Pollution from nitrates in underground aquifers

Conservation agriculture is a technique of handling of soil that increases significantly the infiltration of water, so it could increase the risk of leaching of nitrogen, especially mobile in this fluid. For this reason, than from the Spanish Agriculture Conservation Association / soil living in collaboration with the company Agroqualità (manufacturer of the Umostart microgranulados) was launched a study to assess the influence of different kinds of fertilizer on wheat in conservation agriculture production, and the movement of nitrogen in the soil of these fields.

In this work has been evaluated the effect of different types, doses and timing of application of nitrogen fertilizer, completing a total of 8 treatments with four replicates in two experimental fields. Highlighting that 150 fertilizer units of nitrogen (UFN) have been implemented in the first 5 treatments, with conventional fertilizers, in the aggregate Subscriber. In the last three, which have been used fertilizers of new generation, starter and slow-release, the dose of Subscriber 20 UFN, applying only 130 UFN has been reduced.

The results of the first year of work are encouraging, appreciating the importance of the nitrogen Subscriber in Fund for conservation agriculture, and how starter fertilizers, always that will handle the coverts adequately, as early as possibleoffer satisfactory results, even lowering the dose of Subscriber.

In addition, conservation agriculture is presented as an effective management system to minimize contamination of the aquifers by leaching of nitrogen, reducing significantly the movement of this anion in the soil, thus improving the quality of our waters.