Restoring nutrient circularity in a nutrient-saturated area in Germany requires systemic change

AbstractRegions with intensive agriculture often encounter environmental problems caused by nutrient excess of agro-food-waste systems that have become increasingly linear over previous decades. In this study, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and carbon (C) flows in the whole agro-food-waste system of district Cleves in Germany were quantified simultaneously using substance flow analysis. Moreover, nutrient use inefficiency hotspots were identified to establish options to improve nutrient self-sufficiency as a first step towards nutrient circularity. Data on mass flows and nutrient contents was acquired for the year 2016 from stakeholders, statistical databases, literature and modelling. Organic C was included for flows with potential as organic fertilizer. Results show that animal production drives the nutrient flows in the export-oriented district, with feed import, manure application and losses from housing and manure storage accounting for 40, 45 and 60% of all N, P and K flows, respectively. In particular agriculture is responsible for N losses, with 150 kg N lost ha−1 agricultural land. Crop production surplus and with that soil accumulation of P and K are 515 t and 4100 t respectively. Stoichiometry of N:P:K:C in the different organic materials does not allow direct application and meeting crop requirements without exceeding demand of especially P. Processing of biomass is therefore required. Based on mass, especially manure holds potential for processing into bio-based fertilizers. To improve nutrient cycling and soil C conservation, being an important element for a sustainable agricultural sector, local balances between crop and animal production need to be considered.

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Nitrogen Efficiency in Agriculture in Europe and India

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.385 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 148-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Klaas W. Van der Hoek

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Balance ◽

Production System ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Indian Subcontinent ◽

Animal Production ◽

Nitrogen Efficiency ◽

The European Union ◽

Balance Sheets

Nitrogen balance sheets are useful tools for studying the quantitative aspects of nutrients. Nitrogen balance sheets have been prepared for the animal production system, crop production system, and for the agricultural sector as a whole for all 15 member states of the European Union (EU15) and for the Indian subcontinent. The EU15 and India were chosen for this study on nitrogen efficiency using balance sheets because they each occupy roughly 300 million ha of land and use about 65 kg nitrogen fertiliser per hectare of agricultural land. Balance sheets were constructed for three systems: animal production, crop production, and the agricultural sector as a whole. In addition to detailed descriptions of the nitrogen balance sheets, brief recommendations for reducing nitrogen surpluses are also given. Surprisingly, the balance sheets for crop production and the agricultural sector as a whole showed a surplus of about 60 kg of nitrogen per hectare of agricultural land.

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Optimizing Rotavator Design Towards Enhancing Agricultural Crop Productivity

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering - 2 ◽

10.35940/ijrte.b1796.078219 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 48-52

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Chemical Fertilizer ◽

Cost Ratio ◽

Agricultural Crop ◽

Seedbed Preparation

By continuous and rapid growth in industrialization as well as population, the agricultural lands are also becoming less and less continuously day by day which results in increase in the population of small land holders. In addition to this, because of continuous decreasing production the youth of the villages are also migrating in big cities for the employment, resulting decreasing manpower essential to perform various seedbed operations in the villages. Hence, it is the need of time for small farmers having small agricultural land and having less crop production to introduce the cost-effective farm mechanization so that they can improve production rate. Rotavator is the best option available to achieve this landmark as it is already proved that seedbed prepared by using rotavator gives highest benefit to cost ratio. For this experimental study the whole land of 9 acre area is divided into 18 plots of equal size in area. The combination of method of seedbed preparation and use of fertilizers were the preliminary criteria. The categories of fertilizer according to quantity are discussed earlier which are 50kg, 35kg and 65kg per acre respectively. The quantities of organic fertilizer used are 45kg and 60kg per acre of agricultural land for both seedbeds which are prepared manually and by using rotavator. The highest production of Pigeon Pea was obtained of 814kg was from the plot whose seedbed is prepared by using agricultural machine called rotavator and organic fertilizer; next highest production is obtained of 802 kg from the plot whose seedbed is prepared by using rotavator and the fertilizer used was chemical fertilizer. The minimum production of Pigeon Pea which is 690 kg was obtained in the plot whose seedbed was prepared manually and chemical fertilizer was used.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Norwegian Agriculture: The Regional and Structural Dimension

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12062506 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 2506

Author(s):

Klaus Mittenzwei

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Regional Distribution ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Animal Production ◽

Small Scale ◽

Agricultural Activity ◽

Resource Base ◽

Farm Structure

This paper studies the hypothesis that farm structure and the regional distribution of agricultural activity themselves have a significant impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. Applying a dynamic model for the Norwegian agricultural sector covering the entire farm population, the model results support the hypothesis. Even without mitigation options, GHG emissions decline by 1.4 per cent if agriculture becomes regionally concentrated and increase by 1.5 per cent if a policy that favors a small-scale farm structure is put in place. Adding a carbon tax to a policy that leads to regional concentration, may help to reconcile competing policy objectives. A switch from animal production to crop production, and an extensification of animal production keeps a large resource base across the country while cutting GHG emissions.

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Soil management effects on organic carbon in isolated fractions of a Gray Luvisol

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s05-037 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 141-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A. F. Plante ◽

C. E. Stewart ◽

R. T. Conant ◽

K. Paustian ◽

J. Six

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Crop Production ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Residue Management ◽

Soil Organic C ◽

Organic C ◽

Straw Management ◽

Soil C ◽

C Pools

Agricultural management affects soil organic matter, which is important for sustainable crop production and as a greenhouse gas sink. Our objective was to determine how tillage, residue management and N fertilization affect organic C in unprotected, and physically, chemically and biochemically protected soil C pools. Samples from Breton, Alberta were fractionated and analysed for organic C content. As in previous reports, N fertilization had a positive effect, tillage had a minimal effect, and straw management had no effect on whole-soil organic C. Tillage and straw management did not alter organic C concentrations in the isolated C pools, while N fertilization increased C concentrations in all pools. Compared with a woodlot soil, the cultivated plots had lower total organic C, and the C was redistributed among isolated pools. The free light fraction and coarse particulate organic matter responded positively to C inputs, suggesting that much of the accumulated organic C occurred in an unprotected pool. The easily dispersed silt-sized fraction was the mineral-associated pool most responsive to changes in C inputs, whereas the microaggregate-derived silt-sized fraction best preserved C upon cultivation. These findings suggest that the silt-sized fraction is important for the long-term stabilization of organic matter through both physical occlusion in microaggregates and chemical protection by mineral association. Key words: Soil organic C, tillage, residue management, N fertilization, silt, clay

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Transformation of agriculture in Hungary in the period 1990‑2020

Studia Obszarów Wiejskich ◽

10.7163/sow.56.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 33-72

Author(s):

József Lennert ◽

Farkas Jenő Zsolt

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Economic Transition ◽

Production Structure ◽

Historical Outline ◽

Dramatic Decline ◽

Legislative Framework ◽

Production Output ◽

Changing Role

This paper aspires to provide a thorough overview of the transformation of the Hungarian agricultural sector from 1990 through to 2020. After a brief historical outline, three decades of changes and the present state are discussed in the context of the legislative framework, farm and ownership structure, production structure, land use and ecological sustainability. The changing role played by agriculture in the Hungarian economy and rural societies is also taken into consideration, while the overarching effects of EU accession and the introduction of the CAP are also investigated. The establishment of a legislative framework for privatisation and compensation in respect of the former collectivisation proved one of the major challenges during the transition to a market economy. As a result, this evened out the shares of all agricultural land in private and legal holdings in the first decade, with the number of smallholders exceeding one million. However, the following two decades were characterised by concentration, as the overall number of private holdings fell quickly, while there was an increase in numbers of those with more than 10 ha of utilised agricultural land. Hungary’s political and economic transition was followed immediately by a dramatic decline in terms of production output. However, after the initial plunge, crop production started to rise again rapidly, so that by the early 2000s it had surpassed what had been achieved during the communist era. In contrast, the crisis in livestock production proved to be more prolonged.

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Impact of Poultry Litter Cake, Cleanout, and Bedding following Chemical Amendments on Soil C and N Mineralization

International Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.1155/2012/204629 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dexter B. Watts ◽

Katy E. Smith ◽

H. A. Torbert

Keyword(s):

N Mineralization ◽

Crop Production ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

N Availability ◽

C Mineralization ◽

Organic C ◽

Soil C ◽

C And N Mineralization ◽

C And N

Poultry litter is a great alternative N source for crop production. However, recent poultry litter management changes, and increased chemical amendment use may impact its N availability. Thus, research was initiated to evaluate the effect that broiler cake and total cleanout litter amended with chemical additives have on C and N mineralization. A 35-day incubation study was carried out on a Hartsells fine sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludults) soil common to the USA Appalachian Plateau region. Three poultry litter components (broiler cake, total cleanout, and bedding material) from a broiler house were evaluated and compared to a soil control. Chemical amendments lime (CaCO3), gypsum (CaSO4), aluminum sulfate (AlSO4), and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) were added to the poultry litter components to determine their impact on C and N mineralization. Litter component additions increased soil C mineralization in the order of broiler cake > total cleanout > bedding > soil control. Although a greater concentration of organic C was observed in the bedding, broiler cake mineralized the most C, which can be attributed to differences in the C : N ratio between treatments. Chemical amendment in addition to the manured soil also impacted C mineralization, with AlSO4generally decreasing mineralization. Nitrogen mineralization was also significantly affected by poultry litter component applications. Broiler cake addition increased N availability followed by total cleanout compared to soil control, while the bedding resulted in net N immobilization. Chemical amendments impacted N mineralization primarily in the broiler cake amended soil where all chemical amendments decreased mineralization compared to the no chemical amendment treatment. This short-term study (35-day incubation) indicates that N availability to crops may be different depending on the poultry litter component used for fertilization and chemical amendment use which could decrease N mineralization.

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Effects of Steel Slag and Biochar Incorporation on Active Soil Organic Carbon Pools in a Subtropical Paddy Field

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8080135 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 135 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Weiqi Wang ◽

Derrick Lai ◽

Abbas Abid ◽

Suvadip Neogi ◽

Xuping Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Paddy Field ◽

Crop Production ◽

Activity Index ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Steel Slag ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Industrial Wastes ◽

Organic C ◽

Soil C ◽

Early Crop

Industrial wastes and agricultural byproducts are increasingly used in crop production as fertilizers, but their impacts on soil carbon (C) sequestration remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of applying steel slag (SS), biochar (B), and a combination of these two materials (SS + B) on total soil organic C (SOC), active SOC fractions, and C pool management index (CPMI) in a subtropical paddy field in China. The treatments were applied at a rate of 8 t ha−1 to rice at the two (early and late) crop seasons in 2015. The SOC concentrations in the top 30 cm soils in the SS + B treatments were 28.7% and 42.2% higher in the early and late crops, respectively, as compared to the controls (p < 0.05). SOC was positively correlated with soil C:N ratio across the two crop seasons (r = 0.92–0.97, p < 0.01). As compared to the control, SS + B treatment had significantly higher carbon pool index (CPI) in both early (22.4%) and late (40.1%) crops. In the early crop, the C pool activity index (CPAI) was significantly lower in B and SS + B treatments by over 50% than in the control, while the soil C pool management index (CPMI) in the SS, B, and SS + B treatments was lower than that in the control by 36.7%, 41.6%, and 45.4%, respectively. In contrast, in the late crop, no significant differences in CPAI and CPMI were observed among the treatments. Our findings suggest that the addition of steel slag and biochar in subtropical paddy fields could decrease active SOC pools and enhance soil C sequestration only in the early crop, but not the late crop.

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Analysis of Soil Primary Macro Nutrient Status in Agricultural Land, Tabundung District, East Sumba Regency

Jurnal Tanah dan Sumberdaya Lahan ◽

10.21776/ub.jtsl.2022.009.1.10 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 93-98

Author(s):

Marten Umbu Nganji ◽

Uska Peku Jawang

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Sector ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Good Condition ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Research Area ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Primary Data ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

Agricultural Commodities ◽

Organic C

Agricultural land is land that can affect agricultural productivity. Land, which is part of land resources, is the main component in the production of agricultural commodities. In supporting the productivity of agricultural commodities, there must be sufficient nutrients in the soil. Tabundung sub-regency is a producer of food crops, livestock and fisheries. As the main producer in the agricultural sector, the production of agricultural crops is not proportional to the total area of harvested land, meaning that the productivity of agricultural crops is not optimal if it is based on harvested area. The study was conducted in Tarimbang Village, Proud Watu and Tapil Regency of Tabundung. The method used in this research was survey technique and soil sampling was carried out in a composite manner. Soil samples were analyzed at the Nusa Cendana University Laboratory, Kupang. Primary data analyzed were elements of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), organic carbon (C), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH. The results showed that the overall nutrient status of N, P, and K were in the medium, high and very high categories, but there were some sample points that were in the low category for macronutrients N and P. While the concentrations of organic C, CEC and pH were overall generally in pretty good condition. This condition indicates that the research area provides sufficient nutrients for plant cultivation during the growth and yield of plants, but improvements are needed to overcome macronutrient deficiencies in several observation locations.

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Potensi Pengembangan Tanaman Lada (Piper nigrum L) Pada Wilayah Kecamatan Muara Badak

Agrifarm : Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian ◽

10.24903/ajip.v7i1.363 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Akhmad Sopian ◽

Zainudin Zainudin

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Nutrient Loss ◽

Piper Nigrum ◽

Pepper Plants

Farmers generally plant pepper on ultisol soil. Ultisol soil is classified as acid mineral soil which has a wide distribution, but has the potential to develop agricultural land including pepper plantations. The tendency of land used for agricultural activities shows a decrease in soil fertility, indicated by the occurrence of erosion, imbalance of nutrients present in the soil and stronger soil dependence on fertilizer, as well as lower crop production. The research aims to find out the characteristics of pepper land, productivity, potential land for the development of pepper plants in Muara Badak District. This research was carried out using survey methods with stages including; overlaying land maps, interviews, secondary data inventory, in the form of data on the number of farmers, land area, production and cultivation techniques, and analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. The results showed that the population / ha of pepper plants was different for each farmer, where the spacing was 110 x 110 cm, 120 x 120 cm, 130 x 130 cm and 140 x 140 cm with a population between 1300 - 4500 staples / ha. Farmers generally use lodrin organic fertilizer, but are not carried out intensively, and the land management system does not pay attention to the aspect of soil conservation, farmers' land has been cultivated for generations without using terraces and soil cover. The tendency of nutrient loss on the land is quite high because the land is located on a hill and is quite steep at 16-40% slope. Pepper productivity in the study area is quite high, with an average of 1,437 kg / ha. The highest productivity in Salo Palai village reached 1970 kg / ha, while the lowest in Batu Batu village was 830 kg / ha. The results of soil analysis in the two study locations that the content of the element N was classified as medium, the total K was classified as high to very high. pH and CEC are low, this can affect nutrient absorption, so that lime is needed and the addition of organic matter if fertilization is carried out.

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Memoir and Farming Structures under Soil-Less Culture (Hydroponic Farming) and the Applicability for Africa: A Review

Agricultural Reviews ◽

10.18805/ag.r-137 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Margaret S. Gumisiriza ◽

Patrick A. Ndakidemi ◽

Ernest R. Mbega

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Food Security ◽

Human Population ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Working Population ◽

Address Climate Change

Agriculture is the economic back-borne of majority of developing countries worldwide. The sector employs over 50% of the working population and contributes about 33% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in majority of African states. However, such contribution by the agricultural sector is likely to be affected by climate change, increasing human population and urbanization which impact on available agricultural land in various ways. There is thus an urgent need for developing countries to create or adopt technologies such as; soil-less farming that will not only address climate change challenges but also enhance crop production for improved food security. This paper reviews the science, origin, dynamics and farming systems under the soil-less agriculture precisely hydroponic farming to assist in widening the scope of knowledge of the hydroponic technologies and their implementation in Africa.

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