Too much of a good thing

Sutton, Mark A.; Oenema, O.; Erisman, J. W.; Leip, Adrian; Grinsven, Hans van; Winiwarter, Wilfried

doi:10.1038/472159a

Cited by 838 publications

(485 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…It has been suggested that UA can also alleviate poverty (van Veenhuizen & Danso, 2007;Zezza & Tasciotti, 2010), increase resiliency (to market fluctuations and climate change) (de Zeeuw et al, 2011), serve as a repository of agricultural knowledge (Koohafkan & Altieri, 2010) and an incubator of new technologies (Despommier, 2010), provide measurable improvements to human health and wellbeing (Joye, 2007;Ulrich, 2006), and reunite urbanites with natural systems from which they have been separated (McClintock, 2010;Turner, 2011). There is evidence that UA shifts dietary intake toward more fresh fruits and vegetables (McCormack et al, 2010), which may reduce emissions from fossil fuels (Weber & Matthews, 2008) and nitrogenous waste (Sutton et al, 2011), while contributing to human nutrition and reducing the risk of multiple chronic diseases (Boeing et al, 2012). Conversely, UA may introduce disease and agricultural pollutants to the urban ecosystem (Smit et al, 2001), create conflicts over land use (Schmelzkopf, 1995), and add complicated, maintenance intensive systems to the urban infrastructure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Global Geospatial Ecosystem Services Estimate of Urban Agriculture

et al. 2018

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Though urban agriculture (UA), defined here as growing of crops in cities, is increasing in popularity and importance globally, little is known about the aggregate benefits of such natural capital in built‐up areas. Here, we introduce a quantitative framework to assess global aggregate ecosystem services from existing vegetation in cities and an intensive UA adoption scenario based on data‐driven estimates of urban morphology and vacant land. We analyzed global population, urban, meteorological, terrain, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) datasets in Google Earth Engine to derive global scale estimates, aggregated by country, of services provided by UA. We estimate the value of four ecosystem services provided by existing vegetation in urban areas to be on the order of $33 billion annually. We project potential annual food production of 100–180 million tonnes, energy savings ranging from 14 to 15 billion kilowatt hours, nitrogen sequestration between 100,000 and 170,000 tonnes, and avoided storm water runoff between 45 and 57 billion cubic meters annually. In addition, we estimate that food production, nitrogen fixation, energy savings, pollination, climate regulation, soil formation and biological control of pests could be worth as much as $80–160 billion annually in a scenario of intense UA implementation. Our results demonstrate significant country‐to‐country variability in UA‐derived ecosystem services and reduction of food insecurity. These estimates represent the first effort to consistently quantify these incentives globally, and highlight the relative spatial importance of built environments to act as change agents that alleviate mounting concerns associated with global environmental change and unsustainable development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Global Geospatial Ecosystem Services Estimate of Urban Agriculture

et al. 2018

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“…Much of the non-point pollution of waters in the European Union (EU) has been attributed to agriculture (Kersebaum et al, 2003) with the majority linked to losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrients from soil surfaces which can lead to eutrophication (Vörösmarty et al, 2010;Sutton et al, 2011). The OECD (2001) estimate that agriculture in the EU contributes 40% to 80% of the N and 20% to 40% of the P entering surface waters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supply of an ecosystem service—Farmers’ willingness to adopt riparian buffer zones in agricultural catchments

Buckley

Hynes

Mechan

2012

Environmental Science & Policy

103

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In the European Union, mitigation measures to abate diffuse pollution from agricultural land are implemented under the direction of the EU Nitrates and Water Framework Directives. As these measures are implemented in national policies, a review process will look at the efficacy of the measures with a view to recommending further measures as necessary and following scientific and stakeholder consultation. Riparian buffer zones, beyond those zones used as mandatory set back distances for fertiliser and organic manure spreading, have been used as filters in some countries to attenuate nutrient rich runoff and may be proposed as supplementary measures elsewhere. Notwithstanding the ongoing research on the physio-chemical efficiency of riparian buffer zones, this study examined the willingness of farmers to adopt such features on agricultural land. The sample size was 247 farmers in 12 catchments (approximately 4-12km 2 ) in the Republic of Ireland. The survey was based on a proposal to install a 10 metre deep riparian buffer zone on a five year scheme and the analysis was based on principal components analysis, contingent valuation methodology and a Generalized Tobit Interval model. Results from this analysis indicated that famers' willingness to supply a riparian buffer zone depended on a mix of economic, attitudinal and farm structural factors. A total of 53% of the sample indicated a negative preference for provision. Principle constraints to adoption include interference with production, nuisance effects and loss of production in small field systems. Of those willing to engage with supply, the mean willingness to accept based cost of provision for a 10 metre riparian buffer zone was estimated to be €1513 ha -1 per annum equivalent to €1.51 per linear metre of riparian area.

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“…Nitrate contamination in surface water and groundwater systems poses serious health risks, such as methemoglobinemia and N-nitroso-induced cancers (UNEP and WHRC, 2007). Emission of nitrous oxides from agricultural activities contributes to ozone damage and global warming (Kulkarni et al, 2008;Sutton et al, 2011). Furthermore, the production of N fertilizers requires considerable energy from fossil fuels, and since energy costs have risen in recent years, farmers face economic pressure from increasing N fertilizer costs, which are linked to higher food prices.…”

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confidence: 99%

Root Cortical Aerenchyma Enhances Nitrogen Acquisition from Low-Nitrogen Soils in Maize

et al. 2014

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ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7265-9790 (J.P.L.).Suboptimal nitrogen (N) availability is a primary constraint for crop production in developing nations, while in rich nations, intensive N fertilization carries substantial environmental and economic costs. Therefore, understanding root phenes that enhance N acquisition is of considerable importance. Structural-functional modeling predicts that root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) could improve N acquisition in maize (Zea mays). We evaluated the utility of RCA for N acquisition by physiological comparison of maize recombinant inbred lines contrasting in RCA grown under suboptimal and adequate N availability in greenhouse mesocosms and in the field in the United States and South Africa. N stress increased RCA formation by 200% in mesocosms and by 90% to 100% in the field. RCA formation substantially reduced root respiration and root N content. Under low-N conditions, RCA formation increased rooting depth by 15% to 31%, increased leaf N content by 28% to 81%, increased leaf chlorophyll content by 22%, increased leaf CO 2 assimilation by 22%, increased vegetative biomass by 31% to 66%, and increased grain yield by 58%. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that RCA improves plant growth under N-limiting conditions by decreasing root metabolic costs, thereby enhancing soil exploration and N acquisition in deep soil strata. Although potential fitness tradeoffs of RCA formation are poorly understood, increased RCA formation appears be a promising breeding target for enhancing crop N acquisition.

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Too much of a good thing

Cited by 838 publications

References 4 publications

A Global Geospatial Ecosystem Services Estimate of Urban Agriculture

A Global Geospatial Ecosystem Services Estimate of Urban Agriculture

Supply of an ecosystem service—Farmers’ willingness to adopt riparian buffer zones in agricultural catchments

Root Cortical Aerenchyma Enhances Nitrogen Acquisition from Low-Nitrogen Soils in Maize

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