Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T04:58:58.608Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Nitrogen balance as an indicator of environmental impact: Toward sustainable agricultural production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2012

G.F. Sassenrath ,
J.M. Schneider ,
R. Gaj ,
W. Grzebisz  and
J.M. Halloran
G.F. Sassenrath*
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS Crop Production Systems Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA.
J.M. Schneider
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS Great Plains Agroclimate and Natural Resources Research Unit, El Reno, OK 73036, USA.
R. Gaj
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS Crop Production Systems Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA.
W. Grzebisz
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71F, Poznan, Poland.
J.M. Halloran
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469-0000, USA.
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Efficient nutrient use is critical to ensure economical crop production while minimizing the impact of excessive nutrient applications on the environment. Nitrogen (N) is a key component of agricultural production, both as an input to support crop production and as a waste product of livestock production. Increasing concern for future sustainability of agricultural production and preservation of the natural resource base has led to the development of nutrient budgets as indicators and policy instruments for nutrient management. Nutrient budgets for N have been developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as agri-environmental indicators to compare the evolving conditions in member states, and are also used by the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) to develop nutrient management plans. Here, we examine the crop and animal production systems, drivers impacting management choices, and the outcome of those choices to assess the utility of gross annual N balances in tracking the progress of management decisions in minimizing the environmental impact of agricultural production systems. We use as case studies two very different agronomic production systems: Mississippi, USA and Poland. State and country level data from the US Department of Agriculture and OECD databases are used to develop data for the years 1998–2008, and gross annual N balances are computed. Examination of agricultural production practices reveals that the gross annual N balance is a useful tool in identifying differences in the magnitude and trends in N within agricultural systems over large areas. Significant differences in the magnitude of the N budget were observed between the highly diversified, small-scale agriculture common to Poland, and the large-scale, intensive agriculture of Mississippi. It is noted that use of N balance indices can be problematic if the primary intent is to reveal the impact of economic drivers, such as crop prices, or management choices, such as tillage or crop rotation. Changes in cropping systems in response to commodity prices that improve N balance can be masked by detrimental growing conditions, including edaphic, biotic and weather conditions, that are outside of the producers’ control. Moreover, use of large area-scale indices such as country or state-wide balances may mask the severity of localized nutrient imbalances that result from regionalized production systems that overwhelm the nutrient balance, such as confinement livestock production. Development of a policy to address environmental impact and establish sustainable production systems must consider the year-to-year variability of drivers impacting agricultural production, and the spatial heterogeneity of nutrient imbalance.

Keywords

agricultural productiongross annual nitrogen balanceagricultural sustainabilityenvironmental indicators
Type
New Concepts and Case Studies
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , September 2013 , pp. 276 - 289
Creative Commons
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Hanson, J.D. and Franzluebbers, A. 2008. Principles of integrated agricultural systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23:263–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Halloran, J.M. and Archer, D.W. 2008. External economic drivers and US agricultural production systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23:296–303.Google Scholar
3Hendrickson, J., Sassenrath, G.F., Archer, D., Hanson, J. and Halloran, J., 2008. Interactions in integrated US agricultural systems: The past, present and future. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23:314–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Sassenrath, G.F., Wiener, J.D., Hendrickson, J., Schneider, J., and Archer, D. 2010. Achieving effective landscape conservation: Evolving demands, adaptive metrics. In Schnepf, M. (ed.). Managing Agricultural Landscapes for Environmental Quality: Achieving More Effective Conservation. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA. p. 107–120.Google Scholar
5Sassenrath, G.F., Heilman, P., Luschei, E., Bennett, G., Fitzgerald, G., Klesius, P., Tracy, W., and Williford, J.R. 2008. Technology, complexity and change in agricultural production systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23:285–295.Google Scholar
6Grzebisz, W., Gaj, R., Sassenrath, G.F., and Halloran, J.M. 2012. Fertilizer use and wheat yield in Central-Eastern European Countries from 1986–2005 and its implication for developing sustainable fertilizer management practices. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, in press.Google Scholar
7Kelch, D. and Osborne, S. 2001. Crop Production Capacity in Europe. Agricultural Outlook. Economic Research Service, USDA, March 19–23, 2001. Available at Web site: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/agoutlook/Mar2001/AO279g.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
8.Borys, A. 2007. Trends in industrial production and processing of meat in Poland. Tehnologija Mesa 48:36–44.Google Scholar
9Balcere, A., Noren, G., Holmgren, S., Hrytsyshyn, P., Lobanov, E., Marttila, J., Merisaar, M., Rimavicius, R., and Roggenbuck, A. 2006. Report on industrial swine and cattle farming in theBaltic Seacatchment area. In Skorupski, J. (ed.). Coalition Clean Baltic. Available at Web site: http://www.ccb.se/documents/indfarmencorr_000.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
10Granstedt, A. 2000. Increasing the efficiency of plant nutrient recycling within the agricultural system as a way of reducing the load to the environment – experience from Sweden and Finland. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 80:169–185.Google Scholar
11Kopiński, J., Tujaka, A., and Igras, J. 2006. Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in Poland as a tool for sustainable nutrients management. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica 87:173–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12International Fertilizer Industry Association. 2011. Food Prices and Fertilizer Markets: Factors Influencing Variations in Fertilizer Market Conditions. Available at Web site: http://www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/LIBRARY/Publication-database.html/Food-Prices-and-Fertilizer-Markets.-Factors-Influencing-the-Variations-in-Fertilizer-Market-Conditions.html (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
13Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2007. Gross Nitrogen Balances Handbook. OECD and Eurostat. Available at Web site: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/2/37/40820234.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
14Parris, K. 2011. Impact of agriculture on water pollution in OECD countries: Recent trends and future prospects. International Journal of Water Resources Development 27:33–52.Google Scholar
15European Commission. 2010. The EU Nitrates Directive. Available at Web site: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/factsheets/nitrates.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
16Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2008. Using Agri-environmental Indices for Policy Analysis. Available at Web site: http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/agriculture-and-food/environmental-performance-of-agriculture-in-oecd-countries-since-1990/using-agri-environmental-indicators-for-policy-analysis_9789264040854–37-en (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
17Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2011. NRCS Nutrient Tracking Tool. US Department of Agriculture, NRCS. Available at Web site: http://nn.tarleton.edu/NTTWebARS/(S(04ys2c24k50guarcnmhlwz1t))/default.aspx (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
18Gaj, R. and Grzebisz, W. 2006. Integrated Production of Winter Oilseed Rape. Institute of Plant Protection, Poznan, p. 17–27.Google Scholar
19Grzebisz, W. and Gaj, R. 2007. Integrated Production of Maize. Institute of Plant Protection, Poznan, p. 19–24.Google Scholar
20Gaj, R. 2008. Sustainable management of phosphorus in soil and plants in condition of intensive plant production. Fertilizer and Fertilization 33:1–163.Google Scholar
21National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2011. Quick Stats: Agricultural Statistics Database. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, DC. Available at Web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov/QuickStats/ (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
22Food and Agriculture Organization. 2011. FAOSTAT online. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at Web site: http://faostat.fao.org/default.aspx (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
23Glowny, R. (ed.). 2007. Statistical Yearbook of Agriculture and Rural Areas 2007, 2008. Central Statistical Office. Available at Web site: http://www.stat.gov.pl (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
24Delta Agricultural Weather Center. 2011. Historical Ag Weather Data. Delta Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, MS. Available at Web site: http://www.deltaweather.msstate.edu/ (accessed March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
25European Climate Assessment and Dataset. Available at Web site: http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/showselection.php?9l2djlpn83i7j2k4qao0rcvoa6 (accessed March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
26Haylock, M.R., Hofstra, N., Klein Tank, A.M.G., Klok, E.J., Jones, P.D., and New, M. 2008. A European daily high-resolution gridded dataset of surface temperature and precipitation. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres) 113: D20119, doi:10.1029/2008JD10201.Google Scholar
27National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2010. Cropland Data Layer, Mississippi. Available at Web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov/research/Cropland/SARS1a.htm (accessed March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
28National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2007. Number of Broilers and Meat Type Chickens Sold: 2007. US Department of Agriculture. Available at Web site: http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Livestock_and_Animals/index.asp (accessed March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
29Krasowicz, S., Górski, T., Budzyńska, K., and Kopiński, J. 2009. Agricultural description of Polish territory. In Igras, J. and Pastuszak M, M.. (eds.). Contribution of Polish Agriculture to Emission of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Compounds to the Baltic Sea. IUNG-PIB Puławy, Poland.Google Scholar
30Eurostat. 2011. Quality Assessment Gross Nutrient Balances. Available at Web site: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/Annexes/aei_pr_gnb_esms_an1.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
31International Fertilizer Industry Association. 2011. IFADATA Statistics Online. Available at Web site: http://www.fertilizer.org/ifa/statistics/ifadata/dataline.asp (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
32Meisinger, J.J. and Randell, G.W. 1991. Estimating nitrogen budgets for soil-crop systems. In Follett, R.F., Keeney, D.R., and Cruse, R.M. (eds.). Managing Nitrogen for Groundwater Quality and Farm Profitability. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, p. 85–124.Google Scholar
33IUNG-PIB. 2011. Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute. Czartoryskich 8, Puławy 24-100, Poland. Available at Web site: http://iung.pulawy.pl/ (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
34Fannin, J.M., Paxton, K.W., and Barreca, J.D. 2008. Evaluating the Switch from Cotton to Corn: Impacts on the Louisiana Economy. LSU Ag Center Research Bulletin No. 888. February 2008. Available at Web site: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/452F0CA1-E923-4C53-987A-CD1B59AEFFC6/45007/pubB888cottontocorn.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
35Thomas, J. 2008. Water Requirements and Management. Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service, Mississippi State University. Publication 2255, Chapter 7. Available at Web site: http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2255-3.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
36Walker, T., Thiele, G., Suarez, V., and Crissman, C. 2011. Hindsight and Foresight About Potato Production and Consumption. International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru. Social Sciences Working Paper No. 2011-5, 52 pp.Google Scholar
37Łabedzki, L. 2007. Estimation of local drought frequency in central Poland using the standardized precipitation index SPI. Irrigation and Drainage 56:67–77.Google Scholar
38Lorenc, H., Mierkiewicz, M., and Sasim, M. 2008. Drought in Poland from special regard year 2006. Wiadomosci Meteorologii Hydrologii Gospodarki Wodnej 2:3–32.Google Scholar
39Hendrickson, J.R., Hanson, J.D., Tanaka, D.L., and Sassenrath, G.F. 2008. Principles of integrated agricultural systems: Introduction to processes and definition. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23:265–271.Google Scholar
40Holling, C.S. 2001. Understanding the complexity of economic, ecological, and social systems. Ecosystems 4:390–405.Google Scholar
41Greenhalgh, S. and Sauer, A. 2003. Awakening the Dead Zone: An Investment for Agriculture, Water Quality, and Climate Change. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, February 2003. Available at Web site: http://www.wri.org/publication/awakening-the-dead-zone (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
42Jongman, R., Bunce, R., and Metzger, R. 2006. Objectives and applications of a statistical environmental stratification of Europe. Landscape Ecology 21:409–419.Google Scholar
43Supit, I., van Diepen, C., and de Wit, A. 2010. Recent changes in the climatic yield potential of various crops in Europe. Agricultural Systems 103:683–694.Google Scholar
44Grzebisz, W. 2011. Technology of Crop Plants Fertilizing. Crop Yielding Physiology. Part I. Oil, Roots and Leguminous Crops. Powszechne Wydawnictwo Rolniczo i Leśne Ltd (PWRiL), Poznań.Google Scholar
45Fotyma, M., Igras, J., Kopiński, J., and Podyma, W. 2010. An evaluation of threats caused by overload of nitrogen originated from agriculture on the background of other European countries. Studia i Raporty IUNG-PIB 20:52–75 (in Polish).Google Scholar
46Sassenrath, G.F., Hanson, J.D., Hendrickson, J.R., Archer, D.W., Halloran, J.M., and Steiner, J.J. 2009. Principles of dynamic integrated agricultural systems: Lessons learned from an examination of southeast production systems. In Bohlen, P. (ed.). Agroecosystem Management for Ecological, Social, and Economic Sustainability. Advances in Agroecology Series. Taylor and Francis/CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. p. 259–269.Google Scholar
47Sassenrath, G.F., Halloran, J.M., Archer, D.W., Raper, R.L., Hendrickson, J.R., Vadas, P., and Hanson, J. 2010. Drivers impacting the adoption of sustainable agricultural management practices and production systems of the Northeast and Southeast US. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 34:1–23.Google Scholar
48Martinez, S.W. 2000. Price and Quality of Pork and Broiler Products: What's the Role of Vertical Coordination? Current Issues in Economics of Food Markets. Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 747-02, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Washington, DC. Available at Web site: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib747/aib74702.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar
49Kopiński, J. and Krasowicz, S. 2010. Conditions for agriculture production in Poland – regional differences. Studia i Raporty IUNG-PIB 22:9–30 (in Polish).Google Scholar
50.Grzebisz, W. and Fotyma, M. 2007. Recommendations and use of potassium fertilizers in Central-Eastern Europe (CEE). In: Proceedings of the International Fertiliser Society, No. 621, York, UK, p. 24.Google Scholar
51Komisarek, , J. 1995. Agricultural suitability of soils crop production in Poland. In Proceedings of the Conference: Agrometeorology of the Cereals, July 3–7, 1995, Poznań, Poland, p. 21–30.Google Scholar
52Grzebisz, W. 2005. Potassium fertilization of arable crops—the crop rotation oriented concept. Nawozy i Nawożenie 3:328–341 (in Polish).Google Scholar
53Grzebisz, W. 2009. Plant Crops Fertilization. Fertilizers and Fertilizing Systems. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Leśne, Poznan, Poland, 376 pp. (in Polish).Google Scholar
54Grzebisz, W., Przygocka-Cyna, K., Szczepaniak, W., Diatta, J., and Potarzycki, J. 2010. Magnesium as a nutritional tool of nitrogen efficient management – plant production and environment. Journal of Elementology 15:771–788.Google Scholar
55de Haan, C. 2004. Trade and growth of animal agriculture in the world. Overview: Social and global trends in meat production In Reynnells, R. (ed.). Local and Global Consideration in Animal Agriculture: The Big Picture. Future Trends in Animal Agriculture. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, p. 2–5. Available at Web site: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/FTAAProceedings/localandglobal.pdf (verified March 14, 2012).Google Scholar