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21 - Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality

from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2011

By
Gerard Velthof ,
Sébastien Barot ,
Jaap Bloem ,
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl ,
Wim de Vries ,
Johannes Kros ,
Patrick Lavelle ,
Jørgen Eivind Olesen  and
Oene Oenema
Edited by
Mark A. Sutton ,
Clare M. Howard ,
Jan Willem Erisman ,
Gilles Billen ,
Albert Bleeker ,
Peringe Grennfelt ,
Hans van Grinsven  and
Bruna Grizzetti
Gerard Velthof
Affiliation:
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Sébastien Barot
Affiliation:
IRD-Bioemco
Jaap Bloem
Affiliation:
Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Affiliation:
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Wim de Vries
Affiliation:
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Johannes Kros
Affiliation:
Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre
Patrick Lavelle
Affiliation:
INRA, Colombia
Jørgen Eivind Olesen
Affiliation:
Aarhus University Department of Agroecology and Environment
Oene Oenema
Affiliation:
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Mark A. Sutton
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
Clare M. Howard
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
Jan Willem Erisman
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Gilles Billen
Affiliation:
CNRS and University of Paris VI
Albert Bleeker
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Peringe Grennfelt
Affiliation:
Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
Hans van Grinsven
Affiliation:
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Bruna Grizzetti
Affiliation:
European Commission Joint Research Centre
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Summary

Executive summary

Nature of the problem

  • A large part of agricultural soils in Europe are exposed to high N inputs because of animal manure and chemical fertiliser use. Large parts of the European natural soils are exposed to high atmospheric N deposition.

  • High N inputs threaten soil quality, which may negatively affect food and biomass production and biodiversity and enhance emissions of harmful N compounds from soils to water and the atmosphere.

Approaches

  • An overview of the major soil functions and soil threats are presented, including a description of the objectives of the European Soil Strategy.

  • The major N threats on soil quality for both agricultural and natural soils are related to changes in soil organic content and quality, soil acidification, and loss of soil diversity. These threats are described using literature.

Key findings/state of knowledge

  • Generally, N has a positive effect on soil quality of agricultural soils, because it enhances soil fertility and conditions for crop growth. However, it generally has a negative effect on soil quality of natural soils, because it results in changes in plant diversity.

  • Soil acts as a filter and buffer for N, and protects water and atmosphere against N pollution. However, the filter and buffer capacity of soils is frequently exceeded by excess of N in both agricultural and natural soils, which results in emission of N to the environment.

  • […]

Type
Chapter
Information
The European Nitrogen Assessment
Sources, Effects and Policy Perspectives
 , pp. 495 - 510
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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