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Limits to nitrogen use on grassland.

H F M ten Berge¹, H G van der Meer, L Carlier

¹Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands. h.f.m.tenberge@plant.wag-ur.nl

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)

|April 10, 2002

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Applying up to 400 kg N per ha of cattle slurry annually on grassland has minimal impact on residual soil nitrogen (Nmin). Current European Commission limits on animal manure N are scientifically unfounded when mineral fertilizer N is not restricted.

Area of Science:

Agronomy
Soil Science
Environmental Science

Background:

Understanding nitrogen (N) dynamics in grassland is crucial for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
Residual soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) and nitrate leaching are key indicators of nitrogen use efficiency and potential environmental impact.
Existing regulations on nitrogen application, particularly from animal manures, may not fully reflect scientific evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine permissible nitrogen (N) application rates on grassland that minimize residual soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) accumulation in autumn.
To compare the effects of mineral fertilizer and cattle slurry on residual Nmin and nitrate leaching.
To evaluate the scientific basis of current nitrogen application limits for animal manures on grassland.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

Analysis of nitrogen response data from grassland experiments in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Utilized a descriptive crop N response model to identify thresholds for residual Nmin.
Normalized N doses from different sources (fertilizer, slurry) based on crop N uptake effectiveness.
Quantified long-term effects of N sources using a first-order approximation.

Main Results:

Every 100 kg N applied per hectare was associated with 3-4 kg residual Nmin in autumn, a low but significant increase.
No significant difference was found in the immediate effect on residual Nmin or nitrate leaching between mineral fertilizer and cattle slurry when normalized for effectiveness.
Up to 400 kg N per hectare of cattle slurry showed minimal impact on residual Nmin on productive grassland, provided high fertilizer doses were not concurrently applied.

Conclusions:

Current European Commission limits for animal manure N on grassland (170 kg N/ha/year) are likely too restrictive based on experimental data.
Limiting animal manure application without restricting mineral fertilizer N lacks scientific justification.
Grassland can accommodate higher N inputs from cattle slurry than currently permitted, with minimal adverse effects on residual Nmin and nitrate leaching under specific conditions.