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MANAGING GROUND WATER QUALITY IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURAL ACTiVITIES 1
Author(s) -
Magette William L.,
Shirmohammadi Adel,
Lessley Billy V.,
Weismiller Richard A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1989.tb03097.x
Subject(s) - agriculture , interim , farm water , environmental science , business , groundwater , environmental planning , water quality , evapotranspiration , environmental resource management , water resources , water resource management , water conservation , geography , engineering , ecology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , biology
Ground water quality is an environmental issue of national concern. Agricultural activities, because they involve large land areas, often are cited as a major contributor of ground water contaminants. It appears that some degree of ground water contamination from agricultural land use is inevitable, especially where precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. For this reason, and because agriculture differs significantly from point sources of pollution, farmers, policymakers, and scientists need alternative management strategies by which to protect ground water. Mathematical models coupled to geographic information systems to form expert systems can be important management tools for both policymakers and agricultural producers. An expert system can provide farmers, researchers, and environmental managers with information by which to better manage agricultural production systems to minimize ground water contamination. Significant research is necessary to perfect such a system, necessitating interim ground water management strategies that include not only a strong research program, but educational and public policy components as well.