Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T21:50:53.319Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The scientific assessment on nitrogen flows in livestock farming: motives and methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2014

C. Donnars ,
S. Le Perchec ,
A. Girard ,
F. Guillaume  and
O. Réchauchère
C. Donnars*
Affiliation:
INRA, Department of Scientific Expertise, Foresight and Advanced Studies, F-75338, Paris Cedex 07, France
S. Le Perchec
Affiliation:
INRA, Department of Scientific Expertise, Foresight and Advanced Studies, F-75338, Paris Cedex 07, France INRA, Scientific and Technical Information, F-35042, Rennes Cedex, France
A. Girard
Affiliation:
INRA, Ichtyophysiology Research Station, Biodiversity and Environment, F-35042, Rennes Cedex, France
F. Guillaume
Affiliation:
INRA, Scientific and Technical Information, F-35042, Rennes Cedex, France
O. Réchauchère
Affiliation:
INRA, Department of Scientific Expertise, Foresight and Advanced Studies, F-75338, Paris Cedex 07, France
*
† E-mail: catherine.donnars@paris.inra.fr
Get access

Abstract

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient in agriculture. Its reactive forms are the focus of concerns because they are responsible for a multitude of impacts on the environment and health. This was highlighted by the 2011 European Nitrogen Assessment, which drew up a critical inquiry on nitrogen imbalances due to livestock farming systems. The ambivalent status of nitrogen, both a resource for agriculture and a pollutant for environment, requires legal systems to find the equilibrium between the fertilising potential of the animal wastes and its possible negative effects on the environment. The European policies on nitrate and gaseous pollutants are the subject of much litigation with the European Commission. In this context, the French government asked for a synthesis of scientific knowledge on flows and fate of nitrogen related to livestock farms. Articles following in this review draw (i) the current situation, (ii) explain social and economic causes of the territorial variability of nitrogen pressure, (iii) quantify the flow on farms, (iv) look at indicators, (v) regulation instruments and finally (vi) identify options for reducing nitrogen pressure caused by livestock farming. In terms of materials and methods, a particular importance was given to peer recognition, and plurality inside the panel of experts and in the literature selection.

Keywords

nitrogenlivestock farmingexpertiseFrance
Type
Full Paper
Information
Advances in Animal Biosciences , Volume 5 , Issue s1: Nitrogen flows in livestock farming systems: Reduce losses, restore balance , October 2014 , pp. 1 - 7
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

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

Billen, G, Silvestre, M, Grizzetti, B, Leip, A, Garnier, J, Voss, M, Howarth, R, Bouraoui, F, Lepisto, A, Kortelainen, P, Johnes, P, Curtis, C, Humborg, C, Smedberg, E, Kaste, O, Ganeshram, R, Beusen, A and Lancelo, C 2011. Nitrogen flows from European regional watersheds to coastal marine waters. In The European Nitrogen Assessment. Sources, effects and policy perspectives (ed. Sutton, MA, Howard, CM, Erisman, JW et al.), pp. 271–297. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Durand, P, Breuer, L, Johnes, PJ, Billen, G, Butturini, A, Pinay, G, van Grinsven, H, Garnier, J, Rivett, M, Reay, DS, Curtis, C, Siemens, J, Maberly, S, Kaste, O, Humborg, C, Loeb, R, de Klein, J, Hejzlar, J, Skoulikidis, N, Kortelainen, P, Lepsito, A and Wright, R 2011. Nitrogen processes in aquatic ecosystems. In The European Nitrogen Assessment. Sources, effects and policy perspectives (ed MA, Sutton, CM, Howard, JW, Erisman et al.), pp. 126–146. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO 2009. La situation mondiale de l’alimentation et de l’agriculture – Le point sur l’élevage. FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
Galloway, JN, Townsend, AR, Erisman, JW, Bekunda, M, Cai, ZC, Freney, JR, Martinelli, LA, Seitzinger, SP and Sutton, MA 2008. Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: recent trends, questions, and potential solutions. Science 320, 889–892.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Howarth, R, Chan, F, Conley, DJ, Garnier, J, Doney, SC, Marino, R and Billen, G 2011. Coupled biogeochemical cycles: eutrophication and hypoxia in temperate estuaries and coastal marine ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9, 18–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leip, A, Weiss, F, Wassenaar, T, Perez, I, Fellmann, T, Loudjani, P, Tubiello, F, Grandgirard, D, Monni, S and Biala, K 2010. Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU greenhouse gas emissions (GGELS): final report Brussels, European Commission, Joint Research Centre: 323 p.Google Scholar
Mosier, AR, Syers, KJ and Freney, JR 2004. Agriculture and the nitrogen cycle: assessing the impacts of fertilizer use on food production and the environment. Island Press, Washington.Google Scholar
Oenema, O, van Liere, L and Schoumans, O 2005. Effects of lowering nitrogen and phosphorus surpluses in agriculture on the quality of groundwater and surface water in the Netherlands. Journal of Hydrology 304, 289–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slootweg, J, Posch, M and Hettelingh, JP 2010. Progress in the modelling of critical thresholds, impacts to plant species diversity and ecosystem services in Europe: CCE Status Report 2010. Coordination Centre for Effects. RIVM, Bilthoven. 182pp.Google Scholar
Sutton, MA, Oenema, O, Erisman, JW, Leip, A, van Grinsven, H and Winiwarter, W 2011a. The challenge to integrate nitrogen science and policies: the European Nitrogen Assessement approach. In The European Nitrogen Assessment. Sources, Effects and Policy Perspectives (ed. Sutton, MA , Howard, CM, Erisman, JW et al.), pp. 52–96Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, MA, Howard, CM, Erisman, JW, Bealey, J, Billen, G, Bleeker, A, Bouwman, L, Grennfelt, P, van Grinsven, H and Grizzetti, B 2011b. Too much of a good thing. Nature 472, 159–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed