INTENSIVE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH APPRECIABLE NO3- CONTAMINATION OF WATER BODIES, AS OCCURS WITH THE GREENHOUSE-BASED SYSTEM OF SOUTH-EASTERN SPAIN. ESSENTIAL TO REDUCING NO3- LEACHING LOSS FROM VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IS IMPROVING N USE EFFICIENCY. THE COMBINED FERTIGATION AND DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS USED IN ALMERIA AND ELSEWHERE HAVE THE TECHNICAL CAPACITY FOR SPOON-FEEDING N TO CROPS AS REQUIRED, BECAUSE OF VERY FREQUENT SMALL APPLICATIONS OF N. CURRENTLY, GROWERS MANAGE N BY EXPERIENCE USING STANDARD RECIPES.