Definition of hot-spots to reduce the nitrogen losses from agricultural land to groundwater in Slovakia

Abstract

Agriculture is a significant contributor to nitrate pollution of groundwater which in many cases serves as a source of drinking water. Therefore, targeted reduction of nitrogen leaching losses is fully justified to address this issue. The aim of the study was to define the areas of utilized agricultural land (UAL) in Slovakia, where a nitrogen surplus needs to be reduced. Using the average values of leachable nitrogen in the period 2015-2018 and the long-term amount of percolated water, the nitrate concentration in leachate was calculated. To ensure that agricultural activities will contribute to the gradual reduction of nitrate concentration in groundwater, the nitrate concentration in leachate of 40 mg L-1 was chosen as the target value. This concentration was exceeded at 11.7% of the UAL area. The average indicative amount of nitrogen in industrial fertilizers that needs to be reduced to achieve a stricter nitrate concentration in the leachate in these hot-spots is 16 kg ha-1 with the proviso that in two districts this value exceeds 30 kg ha-1.

Keywords

• nitrates directive
• groundwater pollution
• vulnerable zones
• nitrogen surplus
• nitrate concentration
• leachate