Decision models for better land management under cultivation

Integrated water resources management is an issue of major concern in Europe. Preoccupation with environmental matters has been dramatically increased by the growing impact of various activities, such as farming. In fact, diffuse pollution provoked by agricultural practices is among the environmental challenges for which preventive measures are needed to achieve a "good status" regarding ecological and chemical parameters. Building models to support future decisions on better policies for rural land use planning (type of crops and associated fertilizers and treatment techniques) is crucial for achieving a sustainable development. This paper presents two decision models that aim to minimize diffuse pollution induced by agricultural land use and irrigation practices.