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Testing the efficacy of on-farm pollution mitigation measures in agricultural catchments in England

Biddulph, M., Collins, A. L., Foster, I. D. L. and Holmes, N. (2014) Testing the efficacy of on-farm pollution mitigation measures in agricultural catchments in England. Paper presented to: Triannual Conference of the International Association for Sediment Water Science (IASWS), Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, 15-18 July 2014. (Unpublished)

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Abstract: Many rivers across England and Wales are experiencing excessive inputs of nutrients, faecal waste and sediment from agricultural land. Despite the resulting environmental impacts, population growth is renewing focus on the intensification of agricultural production to improve food security. As a result, balancing agricultural productivity with resource protection is high on the political agenda, and the need to assemble improved information on the efficacy of targeted on-farm pollution mitigation measures is key to informing the debate on production versus environmental burden. In England, Demonstration Test Catchments (DTCs) have been established as sentinel, landscape scale experimental facilities for assessing ways to mitigate the problems associated with agricultural pollution of watercourses. As part of the Hampshire Avon/Tamar DTC programme, a research studentship has been used to compile a toolkit of methods, including pollutant source fingerprinting, for testing the effectiveness of on-farm pollution control measures. These measures include: stream bank fencing, riparian buffer strips, ponds and wetlands, farm track re-surfacing, improved slurry stores, and the installation of swales. The toolkit aims to be sustainable, affordable, effective and replicable. This contribution provides a case study of findings and will present data from one experimental on-farm site, following 18 months of intensive monitoring and sampling. The data streams are used to assess the effectiveness of existing mitigation options, as well as providing suggestions for refining those in situ to improve performance.
Subjects: S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) > S589.75 Agriculture and the environment
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences > GE300 Environmental management
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography > GB651 Hydrology. Water > GB980 Ground and surface waters > GB1201 Rivers. Stream measurements
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering > TD201 Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes > TD419 Water pollution
Creators: Biddulph, Matilda, Collins, Adrian L, Foster, Ian D L and Holmes, Naomi
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: Faculties > Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology > Environmental Science
Date: 18 July 2014
Date Type: Presentation
Event Title: Triannual Conference of the International Association for Sediment Water Science (IASWS)
Event Dates: 15-18 July 2014
Event Location: Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Event Type: Conference
Language: English
Status: Unpublished
Refereed: No
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/7013

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