An assessment of agrochemical leaching potentials for Tenerife

This paper reports an index-based regional-scale characterization of non-paint source groundwater contamination potential for the agricultural areas on the Canary Island of Tenerife. The relative leaching potential for 24 pesticides was quantitatively assessed and ranked using the Leaching index (Li) for the soil, landcover, and recharge conditions in Tenerife. The uncertainty in the Li estimates, due to uncertainties in the soil, recharge, and chemical data, were accounted for using first-order uncertainty analysis. Several of the pesticides considered in this study were assessed to be potential leachers. The soil insecticide Carbofuran (il,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl-n-methylcarbamate) was found to have the greatest leaching potential for the soil, landcover, and recharge conditions across Tenerife. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.