Nitrogen in water - Portugal and Denmark: two contrasting realities

Cruz, Soraia; Cordovil, Cláudia M.d.S.; Pinto, Renata; Brito, António G.; Cameira, Maria R.; Gonçalves, Guilherme; Poulsen, Jane R.; Thodsen, Hans; Kronvang, Brian; May, Linda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3385-9973. 2019 Nitrogen in water - Portugal and Denmark: two contrasting realities. Water, 11 (6), 1114. 20, pp. 10.3390/w11061114

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11061114

Abstract/Summary

Agricultural activities are responsible for most of the nitrogen (N) inputs that degrade water quality. To elucidate the drivers leading to N pressures on water, we examined the resulting state of surface waters in terms of N concentrations, the impact of this on water quality status and policy responses to these constraints across different climatic and management conditions. Portugal and Denmark were chosen as contrasting case studies for the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) analysis. Our results showed reductions of 39% and 25% in the use of mineral fertilizer in Portugal and Denmark, respectively, between 2000 and 2010. The N surplus in Portugal varied between 15 and 30 kg N ha−1 between 1995 and 2015. In Denmark, in 2015, this amount was 70 kg N ha−1, representing a 53% decrease from the 1990 value. The average amount of total N discharged to surface waters was 7 kg ha−1 for mainland Portugal in 2015 and 14.6 kg ha−1 for Denmark in 2014. These reductions in the N surplus were attributed to historical policies aimed at N pressure abatement. In Denmark, N losses are expected to decline further through the continuation or improvement of existing national action plans. In Portugal, they are expected to decline further due to the expansion of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and the introduction of targeted policies aimed at improving N use efficiency and reducing losses to water.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3390/w11061114
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2073-4441
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	agricultural intensification, DPSIR, nitrogen, pressures, policies, surface water pollution
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	31 May 2019 11:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523599

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.3390/w11061114

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2073-4441

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

agricultural intensification, DPSIR, nitrogen, pressures, policies, surface water pollution