Spatially explicit boundaries for agricultural nitrogen inputs in the European Union to meet air and water quality targets

Vries, Wim de; Schulte-Uebbing, Lena; Kros, Hans; Voogd, J.C.H.; Louwagie, Geertrui

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147283

Cited by 87 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Agricultural sustainability presents a great worldwide challenge to ensure global food security by increasing yields while safeguarding environmental sustainability. − Reactive nitrogen loss (Nr, e.g ., NO 3 – leaching) in crop production systems already exceeds sustainable N levels in many regions, ,, due to current N management strategies that primarily promote cropping intensification without regard to sustainability . Recent research has introduced the planetary N boundary concept to define a safe operating space for human societies to develop and thrive at regional and global scales. ,− Although promising, planetary N boundaries have been derived on the basis of current N use efficiency (NUE) in cropping systems, and an increase in NUE would allow higher N inputs, which might be crucial for global food security and sustainability . It is thus relevant to assess both required N inputs in view of food security and N boundaries in terms of adverse environmental impacts and then assess the needed increase in NUE to reconcile possible differences .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research has introduced the planetary N boundary concept to define a safe operating space for human societies to develop and thrive at regional and global scales. ,− Although promising, planetary N boundaries have been derived on the basis of current N use efficiency (NUE) in cropping systems, and an increase in NUE would allow higher N inputs, which might be crucial for global food security and sustainability . It is thus relevant to assess both required N inputs in view of food security and N boundaries in terms of adverse environmental impacts and then assess the needed increase in NUE to reconcile possible differences . Meanwhile, the planetary boundary framework must set specific national or regional targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account local circumstances because policy actions and industry investment most commonly occur at these broader scales. , The need to do so is particularly important in hotspot regions of low N use efficiency and large quantities of excess N fertilization, such as croplands in China and Northern India.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Safeguarding Food Supply and Groundwater Safety for Maize Production in China

Ying

Xue

Yang³

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Quantifying sustainable nitrogen (N) management at the national scale is critical for developing targeted policies and strategies to simultaneously achieve food security and groundwater protection. In this study, we report county-scale optimization scenarios for Chinese maize production and evaluate their outcomes for safeguarding food supply and groundwater safety. First, we performed random forest regression modeling to simulate in situ NO3 – leaching based on a meta-analysis that integrates climate, soil, water, and N balance parameters. The NO3 – leaching was then mapped for 1406 counties based on data compiled from 2.89 million farmer surveys. Average NO3 – leaching during the maize growth season was estimated to be 27.6 kg N ha–1, and 56% of counties had groundwater whose nitrate concentrations exceeded drinking water safety levels during 2005–2014. The top 5% farmers in each county produced not only more grain but also greater NO3 – leaching. Scenario analysis of potential management changes found that when these top producers combined optimal N management practices, national N use in Chinese maize system was reduced by 25%, from 9.1 to 6.9 Mt, while maize production increased by 6.1%. Modeled NO3 – leaching was 0.58 Mt, which was 31% lower than groundwater safety levels and 53% lower than the current leaching amount. This study provides evidence that integrated crop and N management practices implemented at the county level safeguard both maize crop food security and enhance environment sustainability.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safeguarding Food Supply and Groundwater Safety for Maize Production in China

Ying

Xue

Yang³

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Nitrogen fixation and N depositions were not taken into account, but the potential N losses between treatments could still be estimated, given that every trial was analyzed individually. Furthermore, symbiotic N fixation can be neglected in non-legume crops [57]. The different potential N losses (types of gaseous and leaching losses) were not measured directly and therefore, only the lumped N loss was calculated in the balance sheet approach.…”

Section: Nitrogen Balance Sheet Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop Residue Management Strategies to Reduce Nitrogen Losses during the Winter Leaching Period after Autumn Spinach Harvest

et al. 2022

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In open-field vegetable production, high quantities of soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) and N-rich crop residues often remain in the field at harvest. After the harvest of crops in autumn, this N can lead to considerable nitrate (NO3−) losses during the subsequent winter leaching period. In four field trials, different tillage depths (3–4, 10, 30 cm) and dates (early autumn, late autumn, early spring) were investigated to reduce N losses after growing spinach in the autumn. In a further treatment, the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) was directly applied to the crop residues. Potential N losses were calculated by a balance sheet approach based on Nmin concentration (0–90 cm), measured N mineralization and N uptake by catch crops. By postponing the tillage date from early to late autumn or spring, resprouting spinach stubbles acted as a catch crop, reducing N losses by up to 61 kg ha−1. However, if the spinach biomass collapsed, the N losses increased by up to 33 kg ha−1 even without tillage. The application of DMPP as well as the tillage depth were less effective. Overall, postponing tillage to spring seems to be the most promising approach for reducing N losses during the off-season.

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“…The NUE for world cereal production has been estimated at 33% of fertilizer N recovered by the crop [21]. Nitrogen inputs, nitrogen output, and loss vary strongly in Europe [22]. On average, 145 kg N•ha −1 is added to European soils each year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On average, 145 kg N•ha −1 is added to European soils each year. The average Yn is 92 kg N•ha −1 •yr −1 , which implies an average NUE of 63% and Ns of 53 kg N•ha −1 •yr −1 [22]. NUE of European agriculture has increased, but by far not enough to sufficiently reduce N losses and meet environmental targets [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of Nitrogen Losses in Winter Wheat Grown on Light Soils

et al. 2021

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Two 16-year-old series of experiments with winter wheat grown in rotation after winter oilseed rape were used in the study. The experiments were located in the cold temperate dry and moist climate zones on light soils. Wheat was fertilized with nitrogen in the doses of 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 kg N·ha−1 per year. Through the several years of the experiment, critical N rates for maximum yield and gross margin from the linear-plus plateau regressions were 149 ± 23.9 and 112 ± 23.6 kg N·ha−1, respectively. The estimated nitrogen indicators for these doses were as follows: nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) 93 and 108%, N surplus (Ns) 6.8 and −10.1 kg·N·ha−1, yield-scaled Ns, N2O, and NH3 3.5 and −0.2; 0.35 and 0.30; 0.31 and 0.25 kg N·Mg−1, respectively. Experiments have shown that two strategies for reducing nitrogen losses on light soils under wheat cultivation are possible: by limiting the N dose to the critical values due to the yield requirements, or due to the gross margin. The analysis of the 11-year data for 2300 farm fields with winter wheat grown on light soils showed that only 10% of them were implementing the first strategy, and as much as 90% chose the second strategy.

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Spatially explicit boundaries for agricultural nitrogen inputs in the European Union to meet air and water quality targets

Cited by 87 publications

References 61 publications

Safeguarding Food Supply and Groundwater Safety for Maize Production in China

Safeguarding Food Supply and Groundwater Safety for Maize Production in China

Crop Residue Management Strategies to Reduce Nitrogen Losses during the Winter Leaching Period after Autumn Spinach Harvest

Reduction of Nitrogen Losses in Winter Wheat Grown on Light Soils

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