Feasibility study "Critical Source Areas"
Despite the implementation of agro-ecological measures in the 1990s diffuse losses of agrochemicals have not been reduced to the desired level. Previous studies have demonstrated that these losses are often limited to certain parts of a given catchment. (Critical Source Areas). In order to check the possibility to translate such observations in practical measures this projects investigates the following questions:
(1) Review of the scientific knowledge regarding critical source areas for different pollutants (N, P, pesticides, fine sediments) for surface and ground water. Summary of the empirical evidence and prediction uncertainty. Identification of knowledge gaps.
(2) Proposition for obtaining full spatial coverage of basic data like soil maps at reasonable resolutions. Estimation of required resources (funding, personel, time frame).
(3) Investigation on the agronomic consequences of implementing the concept of CSAs in the crop rotation of selected farms.
(4) Compilation of
necessary studies and resources needed to make the concept applicable in
practice.
Project collaborator:
Martin Frey
Christian Stamm
Volker Prasuhn (ART Reckenholz-Tänikon)
Nadine Konz (ART Reckenholz-Tänikon)
Status: Final report accepted in July 2011
Contractor: BAFU
Publications:
Frey, M., 2009. Prediction of critical source areas for diffuse herbicide losses to surface waters. PhD Thesis 18291, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology: Zürich. p. 129 pp. Frey, M., Dietzel, A., Schneider, M., Reichert, P., and Stamm, C. (2009). Predicting critical source areas for diffuse herbicide losses to surface waters: role of connectivity and boundary conditions. Journal of Hydrology, 365: 23 - 36.
Last up-date: 15 August 2011.