Water Quality of the Seyfe Lake Basin, Turkey

Seyfe Lake is an important part of the natural ecosystem of Central Anatolia and lies within a 1487 km2 closed basin. Groundwater withdrawal for irrigation and recent climatic change have caused lake area to decrease for decades and to completely disappear briefly in August 2008. Groundwater quality is crucial for sustainable irrigation in the Seyfe Basin. A key finding of this study is the difference in the Hardie-Eugster alkalinity-to-calcium ratio of the lake water and that of most groundwater wells in the basin. This difference in the chemical signature of Seyfe Lake and basin groundwater means the evaporative salinization pathway of most groundwater discharged into the lake cannot account for the composition of Seyfe Lake. The ratio of actual evapotranspiration to precipitation will increase under current climate change projections. A second finding, with implications for soil salinization, is that most groundwater in Seyfe Basin has a Hardie-Eugster alkalinity-tocalcium ratio greater than unity, meaning soil alkalization will accompany soil salinization.

Application of sustainable agroecological practices – challenges to farm holdings

The development of European agricultural policy is geared towards achieving sustainability in the relationship between agriculture and the environment. In agricultural practice there are a variety of agro-ecological practices, some of which are well integrated in the modern agriculture in Bulgaria - organic fertilization, reduction of soil treatments, introduction of sustainable irrigation systems, biological control of pests, etc. The report analyzes the state of the more applied agro-ecological agricultural practices in Bulgaria. Emphasis is placed on the challenges and opportunities for applying these practices to farm farms. There is a need to improve access to knowledge, improve observation, strengthen consultancy services and develop the support system.