How to improve water management on the farm

One of the five objectives of Quebec’s Sustainable Agriculture Plan is to optimize water management in agriculture.

Water quality allows us to assess the efforts of the agricultural industry to reduce its environmental footprint. Using water responsibly and protecting water quality on farms and in drainage basins are key to combating climate change.

To ensure that surface and groundwater are used properly, the government wants farmers to adopt innovative water management practices.

The government has set two targets to optimize water management in agriculture:

• Improve the benthos health index of degraded waterways by one class or 15 units.

• Reduce total phosphorus concentration in waterways by 15 %.

   

Improving the benthos health index

The benthos health index is an indicator used to assess the health of waterways. It is produced by examining the composition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities (insects, worms, mollusks, and crustaceans) and measuring the impact of agricultural practices.

The scale of the benthos health index ranges from 0 to 100 units, with 100 being the best. Quality classes range from very poor to very good. The government’s target is to improve the benthos health index of degraded waterways by one quality class or 15 units.

Reducing phosphorus concentrations

The concentration of total phosphorus in surface water is a good indicator of the aging condition of a water body.

Extended riparian buffers and precise fertilizer application by fertility zone can reduce the amount of phosphorus that can enter waterways.

Three tips to optimize water management

Variable-rate application

Applying the right amount of the right product at the right time and in the right place is the best way to avoid overfertilizing certain areas of a field. AgConnexion can help you apply fertilizer precisely and according to the soil analysis from each field area.

Cover crops

Some cover crops are excellent at trapping nitrogen and preventing it from entering waterways.

Riparian buffers

Wide strips of vegetation planted along waterways and ditches trap some fertilizer, pesticides, and sediment, preventing them from entering the water.

Riparian buffer seed mixes are available. These contain perennial plants that can withstand harsh conditions.

The above practices have several benefits, including:

• Reducing pesticide use and the associated health and environmental risks

• Improving soil health and conservation

• Improving fertilizer management

• Promoting biodiversity