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Farm gate level nitrogen balance and use efficiency changes post implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive

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Abstract

Farm gate nitrogen (N) balance and use efficiency was estimated across 150 specialist Irish dairy farms over a 7 year period between 2006 and 2012 using nationally representative data. The study period coincided with the introduction of EU Nitrates Directive regulations aimed at minimising losses of N to the aquatic environment and results indicated that N balance declined by 25.1 kg ha−1 from 180.4 to 155.3 kg ha−1 over the study period. This decline can almost entirely be attributed to reduced chemical N fertiliser inputs of 23.1 kg ha−1 over the period, equivalent to 1247 kg N, or a cost saving of €1347 per annum across the average dairy farm. Nitrogen use efficiency also increased by 2.1 % points over the period from 20.8 to 22.9 %. This was achieved while increasing milk solids output from 405.3 to 449.6 kg ha−1 in the context of a declining stocking rate (1.86–1.84 livestock units ha−1). These results suggest some positive impact of the regulations on N management on Irish dairy farms at the nutrient source end of the nutrient transfer continuum. This increased N management efficiency has a potential double dividend effect of increased returns to agricultural production while reducing the risk of N transfer to the aquatic environment. In addition to the introduction of the regulations, results of a random effects panel data model indicated that N balance and use efficiency are significantly influenced by factors such as fertiliser prices, stocking rates, land use potential, contact with extension services and climatic variables.

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Notes

  1. Based on utilised agricultural area, this is defined as area under crops and pasture plus the area of rough grazing. It is the total area owned, plus area rented in, minus area rented out, minus area not available to agricultural production.

  2. Some of these are replacements being reared for the dairy herd.

  3. Based on average prices of per tonne of N based CAN and Urea fertilisers in 2012 (CSO 2014a).

  4. Farms of good land use potential had an average N loading (stocking rate) of 167 kg ON ha−1, average land use potential farms had an average N loading of 147 kg ON ha−1, while farms of poor land use potential had an average N loading of 121 kg ON ha−1.

  5. The number of operational and surveillance river monitoring stations for which data was available in 2012 was 1521 covering 682 rivers.

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Acknowledgments

The research was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The authors thank Ger Shortle, Teagasc, and Phil Jordan, University of Ulster, for comments on earlier drafts of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Catchments Programme, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland

    Cathal Buckley

  2. Environment Research Centre, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Co. Wexford, Ireland

    David P. Wall

  3. Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland

    Brian Moran

  4. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England

    Stephen O’Neill

  5. School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Paul N. C. Murphy

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  1. Cathal Buckley
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Correspondence to Cathal Buckley.

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Buckley, C., Wall, D.P., Moran, B. et al. Farm gate level nitrogen balance and use efficiency changes post implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 104, 1–13 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9753-y

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