TY - JOUR
T1 - Policies for agricultural nitrogen management-trends, challenges and prospects for improved efficiency in Denmark
AU - Dalgaard, Tommy
AU - Hansen, Birgitte
AU - Hasler, Berit
AU - Hertel, Ole
AU - Hutchings, Nicholas John
AU - Jacobsen, Brian H.
AU - Jensen, Lars Stoumann
AU - Kronvang, Brian
AU - Olesen, Jørgen Eivind
AU - Schjørring, Jan Kofod
AU - Kristensen, Ib Sillebak
AU - Graversgaard, Morten
AU - Termansen, Mette
AU - Vejre, Henrik
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - With more than 60% of the land farmed, with vulnerable freshwater and marine environments, and with one of the most intensive, export-oriented livestock sectors in the world, the nitrogen (N) pollution pressure from Danish agriculture is severe. Consequently, a series of policy action plans have been implemented since the mid 1980s with significant effects on the surplus, efficiency and environmental loadings of N. This paper reviews the policies and actions taken and their ability to mitigate effects of reactive N (Nr) while maintaining agricultural production. In summary, the average N-surplus has been reduced from approximately 170 kg N ha-1 yr-1 to below 100 kg N ha-1 yr-1 during the past 30 yrs, while the overall N-efficiency for the agricultural sector (crop + livestock farming) has increased from around 20-30% to 40-45%, the N-leaching from the field root zone has been halved, and N losses to the aquatic and atmospheric environment have been significantly reduced. This has been achieved through a combination of approaches and measures (ranging from command and control legislation, over market-based regulation and governmental expenditure to information and voluntary action), with specific measures addressing the whole N cascade, in order to improve the quality of ground- and surface waters, and to reduce the deposition to terrestrial natural ecosystems. However, there is still a major challenge in complying with the EU Water Framework and Habitats Directives, calling for new approaches, measures and technologies to mitigate agricultural N losses and control N flows.
AB - With more than 60% of the land farmed, with vulnerable freshwater and marine environments, and with one of the most intensive, export-oriented livestock sectors in the world, the nitrogen (N) pollution pressure from Danish agriculture is severe. Consequently, a series of policy action plans have been implemented since the mid 1980s with significant effects on the surplus, efficiency and environmental loadings of N. This paper reviews the policies and actions taken and their ability to mitigate effects of reactive N (Nr) while maintaining agricultural production. In summary, the average N-surplus has been reduced from approximately 170 kg N ha-1 yr-1 to below 100 kg N ha-1 yr-1 during the past 30 yrs, while the overall N-efficiency for the agricultural sector (crop + livestock farming) has increased from around 20-30% to 40-45%, the N-leaching from the field root zone has been halved, and N losses to the aquatic and atmospheric environment have been significantly reduced. This has been achieved through a combination of approaches and measures (ranging from command and control legislation, over market-based regulation and governmental expenditure to information and voluntary action), with specific measures addressing the whole N cascade, in order to improve the quality of ground- and surface waters, and to reduce the deposition to terrestrial natural ecosystems. However, there is still a major challenge in complying with the EU Water Framework and Habitats Directives, calling for new approaches, measures and technologies to mitigate agricultural N losses and control N flows.
KW - Denmark
KW - Nitrogen management
KW - Nitrogen policy development
KW - Nitrogen surplus
KW - Nitrogen use efficiency
KW - Reactive nitrogen
KW - Regulation
U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/9/11/115002
DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/9/11/115002
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84908577363
SN - 1748-9318
VL - 9
JO - Environmental Research Letters
JF - Environmental Research Letters
IS - 11
M1 - 115002
ER -
