Assessment of the Validity of Introducing Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Large Areas

Aleksandra Bawiec, Joanna Kajewska-Szkudlarek, Krzysztof Pulikowski and Katarzyna Pawęska
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Aleksandra Bawiec: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24 Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Joanna Kajewska-Szkudlarek: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24 Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Krzysztof Pulikowski: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24 Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Katarzyna Pawęska: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24 Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363 Wrocław, Poland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The rivers of agricultural catchment areas are particularly vulnerable to eutrophication, which causes nitrate nitrogen (N-NO 3 ) that can be easily leached from the cropland. In 1991, the EU implemented the Nitrates Directive (ND) to identify and reduce the negative effects of nitrates in water. According to this regulation, in 2018, the whole territory of Poland was classified as Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). The aim of the study was to assess the validity of the introduction of NVZs in large areas of the river catchment level. Statistical data on agricultural changes for individual provinces of Poland and for the whole country were analyzed. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the N-NO 3 content in the water at different locations along the river within four rivers in the Odra basin. The results indicated that higher concentrations are observed in the upper part of the studied catchments, which reached a maximum of 25.0 mg N-NO 3 ·dm −3 . However, average values rarely exceeded 11.3 mg N-NO 3 ·dm −3 , the limit according to the Nitrates Directive. The large variability in N-NO 3 content suggests the need to redefine the actual NVZs since it is essential for the appropriate implementation of programs aimed at restoring water quality according to ND.

Keywords: agricultural catchment; eutrophication; nitrate nitrogen; nitrate vulnerable zone; nitrates directive; nutrient outflow (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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