Differentiation of pedo-climatic zones in

Europe

The risks of nutrient leaching and runoff

Oene Oenema, Rob Jongmans, Gerard Hazeu, Gerard Velthof and Kor Zwart

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Background-1: Nitrates Directive

Nitrates Directive (1991)

● Prevention of water pollution by nitrates from agriculture

Action Program for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

● Several restrictive measures to prevent pollution

● Some of these are strongly affected by climate and soil type

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Action Programme Measures (incomplete)

1. Periods of prohibition of manure application, fertilization

2. Manure storage capacity

3. Application to sloping soils

4. Application to water flooded, snow covered or frozen soils

5. Application near water courses

6. Procedures for land application

7. Land use management

8. Fertilizer plans

9. Irrigation

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Background-2 Update of pedo-climatic

zones

Originally (EU-15):

4 Climatic Zones

● Boreal

● Atlantic

● Central Europe

● Mediterranean

No pedological stratification

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Background-3 Update of pedo-climatic

zones

Request by the European Commission

Update of Climatic Zones

● Current 27 MSs

● more differentiation

Include Pedological Zones

Recommendations AP measures

● For each new zone

Approach

Prevention of pollution =

Prevention of leaching and runoff of nutrients

Leaching and runoff: Climate, Pedological properties formation

Two Layer Approach: 1. Climate, 2. Pedological properties

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Layer 1:

13 different zones

Metzger et al (2005) Global Ecology & Biogeography )

Layer 2: Pedological Properties

MITERRA (Velthof et al, 2009)

Risk of Leaching and Run Off in relation to soil properties (and climate)

Velthof et al (2009) J. Env. Quality 38: 402-417

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Risks of Leaching or Run Off (MITERRA)

Leaching:

● Precipitation, temperature, soil texture, soil organic carbon, rooting depth

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Leaching Fraction (LF; fraction of N-surplus)

LF = LFmax (texture) * fp * ft * fc* fr

Reduction factors

● fp: precipitation

● fr: rooting depth

● ft: temperature

● fc: soil organic matter content

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5 temperature classes; 5 precipitation

surplus classes

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5 Texture classes; 4 Soil Organic Carbon

classes

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3 rooting depth classes

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Risks of Leaching or Run Off (MITERRA)

Leaching:

● Precipitation, soil texture, temperature, soil organic carbon, rooting depth

Run Off:

● Slope, precipitation, soil depth, soil texture

LUWQ2013 meeting 2012, The Hague

5 temperature classes; 5 precipitation

surplus classes

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

4 slope classes; 3 rooting depth classes

LUWQ2013 meeting 2012, The Hague

Run off Fraction (RoF; fraction of N applied)

RoF = RoFmax (slope) * fp * frc * fs

Reduction factors

● fp: precipitation

● frc: depth to rock/obstacles

● fs: soil type

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Results

Large number of different combinations (0-1.0)

Reduction to 3 Risk Classes for Leaching and Run Off

A high risk class means more stringent Action Programme measures

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Risk Class LF Fraction of N-

surplus

Low <0.20

Medium 0.20 – 0.35

High > 0.35

Map Leaching Potential

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Results

Large number of different combinations (0-1.0)

Reduction to 3 Risk Classes for Leaching and Run Off

A high risk class means more stringent Action Programme measures

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Risk Class LF Fraction of N-

surplus

RoF Fraction of N-

applied

Low <0.20 < 0.02

Medium 0.20 – 0.35 0.02 – 0.10

High > 0.35 > 0.10

Map Run Off Potential

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Additional results

Recommendations for the implementation of Action Programme measures

● General, based upon governing factors (pedo-climatic zones, farming practices, vulnerability of water bodies

● Pedo-climatic zone specific

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague

Two Examples

Periods in which manure and/or fertilizer application is prohibited

Application of fertilizer amounts

Precipitation > Evapotranspiration

ENZs Month:

Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec

ALN LT LT LT LT (LT) LT LT LT

ATN LT LT

ALS LT LT LT LT LT

BOR LT LT LT (LT) LT LT LT

LUS LP

NEM LT LT LT LT LT

ATC

MDM LT LP

MDN LP LP

CON LT LT (LT) LT

PAN LT LT LT

ANA LP LP

MDS LP LP LP

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LT: AVG temp < 0; LP: AVG Evapotransp. surplus > 150 mm

Limitation to land application of fertilizers

EnZs Risk Wheat Potatoes Sugar beets ALN Low 60-90 80-130 80-150 Medium 30-40 40-70 80-130 High 20-40 30-50 50-90 ALS Low 80-140 70-120 120-160 Medium 50-80 40-70 90-150 High 40-60 20-40 70-110 ATN Low 140-230 200-250 130-200 Medium 80-130 120-200 110-180 High 50-80 80-130 70-120 ATC Low 130-220 200-250 130-200 Medium 80-130 120-200 130-200 High 50-80 80-130 90-150

Differentiation of Pedo-Climatic zones

May help Member States to propose adequate measures to prevent water pollution by nitrate

May help the European Commission in the evaluation of Action Programme measures

Read all about it:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/studies.html

LUWQ2013 meeting 2013, The Hague