Effects of agricultural activities on water pollution

What is it about?

The objectives of this study are to, in first place, describe the present use of fertilisers between the III Region and VIII Region of Chile, identifying the environmental impacts associated and its relationship with the predominant agricultural practices and climatic characteristics. In second place, simulate the transport of nitrates and pesticides in a milk and breeding farm of the Central valley of Chile, employing EPIC (USDA/ARS) in order to determine the importance of these contamination processes.

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Why is it important?

In Chile, the contamination processes associated with agricultural and forestry production systems have not been extensively measured. Considering that there are few studies that quantify erosion, the loss of nutrients and pesticide residues to ground water and surface water systems, and it’s effect on productivity in the long run (as done by Faeth et al, 1991), the objectives of this study are to, in first place, describe the present use of fertilisers between the III Region and VIII Region of Chile, identifying the environmental impacts associated and its relationship with the predominant agricultural practices and climatic characteristics. In second place, simulate the transport of nitrates and pesticides in a milk and breeding farm of the Central valley of Chile, employing EPIC (USDA/ARS) in order to determine the importance of these contamination processes.