Irrigation shows early promise for reducing nitrate pollution from farms
CBC
Preliminary research on P.E.I. farms shows that irrigating potatoes helps the plants better use nitrogen in fertilizer, so it doesn't end up leaching into the environment.
The research by the Living Lab Project — a partnership of Agriculture Canada, the East Prince Agri-Environment Association and the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture — is in its third year.
Provincial soil and water conservation engineer Tobin Stetson said the early field trial results are replicating results from previous federal research farm testing.
"It's not a groundbreaking phenomenon or anything," Stetson told Island Morning host Laura Chapin.
"It's just naturally that plants need water to transport photosynthesis and transport nutrients into their cells. And the synthetic fertilizer that is applied to the crop with supplemental irrigation is allowed to uptake more."
Because the plants are more efficiently taking up the nitrates in fertilizers, there is less left behind to eventually trickle into groundwater and rivers.
A recent study found nitrate levels climbing in some Island rivers. Excess nitrates can lead to algal blooms that consume the oxygen in the water, suffocating fish and shellfish.
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