title: Curative vs. preventive management of nitrogen transfers in rural areas: lessons from the case of the Orgeval watershed (Seine River basin, France).
abstract: The Orgeval watershed (104 km(2)) is a long-term experimental observatory and research site, representative of rural areas with intensive cereal farming of the temperate world. Since the past few years, we have been carrying out several studies on nitrate source, transformation and transfer of both surface and groundwaters in relation with land use and agriculture practices in order to assess nitrate (NO3(-)) leaching, contamination of aquifers, denitrification processes and associated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. A synthesis of these studies is presented to establish a quantitative diagnosis of nitrate contamination and N2O emissions at the watershed scale. Taking this watershed as a practical example, we compare curative management measures, such as pond introduction, and preventive measures, namely conversion to organic farming practices, using model simulations. It is concluded that only preventive measures are able to reduce the NO3(-) contamination level without further increasing N2O emissions, a result providing new insights for future management bringing together water-agro-ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France; UPMC, UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: Josette.Garnier@upmc.fr.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France; UPMC, UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Billen
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vilain
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France; UPMC, UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Passy
authors.affiliation: IRSTEA, UR «Hydrosystèmes et Bioprocédés» 1 rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, CS 10030, 92761 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tallec
authors.affiliation: IRSTEA, UR «Hydrosystèmes et Bioprocédés» 1 rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, CS 10030, 92761 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tournebize
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anglade
authors.affiliation: IRSTEA, UR «Hydrosystèmes et Bioprocédés» 1 rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, CS 10030, 92761 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Billy
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.affiliation: IRSTEA, UR «Hydrosystèmes et Bioprocédés» 1 rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, CS 10030, 92761 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ansart
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7619 Metis, BP 123, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azougui
authors.affiliation: UPMC UMR 7618 IEES, BP 120, Tour 56, Etage 4, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebilo
authors.affiliation: AgroParisTech Centre de Paris - 19 avenue du Maine, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kao
mesh_terms: D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Denitrification; N(2)O emissions; NO(3)− pollution; Watershed management