Establishing a risk index to prevent nitrogen non-point pollution of waters in the Basque Country

摘要

The intensification of the livestock sector in the Basque Country has lead to environmental impacts in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. The necessity of protecting natural resources has promoted the development of new spatial tools for identifying and classifying the non-point pollution risk areas where preventive measures should be applied. We have adapted runoff indexes and leaching indexes to specific characteristics for the Basque Country and available data sources. The adapted indexes have beenapplied on the Gipuzkoa pasture area; as a result 32% of total pastures have been classified as having a high potential risk of discharging N into water courses. This location of the pastures and farms with high potential risk to pollute surrounding waters represents the first approach in the development of a subsequent in situ study to improve pasture management in Gipuzkoa.