Elaboration of a decision support tool to limit nitrate losses. The example of the main soils and cropping systems of Val de Saône

Abstract

A decision support tool was elaborated to evaluate nitrate losses to groundwater for the main soils and cropping systems of Val de Saône (France). The approach consisted to simulate several scenarios of management of cropping systems crossed with the soil types. The results confirmed the protecting role of permanent grassland regarding the nitric pollution of groundwater. They gave evidence of the predominant effect of soil texture on nitrate losses from cultivated lands, much greater for sandy soils than for clayey, clayey sandy or loamy soils. The effect of various cropping practices (i.e. fertilisation, irrigation, introduction of soybean, establishment of catch crops) was also discussed as well as the impact of unfavourable climatic conditions, like a dry year reducing yields or a wet year generating compaction in clayey soils.