• Introduction
• Publications
• Research
• Catchments
• People
• Weather Data
• Collaboration
• Catchment Science 2023

Collaboration

The ACP works together with a wide range of organisations including the EPA, DAFM and third level institutions.

Current Projects

BEYOND

Beyond the current: Improving European flowing waters in an era of global change. This is an EU funded MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE ACTIONS Doctoral network, aiming for a sustainable management of natural resources and restoration of EU ecosystems and biodiversity.

WaterFutures

This EPA/DAFM funded project is investigating the effectiveness of mitigation measures on water quality in Ireland and considering future changes in population growth, land use and climate change.

iCRAG Project GW3.2

This project is investigating the occurrence of emerging organic contaminants from agriculture to groundwater in karst and fractured bedrock aquifers throughout Ireland. Looking at the frequency of occurrence of these contaminants (mainly anti-parasitic agents), it is seeking to determine the source factors (point and diffuse such as land spreading of manures and slurries, etc) and pathway factors such as soil, bedrock, etc.

Masters in Agricultural Innovation and Support

in partnership with UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, the aim of this programme is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to be effective in building the capacity of farmers to adopt new practices and technologies. The experience gained on this programme positions participants well for future roles in advisory services, technical consultancy and education delivery. The topics supported and hosted by the Agricultural Catchments Programme include:

• A study of farmer’s attitudes towards growing catch crops in a catchment with high stream water concentrations of nitrate N, whilst developing KT methodology to further adoption;
• Farmer preferences for actions needed to adhere to changes in the Nitrates Action Programme;
• Reintegration of cropping and livestock systems – the role of advisors in implementing locally led, co benefit trading;
• Enhancing Water Quality Management in Agricultural Landscapes: Utilizing Teagasc online Nutrient Management Plans and Pollution Impact Potential Maps for Sustainable Farm Practices;
• Enhancing KT support for better distribution of organic manures from Anaerobic Digestors;
• Enhancing KT support for better distribution of organic manures – pig and poultry origin.

FERTIGO

Improving fertilizing strategies by innovative use of Plantain (Plantago lanceola) in agricultural systems is a cross European project funded by Green Era Hub. The overall project is led by Université Libre de Bruxelles. The Irish component of the project is led by Teagasc Johnstown Castle and UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and is funded by DAFM and Teagasc. Cover crops and companion crops have the potential to improve soil fertility by different mechanisms and their smart integration into cropping systems could substantially improve fertilizer use efficiency and hence reduce environment pollution. In the FERTIGO project, we aim at identifying and integrating new species (and cultivars) of cover crops and companion crops to stabilize nitrogen in soils. The study will focus on plantain because of its reported biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). There are two field site in the Castledockrell catchment supporting the grass ley study and the cover crop experiment.

NASCO – National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory

Eddy Covariance is a micrometeorological technique used to directly measure the rate of CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems. In 2021, The National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO) was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Establishment is currently underway and will include 28 Eddy Covariance Flux Towers located on benchmark sites including agricultural grasslands, mineral soils and peatlands. The data generated will provide accurate, long-term information on the carbon dynamics of Irish agricultural systems. This will also complement the greenhouse gas research carried out as part of Teagasc Sign Post farms, Vista Milk, Terrain AI and the Agricultural Catchments Programme. There are 5 NASCO Eddy Covariance towers in the ACP with two in the Castledockrell catchment, 1 in Ballycanew, 1 in Cregduff and 1 in Timoleague.

Measures for Water

Monitoring and evaluating targeted mitigation approaches to improve Water Quality. The Measures for Water project will embrace a unique opportunity and align with the Farming for Water EIP, to assess the effectiveness of clusters of practical, on-farm measures, implemented (through the Farming for Water EIP) to protect and improve water quality across a gradient of scales (ie. field, farm, catchment).

Past Projects

WaterMARKE (2019 – 2024)