Publication
Title
A spatial approach to identify priority areas for pesticide pollution mitigation
Author
Abstract
Identifying priority areas is an essential step in developing management strategies to reduce pesticide loads in surface water. A spatially explicit model-based approach was developed to detect priority areas for diffuse pesticide pollution at catchment scale. The method uses available datasets and considers different pesticide pathways in the environment post-application. The approach was applied in a catchment area in SE Flanders (Belgium) as a case study. Calculated risk areas were obtained using detailed landscape data and combining pesticide emissions and hydrological connectivity. The risk areas obtained were further compared with an alternative observation-based method, developed specifically for this study site that includes long-term field observations and local expert knowledge. Both methods equally classified 50% of the areas. The impact of crop rotation on the calculated risk was analysed. High-risk areas were identified and added to a cumulative map over all five years to evaluate temporal variations. The model-based approach was used for the initial identification of risk areas at the study site. The tool helps to prioritise zones and detect particular fields to target landscape mitigation measures to reduce diffuse pesticide pollution reaching surface water bodies.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of environmental management. - London
Publication
London : 2019
ISSN
0301-4797
DOI
10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2019.04.120
Volume/pages
246 (2019) , p. 583-593
ISI
000482246700058
Pubmed ID
31202826
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
INSPIRATION: Managing soil and groundwater impacts from agriculture for sustainable intensification
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 07.10.2019
Last edited 02.01.2025
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