The Variability of Nitrogen Forms in Soils Due to Traditional and Precision Agriculture: Case Studies in Poland

Abstract

The soil and human health issues are closely linked. Properly managed nitrogen (N) does not endanger human health and increases crop production, nevertheless when overused and uncontrolled, can contribute to side effects. This research was intended to highlight that there is a need for carrying out monitoring studies in agricultural areas in order to expand the available knowledge on the content of N forms in agricultural lands and proper management in farming practice. The impact of two types of fertilization, concerning spatially variable (VRA) and uniform (UNI) N dose, on the distribution of N forms in soils was analyzed. The analysis was performed on the basis of soil monitoring data from agricultural fields located in three different experimental sites in Poland. The analyses performed at selected sites were supported by statistical evaluation and recognition of spatial diversification of N forms in soil. It was revealed that the movement of unused N forms to deeper parts of the soil, and therefore to the groundwater system, is more limited due to VRA fertilization. Finally, it was also concluded that the management in agricultural practice should be based on the prediction of spatial variability of soil properties that allow to ensure proper application of N fertilizers, resulting in the reduction of possible N losses.

Urban Agriculture as an Alternative Source of Food and Water Security in Today’s Sustainable Cities

“…In turn, the restrictions and problems related with urban agriculture include such issues as: spatial management policies not taking into account agrarian functions; legal regulations prohibiting food production in cities; restricted access to arable soil; lack of ensuring a stable lease or high cost of urban ground (competition of investors with larger assets, preferring investments ensuring a larger commercial income); lack of informal catering and sale of food products to official sanitary requirements; heavy metal pollution of soil, water and atmosphere in the former industrial environment; occurrence of pathogens; gardening practice with negative influence on the natural environment, e.g., grass burning, usage of agrochemicals [ 112 ]; in in-door production: high energy demand of artificial light technology, watering, ventilation, etc. ; crop or infrastructure vandalism and theft (e.g., in allotment gardens); gentrification risk related with revitalization of urban space; in a commercial aspect: price competition of imported food.…”

“…gardening practice with negative influence on the natural environment, e.g., grass burning, usage of agrochemicals [ 112 ];…”

The Impact of Manure Use for Energy Purposes on the Economic Balance of a Dairy Farm

“…N EX -N excretion per head of livestock (on average annually), F racleachingMS -percent of managed manure nitrogen losses due to runoff and leaching during storage of manure, F racleachingMS (%) was determined in accordance with national reports and experience according to the characteristics of the manure management and storage system [64,[75][76][77][78][81][82][83][84][85]. Sequentially, for faeces: without any mitigation measures, covered and compacted and directed to biogas plants (in %): 10, 1, 1, respectively.…”

Preference and paradox: Local residents’ perspectives on the reuse of post‐agricultural brownfield sites

“…Land is a finite resource with many potential uses that may drive the desire to repurpose previously underutilised rural lands (Lambin & Meyfroidt, 2011) and abandoned sites that lost their function (Egidi et al., 2021; Latocha, 2020; Pukowiec‐Kurda & Vavrouchova, 2020). These derelict sites may be the result of social shifts in rural societies (Vaishar & Stastna, 2019), recent changes in rural economies (Jancak et al., 2019), de‐agrisation processes (Klusacek et al., 2021b), overuse and subsequent productivity losses (Podlasek et al., 2021), degradation of the environment (Czortek et al., 2020) or soil contamination (Bartkowski & Bartke, 2018). The utilisation of unused and/or abandoned areas can substantially lower the pressure of land scarcity in many regions (Bartke & Schwarze, 2015; Bartke et al., 2016).…”