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The effectiveness of agro‐environmental schemes in reducing erosion
Author(s) -
Arnoldussen A. H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.708
Subject(s) - environmental science , erosion , surface runoff , tillage , plough , agriculture , vegetation (pathology) , agricultural land , soil conservation , streams , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental protection , water resource management , geography , engineering , geology , medicine , paleontology , ecology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , pathology , biology , computer network , computer science
Autumn and winter in Norway are the most vulnerable periods for erosion. The government aims to reduce the autumn tillage acreage and keep the soil covered by vegetation as much as possible during the winter period. The farmers get support to plough their land in spring; the level of this support is related to the erosion risk. Also, support is given to several technical measures aimed at preventing eroded material reaching streams and rivers. The Agricultural Environmental Scheme has been successful and Norway has reduced nutrient runoff by nearly 50 per cent as required by the North Sea Agreement. However, more can be achieved. From January 2004 the counties and municipalities can further adapt the Agricultural Environmental Scheme to suit the protection of local watersheds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.