Nutrient Load Mitigation with Wintertime Cover as Estimated by the INCA Model

Increased nutrient loading causes deterioration of receiving surface waters in areas intensive agriculture. While nitrate and particulate phosphorus load can be efficiently controlled by reducing tillage frequency increasing vegetation cover, many field studies have shown simultaneously increased bioavailable phosphorus. In the latest phase Rural Programme EU agri-environmental measures, highest potential to reduce were maximum limits for fertilization arable crops retaining plant cover on fields with, e.g., no-till methods uncultivated nature management fields. Due latter two area has since 1995, suggesting clear effects catchment scale as well. We modeled effectiveness measures nitrogen loads additionally tested performance dynamic, process-based INCA-P (Integrated Nutrients Catchments—Phosphorus) model simulate P dynamics an agricultural catchment. concluded that was able both fast (immediate) slow (non-immediate) processes influence from catchments. Based our simulations, it also evident had waters, even though total N reduced.