Italy case study: Arborea Plain

The Arborea Plain, in the Sardinia Region (Italy), is a hydraulic reclamation area, where animal manure and slurry, as well as synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, have been applied on the fields. This has resulted in high nitrate concentrations, especially in the shallow aquifer, such that it was designated as a NVZ (Nitrate Vulnerable Zone) under the Nitrates Directive in 2005. Besides the groundwater, nitrates and phosphates are also lost directly by surface runoff to the reclamation channels network ending to the S’Ena Arrubia natural wetland, which is an EU recognized naturalistic site.

Issues to be addressed

Reduce the risk of water pollution from agriculture; Pollution restoring water bodies to acceptable water quality standards while ensuring profitable agri-food activities; Provide more informed decisions on organic matter and mineral fertilizer application better tailored to crop needs, soil conditions, and the agroecosystem’s nitrogen cycle

Solutions and Technologies implemented in the case study area

The farm conducts cutting-edge research on sustainable crop production, soil health, water management, and pest control.
It focuses on developing innovative techniques that optimize resource use and minimize agricultural pollution. Research areas include precision agriculture, smart irrigation systems, and renewable energy integration, which are essential for sustainable farming.

Expected impacts

Reduction in the contamination of water bodies by agri-food practices upscaling results from the farm to the whole water basin area considering the different sources of water contamination related to the agrifood activities. Development of a site-specific solution to reduce nitrate leaching before the waters reach the aquifer, in order to limit contamination.

About the partner

The University of Cagliari (UNICA) is a public state University with about 25,000 students and over 2,000 teaching and technical administrative staff.It is located in the island of Sardinia-Italy, in the middle of the Mediterranean. Given its geographic location, it has consolidated relationships and exchanges with the southern Mediterranean countries, at both students and staff levels.An international mix of students coming from foreign HEIs (400 this year) enriches the local community of students. Thanks to more than 1000 partnership agreements, UNICA’s students have various opportunities to study abroad. Besides that, about more than 100 visiting professors come to Cagliari’s University yearly.UNICA offers structures and integrated study plans, training activities closely tied to labor market and research, to increase international competitiveness.The Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences (DSCG-UNICA) was established in 2012, combining Geological and Chemical skills. The mission of the DSCG-UNICA is to advance knowledge on land management and perform researches both basic and applied. The Department has 13 full professors, 31 associate professors and 25 researchers. Research in the Department is highly cooperative and international.

Beneficiaries

Farmers, Environment

Stakeholders involved

Farmers, 3A, Oristano Land Reclamation and Irrigation Consortium, River Basin District Agencies (ADIS); Regional Environmental Agencies of Sardinia (ARPAS).

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