Trends in Agricultural Land in EU Countries of the Baltic Sea Region from the Perspective of Resilience and Food Security

Abstract. Nitrate (NO3−) is the major nutrient responsible for coastal eutrophication worldwide and its production is related to intensive food production and fossil-fuel combustion. In the Baltic Sea NO3− inputs have increased 4-fold over recent decades and now remain constantly high. NO3− source identification is therefore an important consideration in environmental management strategies. In this study focusing on the Baltic Sea, we used a method to estimate the proportional contributions of NO3− from atmospheric deposition, N2 fixation, and runoff from pristine soils as well as from agricultural land. Our approach combines data on the dual isotopes of NO3− (δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3−) in winter surface waters with a Bayesian isotope mixing model (Stable Isotope Analysis in R, SIAR). Based on data gathered from 47 sampling locations over the entire Baltic Sea, the majority of the NO3− in the southern Baltic was shown to derive from runoff from agricultural land (33–100%), whereas in the northern Baltic, i.e. the Gulf of Bothnia, NO3− originates from nitrification in pristine soils (34–100%). Atmospheric deposition accounts for only a small percentage of NO3− levels in the Baltic Sea, except for contributions from northern rivers, where the levels of atmospheric NO3− are higher. An additional important source in the central Baltic Sea is N2 fixation by diazotrophs, which contributes 49–65% of the overall NO3− pool at this site. The results obtained with this method are in good agreement with source estimates based upon δ15N values in sediments and a three-dimensional ecosystem model, ERGOM. We suggest that this approach can be easily modified to determine NO3− sources in other marginal seas or larger near-coastal areas where NO3− is abundant in winter surface waters when fractionation processes are minor.

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Baltic Sea eutrophication status is not improved by the first pillar of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy

Regional Environmental Change ◽

10.1007/s10113-019-01559-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 2465-2476

Author(s):

Torbjörn Jansson ◽

Hans E. Andersen ◽

Bo G. Gustafsson ◽

Berit Hasler ◽

Lisa Höglind ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Agricultural Policy ◽

Common Agricultural Policy ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Simulation Models ◽

The European Union ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Fertiliser Use ◽

The Baltic

Abstract Agriculture is an important source of nitrogen and phosphorous loads to the Baltic Sea. We study how the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and in particular how its first pillar, containing most of the budget and the decoupled farm payments, affects eutrophication. To aid our study, we use three simulation models, covering the agricultural sector in the EU, a hydrological nutrient flow model and a model of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. We compute changes in key eutrophication indicators in a business-as-usual baseline and in a hypothetical situation where the first pillar of the CAP, containing the direct payments, greening and accompanying measures, is not present. Comparing the outcomes, we find that in the scenario without the first pillar, production and agricultural land use is lower, while yields and fertiliser use per hectare are higher, causing less nitrogen and phosphorous loads (0.5 to 4% depending on the basin) and less eutrophication in the Baltic Sea as net effect. We therefore conclude that the policies of the first pillar of the CAP contribute to increased eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.

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Impact of agricultural farms on the environment of the Puck Commune: Integrated agriculture calculator – CalcGosPuck

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27419 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Lidia A Dzierzbicka-Glowacka ◽

Stefan Pietrzak ◽

Dawid Dybowski ◽

Michał Białoskórski ◽

Tadeusz Marcinkowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽

Nutrient Balance ◽

Sample Population ◽

Opinion Poll ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Integrated Agriculture ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Baltic

Background. Leaching of nutrients from agricultural areas is the main cause of water pollution and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. A variety of remedial actions to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agricultural holdings and cultivated fields have been taken in the past. However, knowledge about the risk of nutrient leaching has not yet reached many farmers operating in the water catchment area of the Baltic Sea. Methods. The nutrient balance method known as "at the farm gate" involves calculating separate balances for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). After estimating all the components of the nutrient balance, the total balance for NPK is calculated and the data obtained is expressed as the ratio of total change (surplus) to the area of arable land on a farm. In addition, the nutrient usage efficiency on a farm is also calculated. An opinion poll was conducted in 2017 on 31 farms within the commune of Puck which is approximately 3.6 percent of all farms located in this commune. The area of the farms is variable ranging from 5 – 130 ha with an average of 45.82 ha including areas of arable and grass land. The former are on average 30.79 ha with a range of 4.45 to 130 ha while the latter has an average area of 12.77 ha and ranges from 0 to 53 ha. Results. The average consumption of mineral fertilizer in the sample population of farms was 114.9 kg N, 9.3 kg P, and 22.9 kg K∙ha-1of agricultural land (AL), respectively. N surplus in the sample farms being ranged from -23.3 to 254.5 kg N∙ha-1AL while nutrient use efficiency ranged from 0.40 to 231.3 percent. In comparison, P surplus in the sample farms was 5.0 kg P∙ha-1AL with the P use efficiency of 0.4-266.5 percent. Discussion. Individual N fertilizer consumption in the tested farms was higher than the average usage across Poland and in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, compared to the lower consumption of potassium fertilizers. Phosphorus fertilizer consumption was higher than in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, but lower compared to the entire country. Generally, on the basis of designated research indicators of farm pressures on water quality concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were obtained. CalcGosPuck (an integrated agriculture calculator) will help to raise farmers’ awareness about NPK flow on farm scale and thus to improve nutrient management.

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Impact of agricultural farms on the environment of the Puck Commune: Integrated agriculture calculator—CalcGosPuck

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6478 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e6478 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lidia Dzierzbicka-Glowacka ◽

Stefan Pietrzak ◽

Dawid Dybowski ◽

Michał Białoskórski ◽

Tadeusz Marcinkowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Nutrient Balance ◽

Arable Land ◽

Sample Population ◽

Opinion Poll ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Integrated Agriculture ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Baltic

Background Leaching of nutrients from agricultural areas is the main cause of water pollution and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. A variety of remedial actions to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agricultural holdings and cultivated fields have been taken in the past. However, knowledge about the risk of nutrient leaching has not yet reached many farmers operating in the water catchment area of the Baltic Sea. Methods The nutrient balance method known as “At the farm gate” involves calculating separate balances for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). After estimating all the components of the nutrient balance, the total balance for NPK is calculated and the data obtained is expressed as the ratio of total change (surplus) to the area of arable land on a farm. In addition, the nutrient usage efficiency on a farm is also calculated. An opinion poll was conducted in 2017 on 3.6% (n = 31) of the farms located in commune of Puck. The total area of the farms including arable and grass land ranged from 5 to 130 ha with an average of 45.82 ha. The arable land was on average 30.79 ha ranging from 4.45 to 130 ha while the grassland averaged 12.77 ha and ranged from 0 to 53 ha. Results The average consumption of mineral fertilizer in the sample population of farms was 114.9 kg N, 9.3 kg P, and 22.9 kg K·ha−1of agricultural land (AL), respectively. N balance in the sample farms being ranged from −23.3 to 254.5 kg N·ha−1AL while nutrient use efficiency ranged from 0.40% to 231.3%. In comparison, P surplus in the sample farms was 5.0 kg P·ha−1AL with the P use efficiency of 0.4–266.5%. Discussion Mean N fertilizer consumption in the tested farms was higher than the average usage across Poland and in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. However, mean consumption of potassium fertilizers was lower than mentioned averages. Mean P fertilizer consumption was higher than in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, but lower compared to the entire country. Generally, on the basis of designated research indicators of farm pressures on water quality, concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were obtained. CalcGosPuck (an integrated agriculture calculator) will help to raise farmers’ awareness about NPK flow on farm scale and to improve nutrient management.

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Nitrate source identification using its isotopic ratios in combination with a Bayesian isotope mixing model in the Baltic Sea

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-11-5869-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 5869-5901 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

F. Korth ◽

B. Deutsch ◽

C. Frey ◽

C. Moros ◽

M. Voss

Keyword(s):

Atmospheric Deposition ◽

Baltic Sea ◽

Surface Waters ◽

N2 Fixation ◽

Source Identification ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Mixing Model ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Bayesian Isotope Mixing Model ◽

The Baltic

Abstract. Nitrate (NO3−) is the major nutrient responsible for coastal eutrophication worldwide and its production is related to intensive food production and fossil-fuel combustion. In the Baltic Sea NO3−inputs have increased four-fold over the last decades and now remain constantly high. NO3− source identification is therefore an important consideration in environmental management strategies. In this study focusing on the Baltic Sea, we used a method to estimate the proportional contributions of NO3− from atmospheric deposition, N2 fixation, and runoff from pristine soils as well as from agricultural land. Our approach combines data on the dual isotopes of NO3− (δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3−) in winter surface waters with a Bayesian isotope mixing model (Stable Isotope Analysis in R, SIAR). Based on data gathered from 46 sampling locations over the entire Baltic Sea, the majority of the NO3− in the southern Baltic was shown to derive from runoff from agricultural land (30–70%), whereas in the northern Baltic, i.e., the Gulf of Bothnia, NO3− originates from nitrification in pristine soils (47–100%). Atmospheric deposition accounts for only a small percentage of NO3− levels in the Baltic Sea, except for contributions from northern rivers, where the levels of atmospheric NO3− are higher. An additional important source in the central Baltic Sea is N2 fixation by diazotrophs, which contributes 31–62% of the overall NO3− pool at this site. The results obtained with this method are in good agreement with source estimates based upon δ15N values in sediments and a three-dimensional ecosystem model, ERGOM. We suggest that this approach can be easily modified to determine NO3− sources in other marginal seas or larger near-coastal areas where NO3− is abundant in winter surface waters when fractionation processes are minor.

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Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fluxes from Finnish Agricultural Areas to the Baltic Sea

Hydrology Research ◽

10.2166/nh.1995.0004 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 55-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Seppo Rekolainen ◽

Heikki Pitkänen ◽

Albert Bleeker ◽

Sietske Felix

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Nitrogen Loading ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽

River Channels ◽

Nutrient Losses ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

The Baltic ◽

Agricultural Areas

Nutrient losses from small drainage basins were compared to the nutrient fluxes in small coastal rivers in order to study the representativeness of the Finnish monitoring network of small basins, especially as regards agricultural loading to the Baltic Sea. Additionally flux estimates from the period 1986-1990 were compared to those of the period 1981-1985 in order detect possible trends. The results suggest that in coastal regions with high proportions of agricultural land and with low lake percentage, the nutrient losses from agricultural areas mostly enter coastal waters with negligible retention in river channels. The net effect of the various processes in the rivers is small because most of the nutrient losses occur in spring, fall or early winter in connection with high water flows and current velocities, short residence times of water and low intensities of biogeochemical processes. Nitrogen losses from agriculture has probably increased during the 1980s due to increased winter flows and increased use of nitrogen fertilizers. The results indicate that nitrogen loading of the southern and south-western coastal waters of Finland has increased as well.

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Towards a Sustainable Food System in the Baltic Sea Region

Environmental Challenges in the Baltic Region ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-56007-6_2 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 15-52

Author(s):

Markus Larsson

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Food System ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Baltic Sea Region ◽

The Baltic ◽

Sustainable Food System

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Impact of agricultural farms on the environment of the Puck Commune: Integrated agriculture calculator – CalcGosPuck

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27419v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Lidia A Dzierzbicka-Glowacka ◽

Stefan Pietrzak ◽

Dawid Dybowski ◽

Michał Białoskórski ◽

Tadeusz Marcinkowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽

Nutrient Balance ◽

Sample Population ◽

Opinion Poll ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Integrated Agriculture ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Baltic

Background. Leaching of nutrients from agricultural areas is the main cause of water pollution and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. A variety of remedial actions to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agricultural holdings and cultivated fields have been taken in the past. However, knowledge about the risk of nutrient leaching has not yet reached many farmers operating in the water catchment area of the Baltic Sea. Methods. The nutrient balance method known as "at the farm gate" involves calculating separate balances for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). After estimating all the components of the nutrient balance, the total balance for NPK is calculated and the data obtained is expressed as the ratio of total change (surplus) to the area of arable land on a farm. In addition, the nutrient usage efficiency on a farm is also calculated. An opinion poll was conducted in 2017 on 31 farms within the commune of Puck which is approximately 3.6 percent of all farms located in this commune. The area of the farms is variable ranging from 5 – 130 ha with an average of 45.82 ha including areas of arable and grass land. The former are on average 30.79 ha with a range of 4.45 to 130 ha while the latter has an average area of 12.77 ha and ranges from 0 to 53 ha. Results. The average consumption of mineral fertilizer in the sample population of farms was 114.9 kg N, 9.3 kg P, and 22.9 kg K∙ha-1of agricultural land (AL), respectively. N surplus in the sample farms being ranged from -23.3 to 254.5 kg N∙ha-1AL while nutrient use efficiency ranged from 0.40 to 231.3 percent. In comparison, P surplus in the sample farms was 5.0 kg P∙ha-1AL with the P use efficiency of 0.4-266.5 percent. Discussion. Individual N fertilizer consumption in the tested farms was higher than the average usage across Poland and in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, compared to the lower consumption of potassium fertilizers. Phosphorus fertilizer consumption was higher than in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, but lower compared to the entire country. Generally, on the basis of designated research indicators of farm pressures on water quality concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were obtained. CalcGosPuck (an integrated agriculture calculator) will help to raise farmers’ awareness about NPK flow on farm scale and thus to improve nutrient management.

Download Full-text