Improving Water Quality
Why is this research important?
Nutrient losses from agricultural activities have been identified as the dominant pressure on water quality nationally (Catchments.ie). Phosphorus (P) losses to surface waters is a major concern. These include runoff from farmyards, roadways and other hard surfaces or from poorly drained soils, sediment loss due to instream works, or channel erosion due to animal access. Groundwater and estuarine monitoring show a clear need to reduce the Nitrogen (N) load in many areas. Detailed characterisation at farm and field scale is required to improve the understanding of the pressures imposed on water quality and identify where targeted measures can be used to reduce harmful and costly losses. Where poorly drained soils are dominant, the transport of P via overland flow and interflow is a major issue while in free draining scenarios, transport of N and P via subsurface pathways are the key issues. While intercepting loss pathways does offer opportunities for the mitigation of surface losses, pathways to groundwater are much more elusive and other management strategies are called for. On-going research will help to devise mitigation strategies, which will include engineered solutions and advice to farmers.
What the research tells us
A number of research projects have been undertaken at Teagasc, which are focused on supporting future farm management and policy relating to water quality. These include assessments of the management and treatment of parlour washings and soiled water, the quantification of slurry and soiled water volumes produced, an evaluation of the extent, connectivity and nature of farm roadways, and their role in nutrient transport and the analysis of nutrient loss potential of drained soils, field drainage systems and open drain networks. These projects help to identify key factors that result in high nutrient loss potential from the farming system. This potential will be driven by a range of aspects that will vary with scale, landscape position and topography, soil type, intensity of management, as well as several other intrinsic and external factors. The nutrient losses to a catchment derived from agricultural activities is dependent on, firstly, the intensity of production, secondly, the degree of nutrient attenuation in the landscape and thirdly, the interaction of nutrient surpluses with waters, driven by climactic trends and events. Efforts will continue to understand and mitigate nutrient losses identified by these and related projects.
Outputs
- Treatment of Dairy Soiled Water 1
- Treatment of Dairy Soiled Water 2
- Roadway Runoff Characterisation
- Roadway surface materials characterisation
- Reducing Phosphorus loss from slurry applications
- Response of heavy soils to lime and phosphorus application
- Nutrient connectivity to open drains
- Nutrient transport in the farming system
More Information
Contacts
Pat Tuohy (patrick.tuohy@teagasc.ie)