Nutrient best management practices need regional material flow management for soil protection

摘要

High-intensity animal farming regions are characterised by the production of animal manure nutrients in surplus of what can sustainably be used on the agricultural land. Theoretically, farms in those regions have a high potential for improving their overall productivity and environmental performance by implementing general nutrient and particular animal manure nutrient best management practices (BMPs). In reality, reducing animal manure application to a sensible degree leads to more costs for the export of surplus animal manure to other regions. If a nutrient BMPs framework is to be successful in regions with excess animal manure production, an optimization of animal manure distribution and transportation at lowest costs is a key element as it positively influences the farms' profitability. This case study from Germany provides a model for this purpose. A regional material flow management for animal manures based on this model will enable a substitution of mineral fertilizers with animal manures inregions with little animal farming. At the same time, environmental problems caused by manure over-application in the surplus regions can be reduced. Combining nutrient BMPs with models like this can help farmers in high-intensity animal farming regionsand adjacent regions to increase productivity, profitability, system sustainability, and environmental protection.