• S.Ravichandran
• R.Venkataraman
• D.Venkatakrishnan

In many parts of the country there is growing concern about the degradation of water quality that draws the attention of professionals involved in this field. Groundwater contamination has many sources and evidences suggest that agriculture’s relative contribution may be significant. The deleterious effects of groundwater contamination by agrochemicals particularly nitrogenous fertilizers pose serious socio economic and environment threat to many rural communities who subsist on this resource. The best way of managing the nitrate pollution is the promulgation and adoption of Best Management Practices (BMP) and this paper attempts to validate the BMP practices that will contain nitrate pollution. In the present study an attempt was made to construct BMP Index for calibrating the efficient nitrogen use. To assess the influence of the important factors that determine the adoption of Nitrogen Best Management Practices an empirical linear model was specified. The BMP attributes comparison of crops in affected block showed that among the crops, the actually applied nitrogen over the recommended dose was the highest in paddy crop, the scale on fertilizer application techniques was the lowest in sugarcane crop and the overall NBMP index was the lowest in paddy crop. In unaffected block among the crops the nitrogen application over the recommended dose, the scale on fertilizer application technique and the overall BMP index were all in unfavourable condition towards tapioca. The comparison of the two blocks reveals that among all the attributes that builds up the BMP index, the scale on fertilizer application techniques favourably contributed in the case of unaffected block. The source of technical guidance was found to be an important variable, which influenced the BMP index of both the affected and unaffected blocks to a considerable extent. Hence it was recommended to strengthen the awareness on groundwater nitrate contamination and impart technical knowledge on BMP through efficient institutional arrangements and the role of economic instruments for voluntary adoption of BMP is also suggested.

Groundwater, Nitrate Pollution, Best Management Practices, index, Adoption Determining Factors.

"Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Nitrogen Management – A Study in Groundwater Nitrate Contaminated Area of Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 9, page no.712-722, September-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906E57.pdf

"Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Nitrogen Management – A Study in Groundwater Nitrate Contaminated Area of Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 9, page no. pp712-722, September-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906E57.pdf