The effects of farming practices on groundwater quality in the United Kingdom

摘要: Abstract During the period 1975 to 1980, research in United Kingdom has produced a large, and possibly unique body of data on distribution solutes derived from agricultural land major British aquifers. Unsaturated zone pore-water quality profiles demonstrate clear relationship between concentrations certain solutes, especially nitrate, farming practice. High often excess WHO recommended limits, are characteristic areas arable farming, whilst low generally found beneath permanent grass or woodland. Mathematical models have been developed which simulate vertical mobile notably nitrate tritium, at number sites. other also measured saturated zones aquifers whose recharge formed by farmland. The spatial distributions temporal variations suggest control hydrogeological properties geometry For some catchments it possible use fully-mixed cell predict changes groundwater concentrations.