Water Quality/Quantity Issues for Sustainable Agriculture in Canada

摘要

Intensification of agriculture, with growing use of fertilizers and pesticides, and the increasing separation between animal and crop production, are creating problems for water quality in Canada. Excessive nitrate content is observed in many water bodies, and pathogens may also occur as a result of manure disposal. Climate change is expected to increase the pressure on the water resource, both from the quantitative and qualitative points of view. Environmental sustainability is a major concern for policy-makers, and maintaining the health of the natural resources is increasingly part of programs and policies. Research is supporting these efforts through the development of cropping systems and best management practices that will help alleviating the pressure on the soil and water resources.