IWRA Proceedings

AbstractTHIS STUDY CONSTITUTES AN IMPORTANT PART OF A BROADER PROJECT THAT SEEKS TO PREDICT RISKS OF CONTAMINATION BY NITRATES IN AN AQUIFER CONSIDERED THE RESERVE OF DRINKABLE WATER OF THE REGION LAGUNERA, FORMED BY PART OF DURANGO AND COAHUILA STATES IN THE NORTH OF MEXICO. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY WAS TO CHARACTERIZE THE CROPS OF THE AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF THE VILLA JUAREZ AQUIFER AND ESTIMATE THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF THE WATER USED IN EACH CROP. IT WAS NECESSARY TO USE STATISTICAL AND DOCUMENTARY INFORMATION GENERATED BY GOBERNMENT INSTITUTIONS PRESENT IN THE REGION, AS WELL AS TO DESIGN AND APPLY A SURVEY TO RURAL FARMERS IN THE 26 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AGRICULTURAL SURFACE. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE PRODUCTION OF FORAGES REPRESENTS MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE REGIONAL AGRICULTURE, IN WHICH MORE THAN THE 80 PERCENT OF THE FARMERS EMPLOY FERTILIZARS AND OTHER CHEMICAL PRODUCTS. HOWEVER, THE QUANTITY AND TYPE OF FERTILIZARS APPLIED OCCURS WITHOUT A PRIOR DIAGNOSIS THEN, IT COULD BE EITHER CAUSING IMPACT ON ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE FARMERS OR RAISING THE RISK OF AQUIFER CONTAMINATION WELL THE ENVIROMENTAL MEDIUM. REGARDING THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF THE WATER, IT WAS FOUND ALSO THAN EVEN THOUGH THE PRODUCTION OF FORAGES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY, THE PROFIT VALUE OF WATER USED IN ITS PRODUCTION IS LOWER THAN THAT OBTAINED FOR FRUITS AND HORTICULTURAL CROPS, BEING CONCLUDED THAT IN SPITE OF THE AGRICULTURE IS AN IMPORTANT ACTIVITY IN THE ZONE, IT IS NECESSARY TO IMPROVE THE PRACTICES OF OF AGROCHEMICALS USE BECAUSE OF IT IS A ZONE IN WHICH UNDERLIES THE MAIN RESERVE OF DRINKABLE WATER FOR A POPULATION OVER THE MILLION OF INHABITANTS.