Stocktake study of current fertilisation recommendations across Europe and discussion towards a more harmonised approach
Suzanne Higgins
(1)
,
Saskia Keesstra
(2)
,
Žydrė Kadziuliene
(3)
,
Lionel Jordan-Meille
(4)
,
David Wall
(5)
,
Alessandra Trinchera
(6)
,
Heide Spiegel
(7)
,
Taru Sandén
(7)
,
Andreas Baumgarten
(7)
,
Johannes Jensen
(8)
,
Juliane Hirte
,
Frank Liebisch
,
Susanne Klages
,
Philipp Löw
(9)
,
Katrin Kuka
(10)
,
Maarten de Boever
(11)
,
Karoline d'Haene
(11)
,
Sevinc Madenoglu
(12)
,
Hesna Özcan
(12)
,
Wieke Vervuurt
(13)
,
Janjo de Haan
(13)
,
Willem van Geel
(13)
,
Bo Stenberg
(14)
,
Pascal Denoroy
(4)
,
Rok Mihelič
(15)
,
Alar Astover
(16)
,
Raquel Mano
(17)
,
Cristina Sempiterno
(17)
,
Fatima Calouro
(17)
,
Giuseppe Valboa
(6)
,
Helena Aronsson
(14)
,
Tore Krogstad
(18)
,
Stanislav Torma
,
Jose Gabriel
(19)
,
Peter Laszlo
,
Nils Borchard
(20)
,
Bartosz Adamczyk
,
Anna Jacobs
(21)
,
Beata Jurga
,
Bożena Smreczak
,
Bruno Huyghebaert
(22)
,
Morgan Abras
(22)
,
Raimonds Kasparinskis
(23)
,
Eloise Mason
(24)
,
Claire Chenu
(24)
1
AFBI -
Agri-Food & Biosciences
2 Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra)
3 Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
4 UMR ISPA - Interactions Sol Plante Atmosphère
5 Johnstown Castle, Environment Research Centre
6 CREA-AA - Centro di Ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente [CREA]
7 Department for Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)
8 Aarhus University [Aarhus]
9 Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institute
10 Julius Kühn-Institute
11 ILVO - Research Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food
12 TAGEM - General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies
13 WUR - Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen]
14 SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences = Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
15 University of Ljubljana
16 EMU - Estonian University of Life Sciences
17 INIAV IP
18 NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences
19 INIA-CSIC
20 ISEG LISBON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT LISBON PRT
21 Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute
22 CRA-W - Centre Wallon de Recherches Agronomiques
23 LU - University of Latvia
24 ECOSYS - Ecologie fonctionnelle et écotoxicologie des agroécosystèmes
2 Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra)
3 Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
4 UMR ISPA - Interactions Sol Plante Atmosphère
5 Johnstown Castle, Environment Research Centre
6 CREA-AA - Centro di Ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente [CREA]
7 Department for Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)
8 Aarhus University [Aarhus]
9 Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institute
10 Julius Kühn-Institute
11 ILVO - Research Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food
12 TAGEM - General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies
13 WUR - Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen]
14 SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences = Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
15 University of Ljubljana
16 EMU - Estonian University of Life Sciences
17 INIAV IP
18 NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences
19 INIA-CSIC
20 ISEG LISBON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT LISBON PRT
21 Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute
22 CRA-W - Centre Wallon de Recherches Agronomiques
23 LU - University of Latvia
24 ECOSYS - Ecologie fonctionnelle et écotoxicologie des agroécosystèmes
Suzanne Higgins
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321419
- ORCID : 0000-0001-6116-4410
Saskia Keesstra
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 791769
- ORCID : 0000-0003-4129-9080
Lionel Jordan-Meille
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321420
- ORCID : 0000-0003-1169-7002
Taru Sandén
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321421
- ORCID : 0000-0002-9542-0117
Johannes Jensen
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321422
- ORCID : 0000-0002-0415-6665
Juliane Hirte
- Fonction : Auteur
Frank Liebisch
- Fonction : Auteur
Susanne Klages
- Fonction : Auteur
Maarten de Boever
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321424
- ORCID : 0000-0001-9352-0475
Karoline d'Haene
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321425
- ORCID : 0000-0002-9637-0844
Rok Mihelič
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1321426
- ORCID : 0000-0002-6845-1903
Stanislav Torma
- Fonction : Auteur
Peter Laszlo
- Fonction : Auteur
Bartosz Adamczyk
- Fonction : Auteur
Beata Jurga
- Fonction : Auteur
Bożena Smreczak
- Fonction : Auteur
Eloise Mason
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1312924
- IdHAL : eloise-mason
Résumé
Abstract The European Commission has set targets for a reduction in nutrient losses by at least 50% and a reduction in fertiliser use by at least 20% by 2030 while ensuring no deterioration in soil fertility. Within the mandate of the European Joint Programme EJP Soil ‘Towards climate‐smart sustainable management of agricultural soils’, the objective of this study was to assess current fertilisation practices across Europe and discuss the potential for harmonisation of fertilisation methodologies as a strategy to reduce nutrient loss and overall fertiliser use. A stocktake study of current methods of delivering fertilisation advice took place across 23 European countries. The stocktake was in the form of a questionnaire, comprising 46 questions. Information was gathered on a large range of factors, including soil analysis methods, along with soil, crop and climatic factors taken into consideration within fertilisation calculations. The questionnaire was completed by experts, who are involved in compiling fertilisation recommendations within their country. Substantial differences exist in the content, format and delivery of fertilisation guidelines across Europe. The barriers, constraints and potential benefits of a harmonised approach to fertilisation across Europe are discussed. The general consensus from all participating countries was that harmonisation of fertilisation guidelines should be increased, but it was unclear in what format this could be achieved. Shared learning in the delivery and format of fertilisation guidelines and mechanisms to adhere to environmental legislation were viewed as being beneficial. However, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to harmonise all soil test data and fertilisation methodologies at EU level due to diverse soil types and agro‐ecosystem influences. Nevertheless, increased future collaboration, especially between neighbouring countries within the same environmental zone, was seen as potentially very beneficial. This study is unique in providing current detail on fertilisation practices across European countries in a side‐by‐side comparison. The gathered data can provide a baseline for the development of scientifically based EU policy targets for nutrient loss and soil fertility evaluation.