SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - IMPACTS ON NONPOINT POLLUTION

Current agricultural practices are thought to contribute to nonpoint s ource pollution because of large inputs of pesticides and fertilizers and intensive cultivation and crop production. Trends towards sustaina ble practices which involve crop rotations, alternative weed and pest control measures, use of manure as fertilizer and crop residues can le ad to improved resource management. Sustainable agricultural systems s hould be viewed not as a reversion to past systems but as adoption of systems which promote efficient resource management and improved effic iency in the use of natural resources. Many of the aspects currently c onsidered to be sustainable agricultural practices will lead to decrea sed nonpoint source pollution on both the field and landscape scale. T here are large changes in the physical, chemical, and biological facto rs which promote these reductions. The net result of adoption of these practices will be improved environmental quality; however, to realize this benefit will require both educational efforts and improved decis ion making tools to aid in the management decisions required in agricu lture.