nitrate pollution of drinking water sources we describe how FAIRWAY built on insights and results gathered in EU-wide and global projects and studies. We provide an overview and assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of measures aimed at decreasing nitrate pollution of drinking water sources. As part of the review, the North case study provided information about the measures that have been implemented in the local area.
Name of measure | Management of meadows and grassland |
Target | Quality surface and groundwate |
Description | Management of meadows and grassland |
Mode of action | Departure of grazing animals as soon as possible, avoid fertilization of meadows with manure or wet manure, grassland seeding early in the autumn, meadows and grasslands should always be crop covered during winter |
Expected effectiveness | Unknown |
Expected cost | Unknown |
Underpinning | Unknown |
Applicability | Unknown |
Adoptability | Unknown |
Other benefits | Unknown |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References | Journal of Government No. 85167/800 (2000) Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the protection of nitrate induced water pollution from agricultural sources |
Additional comments |
Name of measure | Cover crop during autumn-winter |
Target | Quality surface and groundwater |
Description | Cover crop during autumn-winter |
Mode of action | Soil cultivation with fall-winter crops wherever possible, early sowing (15-30 September), cover crops should be existed even with non-cultivated plants |
Expected effectiveness | Unknown |
Expected cost | Unknown |
Underpinning | Unknown |
Applicability | Unknown |
Adoptability | Unknown |
Other benefits | Unknown |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References | Journal of Government No. 85167/800 (2000) Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the protection of nitrate induced water pollution from agricultural sources |
Additional comments |
Name of measure | Isolation of well waters from unconfined aquifers |
Target | Quality surface and groundwater |
Description | Areas with high geologically nitrate content could lead to high nitrate content of their waters through leaching process. |
Mode of action | High nitrate concentrations of the drinking water could be decreased by isolating the well waters from existing unconfined aquifers. |
Expected effectiveness | Unknown |
Expected cost | Unknown |
Underpinning | Unknown |
Applicability | Unknown |
Adoptability | Unknown |
Other benefits | Unknown |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References | M. Mitrakas et al., (1989). Nitrate content of surface and ground wters of Northern Greece |
Additional comments |
Name of measure | Storage of fertilizers |
Target | Quality surface and groundwater |
Description | Storage and transport of inorganic fertilizers |
Mode of action | Fertilizers should be stored in strong bags at least 50 meters away from surface waters, preventative measures should be taken to avoid accidents and risk of spreading during transport |
Expected effectiveness | Unknown |
Expected cost | Unknown |
Underpinning | Unknown |
Applicability | Unknown |
Adoptability | Unknown |
Other benefits | Unknown |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References | Journal of Government No. 85167/800 (2000) Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the protection of nitrate induced water pollution from agricultural sources |
Additional comments |
Name of measure | Application control |
Target | Quality surface and groundwater |
Description | Fertilizer application time and quantity |
Mode of action | Estimation of the right fertilizer quantity to a given crop, fertilizer should be applied at the high growth rate of plant (spring-summer), fertilization should be avoided from October 15 to February 1, fertilization avoidance on frozen or snow-covered soils, application of legume cover crops on sloping land, fertilization over small distances using spreader machine, avoidance of fertilization during strong winds, use of fertilizers in precise quantities and avoid of spreading in uncultivated land. |
Expected effectiveness | Unknown |
Expected cost | Unknown |
Underpinning | Unknown |
Applicability | Unknown |
Adoptability | Unknown |
Other benefits | Unknown |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References | Journal of Government No. 85167/800 (2000) Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the protection of nitrate induced water pollution from agricultural sources |
Additional comments |
Name of measure | Split fertilization |
Target | Quality groundwater resources |
Description | Nitrogen management for wheat cultivation |
Mode of action | Split fertilization to a number of doses for each field and rational management of irrigation water for each field |
Expected effectiveness | Moderate: 10-25% decrease in concentration/load |
Expected cost | Low: < 10 euro per ha |
Underpinning | Partly (1-5 reports) |
Applicability | Partly (on 25-75% of the agricultural land) |
Adoptability | Partly (on 25-75% of the addressees) |
Other benefits | Nitrogen fertilisation efficiency is increased |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References |
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Additional comments | Discouragement of crop production is also suggested in the regions where pollution risk is extremely high. |
Name of measure | Manure and N-fertilizer application management |
Target | Quality groundwater resources |
Description | Nitrogen fertilizers application |
Mode of action | Manure total nitrogen should not exceed the amount of 170 Kg N/Ha in vegetation covered soil and 150 Kg N/Ha in uncovered soil, N fertilization and application of farm animal wastes during rainy season is forbidden with the exception of basic autumn and winter crop N fertilization, apply of N fertilizer on water-saturated soils is forbidden, fertilization outside of cultivated area is forbidden. |
Expected effectiveness | Moderate: 10-25% decrease in concentration/load |
Expected cost | Unknown |
Underpinning | No (≤ 1 report) |
Applicability | Partly (on 25-75% of the agricultural land) |
Adoptability | Partly (on 25-75% of the addressees) |
Other benefits | Unknown |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References |
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Additional comments |
Name of measure | Cultivation techniques and constructions around fields |
Target | Quality surface and groundwater |
Description | Cultivation techniques |
Mode of action | Construction of stable uncultivated strips at least 1 m near water bodies and trenches, plant cover in sloping parcels to protect erosion sensitive terrain during rainy season and soil |
Expected effectiveness | Moderate: 10-25% decrease in concentration/load |
Expected cost | Low: < 10 euro per ha |
Underpinning | No (≤ 1 report) |
Applicability | Unknown |
Adoptability | No (on <25% of the addressees) |
Other benefits | Yes, contributes to landscape diversity |
Disadvantages | Unknown |
References |
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Additional comments |
2. Effectiveness of nitrate and pesticide measures
The information about 34 different nitrate mitigation measures, implemented locally in 10 different FAIRWAY case studies, was collected and analysed. The measures were aggregated by type and the average/overall scores for effectivity, cost, applicability, and adoptability were assessed from the individual records and comments. See »Management practices that reduce nitrate transport - Results and discussion - Case studies.
Similarly, information about 17 different pesticide mitigation measures, implemented locally in 7 different FAIRWAY case studies, was collected and analysed. The measures were evaluated for their cost and effectiveness for reducing pollution of groundwater and surface water. See »Management practices that reduce pesticide transport - Results - Case studies
Note: For full references to papers quoted in this article see