Impact of Danish agriculture on ground water quality and measures to control it
1998
Olesen, S.E. | Kyllingsbaek, A. (Research Centre Foulum, Tjele (Denmark). Danish Institute of Plant and Soil)
In recent years the total nitrogen leaching losses in Denmark have been estimated at 190000 - 210000 Mg per year corresponding to an average of 70-80 kg per ha arable land. Pesticides have been found in 91 out of 907 wells. Most of the problems are associated with intensive husbandry and arable farming. In 1986, the Danish Government made an action plan for the use of pesticides - the Pesticide Action Plan, and in 1987 it decided upon another action plan - the Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment. The main objectives were to reduce the total nitrogen discharge to the aquatic environment by 50 per cent and to reduce the amount of pesticide use and the spraying frequency by 50 per cent, before 1997. Legislation has been introduced about minimum storage capacity for farmyard manure, stocking rates per area unit, spreading times and methods for farmyard and compulsory fertilization plans for each farm. Stricter rules for the approval of harmful pesticides have been applied, and several means of reducing pesticide use have also been introduced. Simulation modelling was carried out using the DAISY model. The modelling shows that full implementation of the control measures reduce the considerable nitrate concentration in most counties. The total use of pesticides has decreased almost as planned, whereas the pesticide treatment index is still higher than planned.
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