Nitrogen inputs by irrigation is a missing link in the agricultural nitrogen cycle and related policies in Europe

Serra, J.; Cordovil, Cláudia MdS; Marinheiro, Joana; Aguilera, Eduardo; Lassaletta, Luis; Sanz-Cobeña, Alberto; Garnier, Josette; Billen, Gilles; Vries, Wim de; Dalgaard, Tommy; Hutchings, Nicholas J.; Cameira, Maria do Rosário

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164249

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Our findings are consistent with previous research from Serra et al (2023a) for Europe during the period 2000-2010 in terms of spatial distribution, particularly related to hotspots (e.g., European Northern Plains, Spain, Italy and Greece). The finer spatial resolution and improved performance of our approach allowed us to uncover previously hidden hotspots (e.g., in Spain, Italy).…”

Section: Spatio-temporal Patterns Of Annual Nitrate Concentration In ...supporting

confidence: 93%

“…We implemented a random forest (RF) model to predict annual NO3concentration in groundwater at 0.04ºx0.04º in Europe (European Union plus Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) for the period 1992-2019. This model was previously used to predict annual concentrations in Europe at 10x10km for 2000-2010 (Serra, et al, 2023a) with a R 2 of 0.65 ± 0.08. We improved this framework by training the model with stations from the period 2000-2019 rather than for individual years; that is, a single model was used to predict concentrations across Europe.…”

Section: Modeling Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing nitrate groundwater hotspots in Europe reveals a severely inadequate designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Serra,

Marques-dos-Santos,

Marinheiro

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Monitoring networks show that the European Union Nitrates Directive (ND) has had mixed success in reducing nitrate concentrations in groundwater. By combining machine learning and monitored nitrate concentrations (1992-2019), we estimate the nitrate hotspot area in Europe to be 401,000 km2, with 47% occurring outside of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). We also found contrasting increasing or decreasing trends, varying per country and time periods. We estimate that only 5% of the 122,000 km2 of hotspots in 2019 will meet nitrate quality standards by 2040 and that these may be offset by the appearance of new hotspots. Our results reveal that the effectiveness of the ND is limited by time-lags between the implementation of good practices and pollution reduction and an inadequate designation of NVZs. Significant improvements in the designation and regulation of NVZs are necessary, if the objectives of EU legislation to protect groundwater are to be achieved.

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Section: Spatio-temporal Patterns Of Annual Nitrate Concentration In ...supporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Modeling Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing nitrate groundwater hotspots in Europe reveals a severely inadequate designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Serra,

Marques-dos-Santos,

Marinheiro

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The most widely used variables contributing to the calculation of the recommended nitrogen fertilisation rates were the N uptake by the crop, the N derived from manure and the N released by crop residues (Table 4, Figure 1). The least employed variables were the N atmospheric losses, the N supplied through irrigation water (recently stressed by Serra et al, 2023), the stock of mineral N at harvest, the N leached, the N in the crop at the start of the mass balance, and the long term effects of farmyard manure. The Apparent Use Coefficient was only quoted three times, in spite of its ease of understanding and implementation.…”

Section: Most and Least Used Variables In The Mass Balances Performed...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of nitrogen fertilisation recommendations of West European Countries

Jordan‐Meille,

Denoroy,

Dittert

et al. 2023

European J Soil Science

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Nitrogen (N) budgets at farm level are influenced by N fertilisation recommendations. In this study, we reviewed and analysed the underlying principles and methods of N fertilisation recommendations in ten West European countries, to identify similarities and differences, and develop suggestions for reconsideration and improvement. An analysis of national official documents on N fertilisation recommendations revealed that there were three main categories of calculation methods: (i) ‘N mass balances’ (France, Italy, Spain), (ii) ‘Corrected standards’ (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg), and (iii) ‘Pre‐parameterised calculations’, which rely on a soil N supply typology (United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium). In total 16 variables were identified in the calculation methods. The more complex methods use 10 (Italy, France), while the simplest only rely on 3 (Luxembourg). The most common variables include the availability of N in manure, the N uptake by a crop, and the N released by crop residues. Few countries explicitly consider N losses to ground and surface waters or to the atmosphere in the calculation methods. In some countries, the N fertilisation recommendation has a voluntary status, in other countries a legal one (caps on maximum allowable N rates). We compared the N fertiliser recommendations for a wheat crop grown on a farm with livestock, and for a farm with a diverse arable crop rotation without livestock. Across the 10 countries, large differences in the N fertilisation calculation methods and resulting N recommendations existed for the two management scenarios, ranging from almost no fertilisation to 135 kg N ha‐1, and from 111 to 210 kg N ha‐1, respectively. The differences were not accounted for by the complexity of the equations used, but rather resulted from contrasting reference values for N availability in manure, N uptake by crop and N leaching.However, the study concluded that standardisation of the method to calculate N fertilisation recommendations is likely to be counterproductive as there are no objective reasons to favour one method more than the others. Nonetheless, improvements in N use efficiency are necessary. Farm scale mass balance, combined with parameters such as minimum residual soil mineral N test at harvest was suggested as being an important consideration.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Spatial and temporal patterns of nutrients and their environmental impacts from the agriculture sector in India

Bode,

Beusen,

Dekker

et al. 2023

Reg Environ Change

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Since the launch of the Green Revolution (GR) in Indian agriculture in the 1960s, Indian food production has successfully become self-sufficient but this has also led to increasing soil nitrogen (N) surpluses and various negative environmental impacts, such as NH3 emissions. Using the IMAGE Global Nutrient Model, this study explores the development of food production, soil N surpluses and associated NH3 emissions in India during the GR; the use of subnational data for compiling spatially explicit maps of N inputs (N fertilizers, manure N, biological N fixation, atmospheric deposition) and outputs (crop harvest, grazing) was compared with results using country-scale data. The results show that in the period 1960–2010 food production growth was dramatic (374%), particularly in the region of the GR states (Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh). This production increase was primarily based on spectacular increases in crop yields and N inputs. However, due to slowly changing nutrient use efficiency, N surpluses and associated NH3 emissions increased rapidly, with hotspots especially in the GR states. Maps using data at subnational scale yield a better representation of spatial heterogeneities of the soil N surpluses, emissions and environmental impacts than maps based on country data. This is beneficial for effect calculations, as the location of negative environmental side effects strongly depends on the location of soil N and P surpluses.

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Nitrogen inputs by irrigation is a missing link in the agricultural nitrogen cycle and related policies in Europe

Cited by 8 publications

References 60 publications

Assessing nitrate groundwater hotspots in Europe reveals a severely inadequate designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Assessing nitrate groundwater hotspots in Europe reveals a severely inadequate designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Comparison of nitrogen fertilisation recommendations of West European Countries

Spatial and temporal patterns of nutrients and their environmental impacts from the agriculture sector in India

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