1. AGRICULTURE and POLLUTION

2. Nitrogen and Agriculture The nitrogen cycle: Atmospheric deposition, Biological fixation, Fertilisers, Animal manures Nitrogen transformations: Nitrogen mineralization, Nitrogen immobilization, Nitrification, Adsorption and fixation, Nitrogen uptake and losses, Nitrate leaching, Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emissions from nitrification and denitrification, Ammonia volatilisation Nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture - The causes of nitrate pollution - Problems caused by nitrate pollution: Nitrate and drinking water quality, Eutrophication, Nitrates in food Reducing nitrate losses from agriculture: Source management - optimisation of fertiliser N use, Cultivation and crop management

3. Phosphorus Phosphorus and agriculture The phosphorus cycle: Phosphorus inputs and outputs, Fertilisers, Atmospheric inputs, Animal manures, P transformations in soil, Distribution of P in soil, P sorption Phosphorus losses: Surface run-off, Leaching and drain flow Environmental implications of P pollution: N and P balance in natural waters Environmental problems caused by P pollution: P in ground and surface waters, Eutrophication Practical solutions: Source management - optimisation of fertiliser P use, Animal feeds, P transfer management by soil conservation

4. Soil Erosion Vulnerability of soil to erosion and degradation: Extent of erosion, Processes and products of erosion, Water erosion, Wind erosion, Agricultural land management practices and accelerated erosion Environmental impacts of soil erosion: Impacts of sediment on aquatic environments, Physic al impacts, Chemical impacts, Impacts of sediments on land Practical solutions to soil erosion: Assessment of erosion risk, Field and crop based erosion control strategies, Farm and catchment based erosion control strategies

5. Organic Waste and Agriculture - Farm wastes: Changes in farming systems, Pollution risks from farm wastes, Ammonia in watercourses, Pathogens from farm wastes, Veterinary products in farm wastes, Water pollution incidents - Non-agricultural organic soil amendments: Sewage sludge or biosolids, Pollution risks from applying sewage sludge to agricultural land, N and P pollution from sewage sludge, Odours, Pathogens, Other non-agricultural organic wastes, Detrimental effects of applying non-agricultural wastes to land - Practical solutions: Farm waste handling, storage and disposal, Solid manures, Silage, Slurry, Dirty water, Good agricultural practice - Non-agricultural organic wastes: Avoiding pollution problems by potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge, Avoiding crop contamination by pathogens - Alternative technologies for farm waste treatment: Biogas production, Reed bed treatment

6. Agriculture and gaseous emissions - Ammonia emissions: Pollution problems, Sources of ammonia pollution, Practical solutions, Minimising ammonia emissions by good practice - Methane emissions: Pollution problems, Sources, Practical solutions - Nitrous oxide emissions: Pollution problems, Sources of pollution, Practical solutions - Carbon dioxide emissions: Pollution problems, Sources of pollution, Practical solutions - Farm odours: Sources of pollution, Practical solutions, The location and design of new livestock units Minimising odour nuisance by good management practice, Technologies for reducing odour nuisance

7. Pesticides Pesticide history, Pesticide use, Pesticides and their application Insecticides: Organophosphates, Carbamates, Pyrethroids Herbicides: Triazines, Phenoxyacetic acids, Carbamates Fungicides: Traditional inorganics, Phenylamides, Carboxamides or oxathins -The causes of pesticide pollution: Pesticides as pollutants, Resistance and resurgence Behaviour and fate of pesticides in the environment: Persistence, The fate of pesticides in soil, Loss of pesticides from soil Environmental problems caused by pesticide residues: Pesticides in surface and ground waters, Effects on non-farmed organisms Practical solutions: Good practice, User training, Planning and preparation, Working with pesticides,Disposal of waste, Keeping records, Other considerations New technology Alternatives to synthetic pesticides: Naturally derived pesticides, Microbial pesticides, Non-chemical weed control, Non-chemical pest control

8. Genetic modification - Risks and benefits: Herbicide-resistant crops, Insect-resistant crops - Assessing environmental risk - The future for GMOs

9. Policy strategies for reducing pollution Policy strategies for reducing pollution The emergence of contemporary agri- environmental policy: Agri-environment regulation, Rural development regulation Policy instruments, strategies and implementation: Policy strategies, Policy instruments, Implementation and dissemination Learning from experience: Policies for reducing nitrate pollution, Nitrate pollution control policies in the UK and Europe, Policies for reducing pesticide pollution, Pesticide reduction programmes in Europe Future directions: Adoption of sustainable farming practices, Legislative changes