Evaluation of agricultural measures to safeguard the vulnerable karst groundwater habitat of the black olm (Proteus anguinus parkelj) from nitrate pollution

Glavan, Matjaž (avtor), Cvejić, Rozalija (avtor)

The black olm (Proteus anguinus parkelj Sket & Arntzen) is an endemic species found exclusively in the Dobličica River subterranean water systems of the Dinaric karst in southern Slovenia. These unique habitats are vulnerable to contamination due to rapid water flow, primarily from nitrates from agricultural fertilisers and untreated urban wastewater. The safe limit of nitrate concentration for olms is 9.2 mg NO3$^− $/L, yet measurements in karst springs have shown levels ranging from 3 mg to over 20 mg NO3$^− $/L. The SWAT modelling tool assessed agri-environmental and land use scenarios for their impact on nitrate leaching. Using the model, we identified hotspots with high nitrogen leaching potential that require immediate attention and implementation of better agricultural practices for fertiliser use. For these hotspots, the most effective approach combines scenarios of cover crops (R2), reduced fertilisation (R3), crop rotation (R4), and conversion of cropland to grassland (E2, E4, E5), potentially decreasing nitrate leaching by up to 60%. Implementing the best scenarios is expected to reduce nitrogen levels below the limit value of 9.2 mg NO3$^− $/L, essential for maintaining the black olm habitat.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: black olm, karst, groundwater, habitat, agriculture, measures, nitrate, SWAT model
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2024
• Št. strani: 26 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 16, iss. 24, art. 11309
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-166214
• UDK: 504.5
• ISSN pri članku: 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su162411309
• COBISS.SI-ID: 220411651
• Datum objave v RUL: 24.12.2024

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Sustainability
• Skrajšan naslov: Sustainability
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5324897

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: črni močeril, Kras, podtalnica, življenjski prostor, kmetijstvo, nitrati, Proteus anguinus parkelj