The researchers then developed future scenarios for the individual categories: On the one hand, the basis of the calculations are the nitrogen surpluses from 2015 to 2019, and on the other hand the existing requirements, for example the United Nations’ Nutrition and Agriculture Organization (FAO) or the Green Deal, according to a statement.
Current EU requirements: nitrogen goals are far away
As a result, it shows that the EU requirements could only be reduced by ten to 16 percent instead of the desired fifty percent. With regional differences: In an ambitious scenario, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania could actually achieve the goals. Countries with high nitrogen surplus such as Germany and the Netherlands were significantly below the target. For example, the Federal Republic would have to halve the use of manure. If technologies and cultivation were not modernized, the manure operation would even have to decrease by 63 percent.
The topic of nitrogen is a double -edged sword: less fertilizer is accompanied by earnings at short notice, the researchers admit, especially if the extension lacks a lack of modernization. However, no fruit and vegetables for human consumption grow on almost two thirds of the agricultural area, but animal feed, especially for meat and milk production.
Nitrogen surplus: Significant burden on water and climate
Too much nitrogen fertilization can lead to the load on water and groundwater. The consequences are oxygen deficiencies in lakes and rivers, decline in species, fish deaths and poor bathing water quality. A nitrogen surplus also leads to a decline in sensitive plants. Furthermore, the use of fertilizer is laughed at laughing gas (stabil monoxide), which, like CO2, contributes to climate warming as greenhouse gas.
