Adequacy of nitrogen-based indicators for assessment of cropping system performance: A modelling study of Danish scenarios

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156927
• Publication Date: 2022-06-24T03:36:49Z
• Authors: Muhammad Adil Rashid; Sander Bruun; Merete Elisabeth ...; Signe Kynding Borgen; Søren Kolind Hvid; Lars Stoumann Jensen
• Keywords: Monoculture; Chernozem; Cropping system; Crop Rotation; Stock (firearms)

The EU nitrogen expert panel (EUNEP) has proposed nitrogen-based indicators for farm productivity (N output), efficiency (NUE) and environmental emissions surplus). This model-based study (using the Daisy model) was carried out, i) to effects of soil type, organic matter (SOM), cropping pre-histories varying in C input, 3-to-4 manure-to-mineral N proportions ten crop rotations on N-based indicators, ii) evaluate adequacy these by establishing quantitative relationships between surplus, loss (SON) stock change. results, averaged over 24-year simulation period, indicated that grass-clover dominant had highest output showed a tendency increase SON stocks when compared with spring-cereal monocultures. For most rotations, NUE ranged 70 75 %. were mainly influenced initial SOM prehistory, increased only under low input pre-history (spring barley). Overall, tended pre-history, coarse sand, high manure N, however, this combination did not result productivity, NUE, lowest losses. relations change strongly affected emphasizing using surplus as an indicator leaching/losses while ignoring changes may biased conclusions, e.g. estimated average error losses from -45 % (underestimation) maize monoculture +50 (overestimation) continuous ley. results also imply assessment systems must be improved combining above estimation changes. provides detailed account balance components/N diverse their use according recommendations EUNEP.