Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems

, Volume 70, Issue 3, pp 271–282 | Cite as

Influence of long-term changes in nitrogen flows on the environment: A case study of a city in Hokkaido, Japan

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Abstract

There is an urgent need to establish sustainable nutrient cycling. Changes in amounts of N flow and separation of production and consumption sectors are becoming a serious environmental problem. In this study, the yearly N in- and outflow of a city in northern Japan from 1912 to 2002 was investigated based on the statistics and inventory data. Based on the characteristics of the N flow, the period was divided into manure-based period (MBP, 1912–1950), transition period from manure- to chemical fertilizer-based period (TP, 1950–1970), and chemical fertilizer-based period (CBP, 1970–2002). The highest amount of N inflow (up to 350 Mg N y−1) was observed at the end of the MBP, and the second peak (about 300 Mg N y−1) at the beginning of the CBP. The N application rate on farmland increased from 68 kg N ha−1 in 1912 to above 250 kg N ha−1 in the 1950s, then decreased to 168 kg N ha−1 in 2002. The farmland productivity increased from 30 kg N ha−1 at the end of the 1950s to 90 kg N ha−1 in 2002, due to improvement in crop varieties and management methods. In MBP surplus N in farmland and NH3 volatilization accounted for 90% of the N outflow from the city, then in CBP, disposal N and surplus N in farmland became the main N outflow. All these outputs are considered to increase the N concentration in rivers and/or underground water. In the case of surplus N in farmland, it exceeded the amount of optimum N management (< 50 kg N ha−1; Zebarth et al. 1998, Agricult. Ecosyst. Environ. 72: 35–52) during 1935–1970 and 1981–1997. In order to prevent degradation of the environment through artificially altered nutrient flow, we need to be aware of the environmental impact of the N flow and establish proper N management practices.

Key words

Environment impact Land use N balance N flow 
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Graduate School of AgricultureHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
  2. 2.Field Science Center for Northern BiosphereHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan

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