Farm gate nitrogen surpluses and nitrogen use efficiency of specialized dairy farms in Flanders: Evolution and future goals

Nevens, Frank; Verbruggen, Ignace; Reheul, Dirk; Hofman, Georges

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2005.03.005

Cited by 98 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Fertiliser and imported feed provided substantial inputs, while bedding, atmospheric deposition and irrigation water made relatively minor nutrient contributions. Similar results have been found in other studies (Nevens et al 2006;Fangueiro et al 2008;Ovens et al 2008;Treacy et al 2008). It is interesting to note that the organic farms included in this study imported relatively high rates of P, largely as rock phosphate.…”

Section: Nutrient Balances and Use Efficienciessupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Similar ranges in N surpluses and use efficiencies have been reported on commercial dairy farms in New Zealand (Ledgard et al 2004), the USA (Hristov et al 2006), and Europe (i.e. Van der Meer 2001;Nevens et al 2006;Fangueiro et al 2008;Treacy et al 2008). In Australia, there have been few studies involving commercial farms.…”

Section: Nutrient Balances and Use Efficienciessupporting

confidence: 48%

“…Despite year-round grazing and the contrasting climatic conditions of Australian dairy systems, the same relationship (slope = 0.012) has been described for Western European dairy farms with milk production ranging from 3000 to 50 000 L/ha (Raison et al 2006). Similar positive relationships between stocking rate and N surplus, and milk production and N surplus have also been described for dairy farms in Flanders (Nevens et al 2006), Ireland (Treacy et al 2008), Northern Portugal (Fangueiro et al 2008), and Western Australia . Interestingly, there was no significant relationship between N surplus/ha and reliance on imported feed.…”

Section: Nutrient Balances and Use Efficienciesmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Similar techniques have been used in other studies (Mulier et al 2003;Nevens et al 2006;Fangueiro et al 2008;Treacy et al 2008) although we used modifications to these studies in order to suit Australian dairy farm operations (Gourley et al 2007). Nutrient balance per unit of milk production (milk production balance; Schröder et al 2003) was also determined.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2b) although the farms with lower milk production had a wider range of milk production surpluses. As environmental impacts are quantified principally on an area basis, surplus per ha is more widely recognised as being the more relevant metric (Nevens et al 2006).…”

Section: Environmental and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Farm-scale nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur balances and use efficiencies on Australian dairy farms

et al. 2012

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Abstract. Efficient and effective nutrient management decisions are critical to profitable and sustainable milk production on modern Australian dairy farms. Whole-farm nutrient balances are commonly used as nutrient management tools and also for regulatory assessment on dairy farms internationally, but are rarely used in Australia. In this study, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) imports and exports were measured during a standardised production year on 41 contrasting Australian dairy farms, representing a broad range of geographic locations, milk production, herd and farm size, reliance on irrigation, and soil types. The quantity of nutrients imported varied markedly -with feed and fertiliser generally the most substantial imports -and were principally determined by stocking rate and type of imported feed. Milk exports were the largest source of nutrient exports. Nitrogen balance ranged from 47 to 601 kg N/ha.year. Nitrogen-use efficiency ranged from 14 to 50%, with a median value of 26%. Phosphorus balance ranged from -7 to 133 kg P/ha.year, with a median value of 28 kg P/ha. Phosphorus-use efficiencies ranged from 6 to 158%, with a median value of 35%. Potassium balances ranged from 13 to 452 kg K/ha, with a median value of 74 kg K/ha; K-use efficiency ranged from 9 to 48%, with a median value of 20%. Sulfur balances ranged from -1 to 184 kg S/ha, with a median value of 27 kg S/ha; S-use efficiency ranged from 6 to 110%, with a median value of 21%. Nitrogen, P, K and S balances were all positively correlated (P < 0.001) with stocking rate and milk production per ha. Poor relationship between P, K and S fertiliser inputs and milk production from home-grown pasture reflected the already high soil fertility levels measured on many of these farms. The results from this study demonstrate that increasing milk production per ha will be associated with greater nutrient surpluses at the farm scale, with the potential for greater environmental impacts. We suggest that simplified and standardised nutrient balance methodologies should be used on dairy farms in Australia to help identify opportunities for improvements in nutrient management decisions and to develop appropriate industry benchmarks and targets.

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Section: Nutrient Balances and Use Efficienciessupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Nutrient Balances and Use Efficienciessupporting

confidence: 48%

Section: Nutrient Balances and Use Efficienciesmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Farm-scale nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur balances and use efficiencies on Australian dairy farms

et al. 2012

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The state of phosphorus balance on 58 Virginia dairy farms

Pearce

Maguire

2020

J of Env Quality

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Managing a sustainable dairy farm requires balancing phosphorus (P) imports and exports that enter and leave through the farm gate. Over the long term, P surpluses will elevate soil‐test P concentrations above crop requirements through routine land applications of manure. The objectives of this study were aimed at Virginia dairy farms (a) to determine P mass balances, (b) to define potential guidelines for a sustainable and feasible zone of operation based on P balance and P use efficiency, and (c) to assess risk factors driving P surplus and P use inefficiencies. Data on farm‐gate P imports and exports via feed, manure, crops, fertilizers, bedding, animals, and milk were collected for 58 dairy farms in Virginia. There was no relationship between farm P balance and milk production, indicating that a P surplus was not necessary for good milk productivity. A feasible P balance limit was calculated below which 75% of farms could operate, and this was 18.7 kg P ha−1. Two risk factors were identified for farms having a P balance above this limit: (a) land application of poultry litter and (b) excessive import of P through feed. Combined dairy and beef operations generally had more land and a lower P balance, whereas having combined dairy and poultry did not raise the P balance as long as poultry litter was exported. Dairy farms in Virginia can operate with a sustainable P balance as long as they avoid using excessive poultry litter and pay attention to P imported through purchased feed.

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Estimating resource use efficiencies in organic agriculture: a review of budgeting approaches used

Topp¹,

Stockdale²,

Watson³

et al. 2007

J Sci Food Agric

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The basis of organic farming is that it is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, and it aims, wherever possible, to use renewable resources in the production system and avoid waste. Thus this review considers the use of nutrient, energy and water within the farming systems, and indices that are used to evaluate the use of these resources and hence their impact on the environment. It is crucial that the delineation of system boundaries in both time and space, including both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, is defined to assess the resources used within the system. There is increasing interest in the emergy concept, which permits different forms of energy to be compared on the same basis. Across all farming systems, there is no direct link between nutrient surplus and nutrient loss. It is important to recognise that the choice of tool used to assess the environmental consequences of the farming system, as well as whether the results are expressed on a product or an area basis, may have implications for how emissions are attributed to different parts of the production system. In order for indicators to be useful, they must be influenced by the farmer's management practices.

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Farm gate nitrogen surpluses and nitrogen use efficiency of specialized dairy farms in Flanders: Evolution and future goals

Cited by 98 publications

References 12 publications

Farm-scale nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur balances and use efficiencies on Australian dairy farms

Farm-scale nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur balances and use efficiencies on Australian dairy farms

The state of phosphorus balance on 58 Virginia dairy farms

Estimating resource use efficiencies in organic agriculture: a review of budgeting approaches used

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