ISHS Acta Horticulturae 563: International Conference on Environmental Problems Associated with Nitrogen Fertilisation of Field Grown Vegetable Crops
THE USE OF A GIS - N MODEL SYSTEM TO ASSESS NITRATE LEACHING IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS |
| Authors: | J. de Paz, C. Ramos |
| Keywords: | GIS, nitrate, leaching, GLEAMS, model, linkage, maps |
| Abstract:
Linking a Geographic Information System (GIS) to a N model allows the study of nitrate pollution potential at a regional scale. Here we present a study in which a GIS was combined with the GLEAMS model (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems). This was used to evaluate the nitrate leaching risk in an intensive agriculture area of 230 km2 located north of Valencia (Spain), in which the main crops are citrus (Citrus spp.) and vegetables. GLEAMS model was calibrated using results from field experiments in that area. A graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to simplify the use of the GIS-model system, to run the model, and to allow the presentation of the simulation results as a thematic map. With this GIS-model system, we determined nitrate leaching using available data on the spatial distribution of soils, crops, cropping practices (mainly fertiliser rates, and irrigation frequency and efficiency), and climate. The vegetables comprised a two year, two crop rotation using potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), onion (Allium cepa L.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.), and artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.). The simulated maps show that vegetables crops, and groundwater irrigated citrus can give rise to the largest risk of groundwater nitrate pollution. | |
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