Ecosystem Effects from Nutrient and Pesticide Pollutants

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ecosystem Effects from Nutrient and Pesticide Pollutants

T2 - Catchment Care as a Solution

AU - Bowmer, Kathleen

N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: 086 FoR could not be migrated (07018 - ). 086 FoR could not be migrated (07042 - ). month (773h) = September, 2013; Journal title (773t) = Resources. ISSNs: 2079-9276;

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - Agricultural chemicals include fertilisers (nitrogen and phosphorus) and biocides (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides). Environmental impacts in surface waters include algal blooms and disruption to ecological function. Strategies for protection of rivers from eutrophication include improved agricultural land management, conservation farming methods, recycling or retention of drainage and runoff water, and use of buffer strips and riparian vegetation for filtration. Reduction in pesticide use has been achieved by improved application technologies, precision farming, adoption of organic farming, and use of biological control methods. Australian river health audits show widespread deterioration, and protection using the "Polluter Pays Principle" is attractive. However, who should pay for environmental assessment, for adoption of new technologies or change in land use, and how will this be determined? Unfortunately, as demonstrated in two case studies on algal blooms and cotton pesticides, the links between pollutant source and environmental impact remain poorly understood, and the complexity of assessing environmental benefit of agricultural changes makes sheeting home the costs of pollution sources difficult. Alternatives to imposition of penalties include catchment-based targets and guidelines, benchmarking, and adoption of best management practice with an emphasis on incentives and encouragement. Many strategies for risk reduction in agricultural cropping systems are available for inclusion in a "Catchment Care" approach.

AB - Agricultural chemicals include fertilisers (nitrogen and phosphorus) and biocides (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides). Environmental impacts in surface waters include algal blooms and disruption to ecological function. Strategies for protection of rivers from eutrophication include improved agricultural land management, conservation farming methods, recycling or retention of drainage and runoff water, and use of buffer strips and riparian vegetation for filtration. Reduction in pesticide use has been achieved by improved application technologies, precision farming, adoption of organic farming, and use of biological control methods. Australian river health audits show widespread deterioration, and protection using the "Polluter Pays Principle" is attractive. However, who should pay for environmental assessment, for adoption of new technologies or change in land use, and how will this be determined? Unfortunately, as demonstrated in two case studies on algal blooms and cotton pesticides, the links between pollutant source and environmental impact remain poorly understood, and the complexity of assessing environmental benefit of agricultural changes makes sheeting home the costs of pollution sources difficult. Alternatives to imposition of penalties include catchment-based targets and guidelines, benchmarking, and adoption of best management practice with an emphasis on incentives and encouragement. Many strategies for risk reduction in agricultural cropping systems are available for inclusion in a "Catchment Care" approach.

KW - Open access version available

KW - Eutrophication

KW - Pesticides

KW - Risk

KW - Sustainability

KW - Watershed protection

U2 - 10.3390/resources2030439

DO - 10.3390/resources2030439

M3 - Article

VL - 2

SP - 439

EP - 456

JO - Resources

JF - Resources

SN - 2079-9276

IS - 3

ER -