Methodologies for the better planning and management of acquifers looking at its vulnerability to non-point source pollution
- LNEC - Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil(líder)
- Instituto do Mar(parceiro)
- Instituto Superior Técnico(parceiro)
- Universidade de Évora(parceiro)
Summary
This project will gather and integrate the knowledge of the processes that interfere in the migration of pollutants originated by soil fertilization, for the different media (soil, vadose zone and groundwater), encouraging the future utilization of more sustainable cultures and fertilizer practices that can decrease the risk of groundwater quality degradation.
The study area will probably be located in Alentejo region (South Portugal), with semi-arid climatic conditions. That area represents the first irrigation perimeter (64 km2) starting 2004 in the context of Alqueva Irrigation Project (the major artificial lake in Europe) expected to achieve 2 000 km2 of irrigated land in 2025. It is an intensively agricultural site of arable land with different cultivations scenarios and techniques located above a regional aquifer used for water supply.
The main hydrogeological and agriculture features of the study area were previously identified by the project partners and published.
Goals, activities and expected/achieved results
Goals
- Improve the scientific knowledge regarding the interrelation between the land use practices and groundwater quality, for a sustainable agriculture.
- Contribute to support future decisions in terms of more adequate policies regarding rural land use planning, taking into consideration the protection of the environment based on vulnerability and risk concepts.
Activities
