Global Groundwater Sustainability and Quality

Agriculture is a major source of nitrate (NO3) in the global biogeochemical cycle, in which groundwater acts as storage and sink. This global role of groundwater in the N cycle is poorly quantified. This research first quantifies past-current global agricultural leaching of NO3, its groundwater storage, denitrification and the associated environmental effects through a combination of soil column, crop and groundwater numerical modelling. It then projects modifications to these global processes under socioeconomic and climate change. This provides critical information for tailoring agricultural and groundwater management for optimizing food production relative to climate, health and ecosystems.