A study on N balance of Maltese agricultural activities and its potential to pollute the groundwater resource

Abstract

The Maltese Island's groundwater is showing signs of degradation caused by years of overexploitation and mismanagement of agricultural practices that are progressively polluting it through nitrate leaching. For this purpose, the EU's Nitrate directive aims to reduce groundwater pollution that is directly and indirectly related to nitrates of agricultural origin, and to prevent any further pollution through the adoption of good agricultural practices by each member state. In order to achieve this objective, Malta has to undergo an extensive program of research into the local agricultural system in an effort to design the right approach that will not only reduce the further contamination of the local aquifers, but also maintain a viable and healthy agricultural industry.