34
Water In Ecosystems: A Non Renewable Resource
1
INTRODUCTION
In recent decades, thanks to the application of fertilizers and pesticides, farm yield
and agricultural product quality have been significantly improved. However,
although they are essential to a modem and profitable agriculture, fertilizers and
pesticides may contaminate the environment, especially soil and water resources,
when accidentally released or intensively used. There is an urgent need to
elaborate a reasonable trade-off between water resource protection requirements
and agricultural efficiency and profitability.
Due to a variety of agricultural techniques, land uses, applied chemicals and to the
extreme variability of geographical, geological and hydrometeorological
conditions in time and space, the problem of agricultural pollution control is
extremely intricate. A clear assessment and a reliable prediction of contamination
risks are still very difficult for decision makers. Furthermore, applicable
regulations often lack scientific basis and become controversial.
It is increasingly difficult for drinking water suppliers to meet the current
standards. The agrochemical industry is deeply concerned and public opinion and
media are increasingly receptive to possible threats. The environmental and
economic stakes are high, and the major parties involved in the problem must
collaborate.
2
MAJOR CONCERNS AND NEEDS
Reasonable management of agricultural pollution for a sustainable protection of
water resources is a complex question.
First, it is necessary to be able to detect chemical residues in surface waters or
groundwater. This is currently possible for fertilizers, but there is still a lack of
analytical methods for pesticides. Furthermore, when available, analytical multiresidue methods are expensive and difficult to implement, leading to spurious
applications and results.
Since these chemicals have been used for years, residues can be present in surface
water and groundwater resources currently exploited for drinking. It is already
possible to eliminate nutrients through existing treatment procedures. But it is still
necessary and urgent to elaborate efficient water treatment procedures for various
types of pesticide residues.
In addition to measurement techniques, control of agricultural water pollution on
various management scales (plot, farm, small agricultural area, hydrological
catchment) requires understanding and decision support tools and methods.
The environment is a delicately balanced whole of a multitude of complex and
interacting components. There is no single solution to maintain agricultural
pollution at an acceptable level. Various types and spatial distributions of
corrective measures must be investigated (e.g. grassed buffer strips, riparian woods,
spatial crop distribution, agricultural practices, chemical applications, ... ).
Water In Ecosystems: A Non Renewable Resource
1
INTRODUCTION
In recent decades, thanks to the application of fertilizers and pesticides, farm yield
and agricultural product quality have been significantly improved. However,
although they are essential to a modem and profitable agriculture, fertilizers and
pesticides may contaminate the environment, especially soil and water resources,
when accidentally released or intensively used. There is an urgent need to
elaborate a reasonable trade-off between water resource protection requirements
and agricultural efficiency and profitability.
Due to a variety of agricultural techniques, land uses, applied chemicals and to the
extreme variability of geographical, geological and hydrometeorological
conditions in time and space, the problem of agricultural pollution control is
extremely intricate. A clear assessment and a reliable prediction of contamination
risks are still very difficult for decision makers. Furthermore, applicable
regulations often lack scientific basis and become controversial.
It is increasingly difficult for drinking water suppliers to meet the current
standards. The agrochemical industry is deeply concerned and public opinion and
media are increasingly receptive to possible threats. The environmental and
economic stakes are high, and the major parties involved in the problem must
collaborate.
2
MAJOR CONCERNS AND NEEDS
Reasonable management of agricultural pollution for a sustainable protection of
water resources is a complex question.
First, it is necessary to be able to detect chemical residues in surface waters or
groundwater. This is currently possible for fertilizers, but there is still a lack of
analytical methods for pesticides. Furthermore, when available, analytical multiresidue methods are expensive and difficult to implement, leading to spurious
applications and results.
Since these chemicals have been used for years, residues can be present in surface
water and groundwater resources currently exploited for drinking. It is already
possible to eliminate nutrients through existing treatment procedures. But it is still
necessary and urgent to elaborate efficient water treatment procedures for various
types of pesticide residues.
In addition to measurement techniques, control of agricultural water pollution on
various management scales (plot, farm, small agricultural area, hydrological
catchment) requires understanding and decision support tools and methods.
The environment is a delicately balanced whole of a multitude of complex and
interacting components. There is no single solution to maintain agricultural
pollution at an acceptable level. Various types and spatial distributions of
corrective measures must be investigated (e.g. grassed buffer strips, riparian woods,
spatial crop distribution, agricultural practices, chemical applications, ... ).