Agricultural nutrient budgets in Europe: data, methods, and indicators
Doctoral thesis, 2020
This thesis aims to explore and expand the limits of how agricultural N and P budgets can be used to support environmental research and decision-making, focusing on European agriculture. To this end, the thesis looks into two broad research questions: (1) What are the limits to the accuracy and level of detail that can be attained in N and P budgets of European agricultural systems? (2) How are present and proposed uses of agricultural N and P budgets and derived indicators limited by (a) the inherent property that agricultural nutrient budgets do not account for environmental impacts, and (b) by uncertainties and lack of data in the estimation of nutrient budgets?
This thesis builds on five appended research papers that explore various aspects of data sources, uncertainties, and possible uses of N and P budgets in Europe. International and national data sources are scrutinized and used to estimate N and P budgets. Novel ways to combine existing data sources are explored. The use of nutrient budgets with various system boundaries, with different degrees of spatial resolution, and in different time periods is discussed, emphasizing that the best approach is not only a question of data supply but also of intended audience and purpose.
phosphorus
nutrient budget
EU
nutrient balance
nitrogen
Europe
indicators
environment
agriculture
Author
Rasmus Einarsson
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory
Analyzing key constraints to biogas production from crop residues and manure in the EU - A spatially explicit model
PLoS ONE,;Vol. 12(2017)
Journal article
Nitrogen flows on organic and conventional dairy farms: a comparison of three indicators
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems,;Vol. 110(2018)p. 1-14
Journal article
Is the nitrogen footprint fit for purpose? An assessment of models and proposed uses
Journal of Environmental Management,;Vol. 240(2019)p. 198-208
Journal article
Subnational nutrient budgets to monitor environmental risks in EU agriculture: calculating phosphorus budgets for 243 EU28 regions using public data
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems,;Vol. 117(2020)p. 199-213
Journal article
Crop production and nitrogen use in European cropland and grassland 1961–2019
Scientific data,;Vol. 8(2021)
Journal article
Driving Forces
Sustainable development
Subject Categories
Agricultural Science
Agricultural Science, Forestry and Fisheries
Environmental Sciences
ISBN
978-91-7905-367-3
Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 4834
Publisher
Chalmers
Room ED, Hörsalsvägen 11. Limited number of seats. Please email rasmus.einarsson [at] chalmers.se to reserve a seat or receive password for Zoom meeting.
Opponent: Wilfried Winiwarter, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria