Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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      Mineral N fertilisers consumption – E.U.15 Member States, from 1930 to 1999 Source
        EFMA (Millions of tons of nitrogen per year).
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Some examples of positive actions
  • A close interaction between research, government and farmers is a promising way of successful implementation of measures that lead to reduced use of N in agriculture and in the losses of nitrogen through nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilisation or soil erosion.
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Denmark : National Nitrogen Management Program

  • Initiated in 1987,
  • Provided precise advice to farmers for accurate and moderate
    • fertilisation
    • mandatory soil winter cover
    • balancing of livestock with available manure storage and spreadable land.
    • a strict State control system including annual N budget and surplus for each farm.
    • regular controls of practices at field level


  • Results:
    • Reduction of 28 % of nitrogen losses, and of 50% in the N surplus at farm level.
    • In purely agricultural watersheds, a 20 % reduction of N load has been achieved
    • Eutrophication of coastal waters is beginning to decrease.

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Belgium-Wallonia Prop’eau-Sable
  • The project started in 1997.
  • The training and advisory input was intensified to reduce N fertilisation with respect of prevention of N losses to the waters.


  • On 10 pilot farms, specific measures taken were:
  • – reasonable fertilisation levels, including soil analysis;
  • – enhancement of catch crops;
  • – grassland maintenance;
  • – manure export from farms with surpluses;
  • – valorisation of organic manure;
  • – soil tillage at the end of the summer
  • – adapted crop rotation schemes.


  • Farms showed an average reduction of 41% of the N content in 0-150cm soil profile


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Greece - Thessaly
  • Thessaly covers 14000km2
  • Total cultivated area 36%
  • Over 3 decades there have been increases in
    • Irrigation,
    • Mechanization,
    • HYV & increased nutrient use


    • Action plan includes:
    • Increased N use efficiency
    • New irrigation techniques
    • Cultivation of suitable crops


    • Results
    • Change in farmer attitude on crop fertilization
    • Application of pre soiling N.
    • Use of improved irrigation techniques


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The Nitrates Directive Process

  • It consists of 5 steps:


    • 1. Detection of polluted or threatened waters (N)
    • Human Health Protection, Living resources and aquatic ecosystems protection
    • Eutrophication prevention
    • (1 year monitoring)


    • 2. Designation of “vulnerable zones” (NVZs)
    •  Areas of agricultural land
    •  with significant contribution to N pollution at watershed level
  • 3. Code(s) of Good Agricultural Practices


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The Nitrates Directive Process Continued
  • 4. Action Programs within NVZs


    • Code(s) of good agricultural practice becomes mandatory
    • Other measures (nutrient balance, manure storage, spreading < 170 kg N organic/hectare/year)


    • 5. National Monitoring


    • Every 4 years on NO3 concentration Eutrophication
    • Assessment of Action Programs impact
    • Revision of renewable zones and action programs






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Nutrient Removal Efficiency of BMPs in Terms of Removal of Nitrogen
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Nutrient Removal Efficiency of BMPs in Terms of Removal of Phosphorous
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Cost Effectiveness of BMPs in Reducing Nutrients
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OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS
  • To benefit and learn from the experiences of:


    • Poland Project
    • Projects in European countries and the United States
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"To help Black Sea and..."
  • To help Black Sea and Baltic Sea riparian countries who are preparing/implementing Agricultural Pollution Control Projects.


  • Provide a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learnt.
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OUTCOMES

  • Development of a network within the region to learn from each other,  to share experiences in order to mainstream environmentally friendly practices into agriculture.