Spatial and temporal variability in costs and effectiveness in phosphorus loss mitigation at farm scale: A scenario analysis

Bragina, Lyubov, Evgenia, Micha ORCID: 0000-0002-5697-3317, William, Roberts, Kay, O'Connell, Cathal, O'Donoghue, Mary, Ryan and Karen, Daly (2019) Spatial and temporal variability in costs and effectiveness in phosphorus loss mitigation at farm scale: A scenario analysis. Journal of Environmental Management, 245. pp. 330-337. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.080

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Abstract

Current policy instruments under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) to mitigate phosphorus (P) loss require that P use on farms is managed through regulation of farm gate P balances. Regulation at farm scale does not account for spatial variability in nutrient use and soil fertility at field scale, affecting the costs and effectiveness of farm gate measures. This study simulated the implementation of a P loss mitigation measure coupled with improving soil fertility so that farm productivity would not be compromised. The measure was simulated at field scale and the costs and effectiveness assessed at farm scale. Effectiveness was expressed as the time taken for excessive soil P levels to decline to levels that matched off-takes and this varied temporally and spatially within and between farms ranging from 1 to 8 years. Sub-optimum soil fertility was corrected on all fields across both farms, with applications of other soil nutrients and lime to protect productivity. An increase in costs ranging from 1.5 to 116% was predicted in the first two years of the measure on both farms after-which savings of 15–31% were predicted for each subsequent year until the measure was effective in year 9. Despite initial cost increase, there was no statistically significant difference in costs over the time taken for the measure to be effective, when compared to baseline costs. Successful implementation of measures should consider the impact on farm costs and time taken for measures to environmentally effective. Adoption of measures could improve if demonstrating to farmers that costs will not vary significantly from current practice and in time may results in savings if measures are paired with correcting soil fertility and increasing yields. This ‘win-win’ approach could be used into the future to ensure successful implementation and uptake of measures within the farming community.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Nutrient management; Phosphorus; Water quality; Cost-effectiveness
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) > S589.75 Agriculture and the environment
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Nenia Micha
Date Deposited:	14 Jun 2019 14:30
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2022 14:32
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/6913

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• Spatial and temporal variability in costs and effectiveness in phosphorus loss mitigation at farm scale: A scenario analysis. (deposited 14 Jun 2019 14:30) [Currently Displayed]

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