National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications

Ulrich Schmutz; Francis Rayns; C. Firth; C. Nendel; R. Lillywhite; K. Zhang; Clive Rahn

National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications

Ulrich Schmutz, Francis Rayns, C. Firth, C. Nendel, R. Lillywhite, K. Zhang, Clive Rahn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

A method is presented to model N leaching in crop rotations on a national scale. Representative crop rotations for different regions and soil types are used in the cross- disciplinary, plant, soil, environment & economics model EU-Rotate_N. By comparing contrasting farming systems (organic and conventional) in the UK, their strengths and weaknesses in delivering environmental and economic sustainability can be assessed. Modelling results show that the annual leaching in different horticultural rotations and UK regions, using median weather, is within the range of 13 - 88 kg N/ha/year for organic and 54 - 130 kg N /ha/year for conventional. The weighted annual average figures are 39 kg N/ha/year for organic and 81 kg N/ha/year for conventional, respectively. It is concluded that organic horticultural rotations, with a current share of 6.1% already contribute to lower overall N losses from agriculture. However, on a UK national scale, only a large share of organic land use (e.g. > 50%) has a large effect on reducing N losses. Similar reductions are also predicted by substantial cuts in conventional N inputs, giving a policy choice if pollution from agriculture steps up further on the political agenda.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Cultivating the Future Based on Science: Organic Crop Production
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 – 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy
Editors	Daniel Neuhoff, Niels Halberg, Thomas Alföldi, William Lockeretz, Andreas Thommen, Ilse. A. Rasmussen, John Hermansen, Mette Vaarst, Lorna Lueck, Fabio Caporali, Henning Hogh Jensen, Paola Migliorini, Helga Willer
Publisher	International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR)
Pages	282-285
Number of pages	4
Volume	1
ISBN (Print)	978-3-03736-023-1
Publication status	Published - 16 Jun 2008
Event	16th IFOAM Organic World Congress - Modena, Italy Duration: 18 Jun 2008 → 20 Jun 2008

Conference

Conference	16th IFOAM Organic World Congress
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Modena
Period	18/06/08 → 20/06/08

Keywords

Nitrogen leaching
Modelling
Crop rotations
Vegetables
Water framework directive

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

Schmutz, U., Rayns, F., Firth, C., Nendel, C., Lillywhite, R., Zhang, K., & Rahn, C. (2008). National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications. In D. Neuhoff, N. Halberg, T. Alföldi, W. Lockeretz, A. Thommen, I. A. Rasmussen, J. Hermansen, M. Vaarst, L. Lueck, F. Caporali, H. H. Jensen, P. Migliorini, & H. Willer (Eds.), Cultivating the Future Based on Science: Organic Crop Production: Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 – 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy (Vol. 1, pp. 282-285). International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR).

National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications. / Schmutz, Ulrich ; Rayns, Francis; Firth, C. et al.
Cultivating the Future Based on Science: Organic Crop Production: Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 – 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy . ed. / Daniel Neuhoff; Niels Halberg; Thomas Alföldi; William Lockeretz; Andreas Thommen; Ilse. A. Rasmussen; John Hermansen; Mette Vaarst; Lorna Lueck; Fabio Caporali; Henning Hogh Jensen; Paola Migliorini; Helga Willer . Vol. 1 International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), 2008. p. 282-285.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

Schmutz, U , Rayns, F, Firth, C, Nendel, C, Lillywhite, R, Zhang, K & Rahn, C 2008, National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications. in D Neuhoff, N Halberg, T Alföldi, W Lockeretz, A Thommen, IA Rasmussen, J Hermansen, M Vaarst, L Lueck, F Caporali, HH Jensen, P Migliorini & H Willer (eds), Cultivating the Future Based on Science: Organic Crop Production: Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 – 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy . vol. 1, International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), pp. 282-285, 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, 18/06/08.

Schmutz U , Rayns F, Firth C, Nendel C, Lillywhite R, Zhang K et al. National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications. In Neuhoff D, Halberg N, Alföldi T, Lockeretz W, Thommen A, Rasmussen IA, Hermansen J, Vaarst M, Lueck L, Caporali F, Jensen HH, Migliorini P, Willer H, editors, Cultivating the Future Based on Science: Organic Crop Production: Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 – 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy . Vol. 1. International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). 2008. p. 282-285

Schmutz, Ulrich ; Rayns, Francis ; Firth, C. et al. / National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications. Cultivating the Future Based on Science: Organic Crop Production: Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 – 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy . editor / Daniel Neuhoff ; Niels Halberg ; Thomas Alföldi ; William Lockeretz ; Andreas Thommen ; Ilse. A. Rasmussen ; John Hermansen ; Mette Vaarst ; Lorna Lueck ; Fabio Caporali ; Henning Hogh Jensen ; Paola Migliorini ; Helga Willer . Vol. 1 International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), 2008. pp. 282-285

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title = "National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications",

abstract = "A method is presented to model N leaching in crop rotations on a national scale. Representative crop rotations for different regions and soil types are used in the cross- disciplinary, plant, soil, environment & economics model EU-Rotate_N. By comparing contrasting farming systems (organic and conventional) in the UK, their strengths and weaknesses in delivering environmental and economic sustainability can be assessed. Modelling results show that the annual leaching in different horticultural rotations and UK regions, using median weather, is within the range of 13 - 88 kg N/ha/year for organic and 54 - 130 kg N /ha/year for conventional. The weighted annual average figures are 39 kg N/ha/year for organic and 81 kg N/ha/year for conventional, respectively. It is concluded that organic horticultural rotations, with a current share of 6.1% already contribute to lower overall N losses from agriculture. However, on a UK national scale, only a large share of organic land use (e.g. > 50%) has a large effect on reducing N losses. Similar reductions are also predicted by substantial cuts in conventional N inputs, giving a policy choice if pollution from agriculture steps up further on the political agenda.",

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AU - Schmutz, Ulrich

AU - Rayns, Francis

AU - Firth, C.

AU - Nendel, C.

AU - Lillywhite, R.

AU - Zhang, K.

AU - Rahn, Clive

PY - 2008/6/16

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N2 - A method is presented to model N leaching in crop rotations on a national scale. Representative crop rotations for different regions and soil types are used in the cross- disciplinary, plant, soil, environment & economics model EU-Rotate_N. By comparing contrasting farming systems (organic and conventional) in the UK, their strengths and weaknesses in delivering environmental and economic sustainability can be assessed. Modelling results show that the annual leaching in different horticultural rotations and UK regions, using median weather, is within the range of 13 - 88 kg N/ha/year for organic and 54 - 130 kg N /ha/year for conventional. The weighted annual average figures are 39 kg N/ha/year for organic and 81 kg N/ha/year for conventional, respectively. It is concluded that organic horticultural rotations, with a current share of 6.1% already contribute to lower overall N losses from agriculture. However, on a UK national scale, only a large share of organic land use (e.g. > 50%) has a large effect on reducing N losses. Similar reductions are also predicted by substantial cuts in conventional N inputs, giving a policy choice if pollution from agriculture steps up further on the political agenda.

AB - A method is presented to model N leaching in crop rotations on a national scale. Representative crop rotations for different regions and soil types are used in the cross- disciplinary, plant, soil, environment & economics model EU-Rotate_N. By comparing contrasting farming systems (organic and conventional) in the UK, their strengths and weaknesses in delivering environmental and economic sustainability can be assessed. Modelling results show that the annual leaching in different horticultural rotations and UK regions, using median weather, is within the range of 13 - 88 kg N/ha/year for organic and 54 - 130 kg N /ha/year for conventional. The weighted annual average figures are 39 kg N/ha/year for organic and 81 kg N/ha/year for conventional, respectively. It is concluded that organic horticultural rotations, with a current share of 6.1% already contribute to lower overall N losses from agriculture. However, on a UK national scale, only a large share of organic land use (e.g. > 50%) has a large effect on reducing N losses. Similar reductions are also predicted by substantial cuts in conventional N inputs, giving a policy choice if pollution from agriculture steps up further on the political agenda.

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ER -

National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Cite this