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Understanding the Impact of a Major Hydro-Agricultural Project in Low Mondego Area (Portugal)

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Cunha

    (INESC Coimbra, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo 2, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • João Marques

    (INESC Coimbra, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo 2, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • José Azevedo

    (Department of Earth Sciences, CGEO, University of Coimbra, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Ana Castilho

    (Department of Earth Sciences, CGEO, University of Coimbra, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

The Low Mondego ( Baixo Mondego , in Portuguese) river basin has been considerably modified by human interventions to prevent floods and to improve agricultural conditions over recent decades. This work analyzes the main impacts arising from those interventions and the socio-economic context in which they occurred. The development and application of a framework to compute the variation of the nitrogen surplus between 1986 and 2018 in the Low Mondego watershed in the central part Portugal is presented. The nitrogen mass balances take into consideration different land use types, inputs and outputs, thereby making it possible to understand how human interventions have impacted the variation of the surplus. It is noticeable that the major nitrogen sources are related to the agricultural sector. However, factors such as the implementation of the Code of Good Agricultural Practices, as well as social conditions, and regulations to reduce nitrogen emissions to the atmosphere helped to cut the nitrogen surplus. This work shows how improving the agricultural conditions has served to increase the crop productivity in improved areas. Very particular social circumstances led to the reduction in anthropogenic nitrogen sources, which has been accompanied by a decline in the nitrogen that is exported at the river outlet.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Cunha & João Marques & José Azevedo & Ana Castilho, 2021. "Understanding the Impact of a Major Hydro-Agricultural Project in Low Mondego Area (Portugal)," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-28, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:2:p:114-:d:486779
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xia Cui & Caizhu Huang & Jiapeng Wu & Xiaohan Liu & Yiguo Hong, 2020. "Temporal and spatial variations of net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs (NANI) in the Pearl River Basin of China from 1986 to 2015," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Hong, Bongghi & Swaney, Dennis P. & Mörth, Carl-Magnus & Smedberg, Erik & Eriksson Hägg, Hanna & Humborg, Christoph & Howarth, Robert W. & Bouraoui, Fayçal, 2012. "Evaluating regional variation of net anthropogenic nitrogen and phosphorus inputs (NANI/NAPI), major drivers, nutrient retention pattern and management implications in the multinational areas of Balti," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 117-135.
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