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Spatial distribution of groundwater nitrate concentrations taken from SEPA Ythan monitoring stations and private water supplies, overlayed onto (a) BGS groundwater vulnerability map (Scotland) derived from 1:100,000 scale BGS Digital Data under License (2023/007) British Geological Survey. © and Database Right UKRI. All rights reserved; and (b) DRASTIC groundwater vulnerability map for the River Ythan catchment [41].
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Diffuse agricultural pollution is one of the greatest challenges to achieving good chemical and ecological status of Scotland’s water bodies. The River Ythan in Aberdeenshire was designated a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) in the year 2000, due to the eutrophication of the Ythan Estuary and rising nitrate trends in Private Water Supply (PWS) groundw...
Citations
... In the UK, Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) have been designated in areas where groundwater is at risk of nitrate contamination from agricultural activities. These zones are subject to strict regulations aimed at reducing nitrate leaching, such as limits on fertilizer application and requirements for nutrient management plans (Johnson, et. al., 2023, Serra, et. al., 2024. The implementation of these regulations has led to significant improvements in groundwater quality in NVZs. The Upper Guadiana Basin is an important agricultural region in Spain, known for its extensive irrigation systems. However, the intensive use of water and fertilizers has led to groundwater contamination iss ...
Groundwater is a vital resource for agriculture, providing irrigation water for crops and drinking water for communities. However, agricultural activities can contribute to groundwater contamination through the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste. This review presents a multidisciplinary assessment of the risks associated with groundwater contamination from agriculture and explores mitigation strategies to protect groundwater quality. The assessment begins with an overview of the sources and pathways of agricultural contamination of groundwater, emphasizing the role of geologic factors, such as soil composition and hydrogeology, in influencing the transport of contaminants. The risks posed by various contaminants, including nitrates, pesticides, and pathogens, are discussed, highlighting their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Next, the review examines the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in assessing and managing groundwater contamination risks. It emphasizes the need for collaboration between farmers, scientists, policymakers, and community members to develop effective mitigation strategies. The role of geologists, hydrologists, agronomists, and environmental scientists in monitoring and managing groundwater quality is emphasized, highlighting the importance of integrating their expertise to address complex groundwater contamination issues. Mitigation strategies for agricultural contamination of groundwater are then discussed, including the use of best management practices (BMPs) such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and precision agriculture to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. The review also explores the role of regulatory measures, such as groundwater monitoring programs and land-use regulations, in protecting groundwater quality. In conclusion, this review underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to assessing and mitigating groundwater contamination risks from agriculture. By integrating geologic, hydrologic, agronomic, and environmental sciences, stakeholders can develop effective strategies to protect groundwater quality and ensure the sustainability of agriculture.
... A N deficiency can cause stunted growth, reduced chlorophyll content, and poor yields due to its role in protein synthesis and chlorophyll formation (2). Although N is abundant in the atmosphere, only https://plantsciencetoday.online a small portion is accessible to plants in nitrate or ammonium, necessitating careful management to ensure adequate nutrient supply (3). Insufficient P can result in plant membrane breakdown and hinder energy transfer within the plant (4). ...
Nutrients are primarily applied to crops through the soil to enhance productivity while maintaining crop and soil health. However, high doses of soil-applied nutrients often reduce nutrient use efficiency, increase cultivation costs, and contribute to environmental pollution. With their high surface area-to-volume ratio, Nano-formulated nutrients have emerged as effective alternatives, requiring lower doses and demonstrating superior nutrient use efficiency (NUE) compared to conventional fertilizers. This experiment was conducted to study the influence of Nano-Diammonium Phosphate (Nano-DAP) on physiological and yield-associated traits in rice and to assess the extent of replacement of soil application of nitrogen(N) and phosphorous fertilizers with foliar application of nano-form of DAP. Field trials included nine treatments, comprising 50% and 75% of the recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorus (RDNP) and 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), and foliar application of conventional and nano-DAP. Foliar treatments were applied during the active tillering and panicle initiation stages. Among the treatments, 75% RDF and two foliar sprays of Nano-DAP performed better in terms of morpho-physiological parameters, particularly leaf area, dry matter production, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and number of productive tillers compared to 100% RDF. Furthermore, the NUE of Nano-DAP treatments was significantly higher, reflecting an improved ability of the rice plants to utilize the nanoform nutrients, resulting in enhanced yield effectively.
... Elevated nitrate concentrations in 2022 may be attributed to an extremely severe drought; however, further investigations are needed to confirm this. This finding is supported by the long-term (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018) groundwater nitrate studies by Johson and colleagues in Scotland, which concluded that nitrate concentrations are highly sensitive to meteorological variations (Johnson et al. 2023). Lindsey and colleagues also found a strong relationship between nitrate and periods with drier or wetter than average based on thirty years of regional groundwater quality trend analysis in the USA (Lindsey et al. 2023). ...
Over the last decades, as a consequence of wastewater discharges and other anthropogenic sources, severe nitrate (NO3⁻) pollution has developed in municipal environment causing global concern. Thus, eliminating the potential sources of pollution is one of the major challenges of the twenty-first century, whereby sanitation services are essential for ensuring public health and environmental protection. In the present study, long-term monitoring (2011–2022) of shallow groundwater NO3⁻ contamination in municipal environment was carried following the construction of the sewerage network (2014) in the light of the pre-sewerage situation. Our primary aim was to assess the long-term effects of sewerage on nitrate NO3⁻ levels in the shallow groundwater and evaluate the efficiency of these sanitation measures over time. Based on the results, significant pollution of the shallow groundwater in the municipality was identified. During the pre-sewer period, NO3⁻ concentrations exceeded the 50 mg/L limit in the majority of monitoring wells significantly, upper quartile values ranged between 341 and 623 mg/L respectively. Using Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI) and interpolated NO3⁻ pollution maps, marked spatial north–south differences were detected. In order to verify the presence of wastewater discharges in the monitoring wells, the isotopic ratio shifts (δ) for ¹⁸O and D(²H) were determined, confirming municipal wastewater effluent. Variations in NO3⁻/Cl⁻ molar ratios suggest also contamination from anthropogenic sources, including septic tank effluent from households and the extensive use of manure. Data series of 7 years (2015–2022) after the investment indicate marked positive changes by the appearance of decreasing trends in NO3⁻ values confirmed by Wilcoxon signed rank test and ANOVA. By comparing the pre- and post-sewerage conditions, the mean NO3⁻ value decreased from 289.7 to 175.6 mg/L, with an increasing number of monitoring wells with concentrations below the limit. Our results emphasise the critical role of sanitation investments, while also indicating that the decontamination processes occur at a notably slow pace. Detailed, long-term monitoring is therefore essential to ensure accurate follow-up of the ongoing changes. The results can provide information for local citizens and authorities to improve groundwater management tools in the region.
... Current mitigation strategies primarily focus on two approaches: continued implementation of land-use controls, this involves establishing protection zones around vulnerable water sources. These zones aim to reduce nitrate infiltration into the subsurface through various management practices [Johnson et al., 2023] and relying on natural attenuation processes, this strategy leverages natural mechanisms in the environment that can break down or transform nitrate before it reaches groundwater sources. ...
Due to its widespread presence in groundwater, nitrate contamination has become a major global concern. Identifying the different sources of this contamination, particularly those related to agricultural practices, is therefore crucial to assess its negative impacts. The European Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) requires the protection of all natural freshwater resources with a maximum nitrate concentration threshold of 50 mgNO3+L-1, applicable to all groundwater, regardless of its intended use. Many studies have used a chemical approach to identify these contaminations, but one of the possible approaches to identify contamination and the source of the contamination is a microbiological approach. An aquifer’s unique groundwater fingerprint: its hydrology, chemistry and geology are shaped by the communities of heterotrophic bacteria that thrive in this underground environment. The present study carries out an evaluation of the impact of nitrate and ammonia on the bacterial community of groundwater, in particular by studying the correlations between the two chemical forms analyzed and some of the native species most present in nitrifying and denitrifying groundwater. These evaluations make it possible to identify the microbial species subject to the variation of ammonia and nitrate concentrations and to evaluate the extent of variation in the natural environment, providing useful information on the variation of the chemical compound, validating the innovative thesis of being used as a natural tracer for the identification of potential direct or indirect contamination.
... Evidence is provided of some reductions in N runoff in the Eden catchment in eastern Scotland resulting from policy interventions but a worsening of phosphate pollution [44]. Further evidence that 20 years of nitrate reduction policies on the Ythan catchment in north-east Scotland produced a small reduction in nitrate runoff, but that there are still frequent exceedances at monitoring stations [45]. They [45] conclude that "groundwater nitrate was found to remain elevated across the catchment area and appeared to be highly sensitive to agricultural practices and meteorological forcing". ...
... Further evidence that 20 years of nitrate reduction policies on the Ythan catchment in north-east Scotland produced a small reduction in nitrate runoff, but that there are still frequent exceedances at monitoring stations [45]. They [45] conclude that "groundwater nitrate was found to remain elevated across the catchment area and appeared to be highly sensitive to agricultural practices and meteorological forcing". ...
... Three groups of farmers are identified [46]: "multifunctionalists" that embrace the measures; those that are apathetic; and those that actively resist them. Unlike most agri-environmental measures, NVZs have been consistent and have maintained their mandatory components, but even with such compulsion, securing the desired water quality improvements remains deeply challenging [45]. ...
Rural areas face profound challenges in transitioning towards sustainability. Intensive agriculture is deeply implicated in high greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity decline and water pollution. As a more socio-economically heterogenous rural Europe emerges with a greater non-farming component, changes such as in-migration and tourism in some areas can also be seen to compromise sustainability, as can an ageing and declining population in others. The dominant means of European rural policy support has been direct income payments to farmers, with modest but increasing expectations of environmental cross-compliance over time. Since the early 1990s, new policy means have been introduced, many based around collaborative actions to enhance sustainability. These include the European Union (EU) Leader scheme, environmental cooperatives, catchment management projects and support for community renewable energy. These changes mark a shift from sectoral support to a more territorial and place-based policy, often built around collaborative partnership models. Scotland has developed a wide and distinctive range of communitarian policies to support sustainable rural development which connect to this territorial approach. This paper reviews the contribution of communitarian and collaborative policies to sustainability transitions, drawing primarily on Scottish policy but referencing these policies against policies in other developed economies.
... The reluctance of some farmers to engage was also evident. [33] identify three groups of farmers: those "multifunctionalists" that embrace the measures; these that are apathetic; and those that actively resist them. Unlike most agri-environmental measures, NVZs have been consistent and have remained with mandatory components, but even with such compulsion, securing the desired water quality improvements remains challenging [32]. ...
... One exception to this is the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones which impose catchment-level obligations on farmers to reduce emissions of nitrates. In some cases, additional layers of support for such transitions have been provided with EU LIFE schemes to encourage adoption of agri-environmental measures which would make it easier to attain WFD targets [33]. In spite of the mandatory requirements of nutrient management plans, progress remains slow, influenced at least in part by the persistence of such high levels of direct income support for the farming community as well as by the biogeochemical complexities of measuring and then resolving diffuse pollution. ...
Rural areas of advanced industrial countries have frequently experienced a dualistic set of policies: one designed for the land-use sector, especially agriculture; and another dealing with rural development [1]. As problems of industrialised agriculture and forestry emerged, a more joined up approach to policy was advocated. Since the 1980s, at national and international level, new elements of rural policy have emerged to connect these two policy fields, including environmental payments, farm diversification grants, woodland creation within the farm sector and support for community-led local development. Rural land is also closely connected to the biodiversity and climate crises which have become important policy drivers. Policy towards community-led local development has moved further in Scotland than almost anywhere else as a result of policies for community-based land reform, community empowerment and community asset transfer. These communitarian approaches connect closely to collaborative landscape management as it addresses environmental challenges. As collaborative place-based and area-based approaches emerge as the guiding stars of the new rural development, this paper explores the challenges in the governance of sustainability transitions in moving from a sectoral rural policy hinging around support for land use to one based much more on communitarian values and place-based development.
