Share of agriculture in nitrogen and phosphorus emissions into the surface waters of Western Europe against the background of their eutrophication

Abstract

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, their relationship to each other (DIN/DIP) as predisposing (nutrient) factors, as well as prevailing weather as a triggering factor all work together to induce the primary production and hence the eutrophication (hypertrophication) process in surface waters. Sulfate likewise is a decisive predisposing factor influencing the eutrophication process by reducing N availability but increasing P availability and thus acting towards an N limitation of the primary production. This is one of the reasons why marine (coastal) waters and estuaries often exhibit N limitation with respect to primary production, while freshwater ecosystems often tend to exhibit P limitation.

Within the N and P balance of agriculture of some countries of Western Europe (Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, FRG, UK and Sweden for N, resp. Netherlands, FRG and GDR for P) more the level than the efficiency of the N and P applications indicates the extent of the nutrient surplus. Despite 59–73% N utilization in plant production, the rate of 13–23% for agriculture as a whole equals to the 12–21% efficiency of N use in animal production. The varying N surplus in agriculture in the separate countries of 124 to 465 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ is determined almost exclusively by the level of the N application and not by its efficiency. The situation is similar for P: In spite of P utilization in plant production of 59–76%, P utilization in total agriculture is only 11–38%, or comparable to the P efficiency within animal production of 10–34%. The differing P excess balance of 55 to 88 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ is influenced by the level of the P application. The N and P efficacy of total agriculture hence is determined almost completely by that of animal production, since 83–95% (N basis) and 76–94% (P basis) of the total plant production (on top of the nationally varying levels of N and P use via imported feeds) are fed to animals — with the low N and P utilization cited above.

Agriculture's share of the N and P emissions into surface water of several countries/regions in Western Europe (FRG, Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway) ranges from 37 to 82% resp. 27 to 38%. Its share in the flus into the North Sea catchment basin will be about 60% for N and 25% for P related only to the anthropogenic material carried by the rivers. Agriculture's share in the atmospheric N emissions into the North and Baltic Seas can be estimated at about 65% or 55%, resp. while the remaining approx. 35% or 45%, resp. are traceable primarily to anthropogenic burning processes.

For agriculture the priority lies in limiting N emissions into surface water caused by leaching, erosion and NH₃ emissions, and reducing P emissions mainly through soil conservation (protection against erosion) and water protection. As regards N this means a demand for comprehensive protection of groundwater and atmosphere differentiated according to the potential for losses or the risk of losses on a site, also outside the protection zones. As regards P only those areas can be included in the demand for reduction of emissions that are actually threatened by erosion or surface runoff. Plenty of short-term and long-term measures are available to agriculture to reduce N and P emissions. Especially the long-range measures (such as creating nutrient balances on farms and fields, the integration of animal and plant production, maintaining maximum livestock densities according to the ability of areas to absorb nutrients, altered feeding programs in animal nutrition, changes in livestock keeping (slurry→deep litter), increasing the internal and external recycling of N and P) are capable of bringing about a satisfactory degree of success within the next 20 to 30 years.