Monitoring off-site transport of nutrients, sediment and pesticides from cherries, apples and grapes in the Mount Lofty Ranges

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Background

Off-site transport of contaminants in the form of nutrients, sediment and pesticides from agricultural practices is of concern to landholders, regulatory agencies and the general public. The presence of contaminants in waterways can cause eutrophication, ecotoxicological effects on aquatic organisms and may increase the cost of water treatment for potable water.

This study aims to minimise the transport of contaminants, from an apple, cherry and grape site which eventually drain into the Onkaparinga River and then Mt Bold reservoir.The Centre for Natural Resource Management (CNRM), Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the National Landcare Program (NLP) are jointly funding our research.

Outcomes from project

The main outcomes from this ongoing project will be:

• A two to three year detailed dataset of concentrations and loads of selected pesticides, nutrients and sediment moving to surface water from apple, cherry and grape production in the Mt Lofty Ranges. This data can be used to determine the severity of environmental impact of the three landuses.
• An understanding of the behaviour of pesticides, nutrients and sediment moving to surface water from apple, cherry and grape production.This data can be used to develop a set of recommendations for the horticultural industry to minimise the environmental impact of the three landuses.
• The reference cards, which are to be distributed to growers in the Mt Lofty Ranges, will outline the relative risk of pesticides to be transported to surface water as assessed by PIRI. This information will allow growers to make informed decisions about choice of chemical and timing of application with regard to their relative impact on surface water.
• The concentrations of pesticides detected in the water transported off-site will be compared with regulatory guidelines for pesticide concentrations in surface waters to provide a context for the level of contamination.

Contact for more information

• Ms Danni Oliver
• Dr Jim Cox
• Dr Rai Kookana