Glossary of terms on livestock manure management 2003 - Ramiran

RAMIRAN <strong>Glossary</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>terms</strong> on manure management 2003 50
Water
GROUND WATER
SURFACE WATER
CATCHMENT
WATERSHED
GROUND WATER
TABLE
NITRATE
LEACHING
DISCHARGE
STANDARD
EFFLUENT
VULNERABLE
ZONE
Water that flows or seeps downward and saturates soil or rock,
supplying springs and wells. The upper surface <strong>of</strong> the saturate
zone is called the water table.
Water that flows in streams and rivers and in natural lakes, in
wetlands, and in reservoirs constructed by humans.
The area that drains the rainwater falling on it, via streams and
rivers, eventually to the sea or into a lake. Separated from the
adjacent catchment area by a ridge <strong>of</strong> high land or
WATERSHED.
The ridge <strong>of</strong> high ground or imaginary border line separating
the CATCHMENT areas <strong>of</strong> two distinct river systems.
Water level <strong>of</strong> an unconfined aquifer, below which the pore
spaces are generally saturated
Transport <strong>of</strong> NITRATES (NO 3 ) from soil in soil drainage water
to the aqueous environment.
Legal limit to be met when introducing an EFFLUENT into
water.
Liquid e.g. from MANURE or SEWAGE TREATMENT or
industrial processes. Often used to describe a liquid discharged
into the environment, usually water, with permission and to
appropriate standards or conditions. See also SILAGE
EFFLUENT.
Generally used for "nitrate vulnerable zones" according to the
EU nitrate directive 1991, in which nitrate pollution (from
agricultural sources) exceeds, or is likely to exceed, the legal
limit <strong>of</strong> 50 mgNO 3 /litre.
Atmosphere
AMMONIA
GREENHOUSE
GASES (GHG)
NITROUS OXIDE
NH 3 . A gas derived from urea (uric acid) excreted by
LIVESTOCK ( POULTRY) and implicated in ACIDIFICATION
and nitrogen enrichment <strong>of</strong> sensitive ecosystems.
Gases that contribute to the “green house effect” and global
warming. Include carbon dioxide, METHANE and NITROUS
OXIDE.
N 2 O. A GREENHOUSE GAS derived mainly from the
DENITRIFICATION process.