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The nutrient cycle: closing the loop
the nutrient cycle: closing the loop
The Environment Agency tells us that diffuse inputs of expending both money and energy on manufacturing 5
nutrients are a major reason why our rivers are at risk fertiliser, and then further money and energy because
of not meeting the Good Ecological Status (GES) we have to deal with nutrients in the wrong place.
6 So, few would dare argue that we reduce the amount is going to occur globally as food production and
of nutrients in circulation to their pre-industrial industrialisation continue to increase?
levels; to do so would require an accompanying
the nutrient cycle: closing the loop
proposition as to how world food production would So whether your perspective is domestic or global,
be maintained. And it would take a real optimist to the conclusion looks the same:
conceive of a situation in which no fluxes within
and between media happened and supply always We need to stop relying on policy measures
exactly matched demand, year in year out, regardless which tackle nutrients as individual substances
of the nuances of the weather, the soil and the conflicting with desired standards for soil, water
market. Even the most ardent advocates of precision or air;
agriculture dont claim we can be this clever.
And we need to start using a policy framework
But there are clearly significant benefits to be which aims, at its core, to cycle nutrients
realised if we can reduce the economic and through our economy with fewer unwanted
environmental costs associated with nutrients in the effects (leaks) and an overall gain in resource
wrong place and reduce the need to manufacture efficiency.
and transport additional nutrients in favour of using
more effectively those that are already in circulation. This would be the policy framework based on
closing the nutrient loop. It would have the
some argue The immediate benefits would be a reduction following principles:
in greenhouse gas emissions both carbon
that the global and nitrous oxide, improved water quality 1. The use of nutrients already in the economy
nitrogen cycle with benefits for biodiversity, and less would take priority over the manufacture and
has the expenditure of farmers money (on import of additional nutrients.
potential to fertilisers) and water customers money (on 2. Nutrients would be transferred between the
become as drinking water treatment). players in the nutrient cycle the producers and
users of nutrients because of their value;
significant as But there is a longer-term objective here as regulations governing nutrient concentrations or
the global well. The elephant in the room (or hiding prescribing nutrient management practices would
carbon cycle between the pages of this pamphlet) is the be secondary.
concern about the global implications of 3. Soils (cultivated or otherwise) would be
nutrients. Some argue that the global nitrogen cycle explicitly recognised as part of the national
has the potential to become as significant as the nutrient resource bank.
global carbon cycle. It is certainly justified to ask 4. Innovations which aided the recycling and re-use
ourselves the following: if the developed world has of nutrients and/or the maintenance of the
inflated the nutrient cycle this much so far, with nutrient resource bank would be encouraged and
these sorts of side effects, how much more damage could be supported using measures which
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discouraged further additions to the nutrient underpin the transactions involved. Similar measures 7
cycle in excess of demand. are needed to ensure that as we divert biodegradable
5. Information on nutrient stores and transfers municipal waste from landfills, we make it possible
8 farm waste. Nutrient storage and nutrient recovery Policies based on closing the loop should also
could be the starting point for a west-to-east transfer underpin our use of land management as a means of
of nutrients that would help close the loop within achieving water quality objectives. If our aim is to
the nutrient cycle: closing the loop
the UK farming sector. manage nutrients better for the long-term, then it
may well be the case that spending water customers
The framework of a closed nutrient loop should also money on land management or land use adaptation
illuminate, from the perspective of a resource schemes that will encourage nutrient storage in the
efficient economy, two key debates. The first is the soil is at least as attractive an option as yet more
case for and against a levy on nitrogen inputs to the expenditure on the energy-intensive treatment of
economy. The contributions seem to suggest that point sources. Such schemes also have the potential
improved agricultural knowledge and practice, with to provide other valuable benefits, such as important
strong cost-drivers in farming backed up by nitrate wildlife habitats. These arrangements must be
regulations and codes of good practice, are moving transparent, however, and a careful distinction
us in the direction we want to go; if there is a case maintained between the most sustainable solution to
for using price to tip the balance further in favour of an established problem, and arrangements that
organic sources of nitrogen, it may be argued that might imply a long-term acceptance of poor
energy taxes affecting fertiliser manufacture are practice.
already doing this. However, these lack the benefit of
revenue-recycling which could be used to support But closing the nutrient loop is also about attitudes
the other measures already noted. to nutrients and an appreciation of their place in a
sustainable economy.
The second debate, related to the first, is how society
should optimise the distribution of costs and There has been a commendable move to more
benefits. Given that a totally closed loop may not be precise use of nutrients in agriculture, especially in
feasible without a significant agricultural yield the arable and horticultural sector. This has been
reduction, some remaining costs will be internal to stimulated by the drive for efficiency and
and paid for by, the production system; others will challenging markets under the new farm support
remain to be borne by society. regime. But it is not yet a universal approach and is
associated, in the main, with enterprises making
Improvements to feeding regimes in the intensive substantial use of manufactured fertilisers.
livestock sector and access to precision farming
techniques in intensive arable must feature in the We need a more widespread and wholesale advocacy
closing the loop framework. Both are central to the of the soil as a nutrient bank. Well-managed, with
aim of reducing nutrient losses and improving inputs not exceeding those that allow the system to
efficiency. function properly, it supports land-based ecosystem
services including food production and nutrient
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management. Abused or disregarded, it becomes part A framework based on closing the nutrient loop will 9
of the problem. Nutrient management needs to inevitably raise questions about risks. It is important
feature more strongly in cross-compliance. There is a that, for instance, the recycling of nutrients in
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Plants
Animals
Nitrates Ammonia
Decay and
animal waste
Nitrifying Nitrifying
bacteria Nitrites bacteria
Animals
Nitrates Ammonia
Decay and
animal waste
Nitrites
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P in chemicals
e.g. detergents
Animal
Animal wastes
husbandry Human
Organic phosphate in
wastes
plant biomass
Fertiliser
Biosolids Treated
Phosphate in soil wastewater
Erosion Mining of
Sedimentation formation of
phosphate rock
posphate rock
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Households:
Industry: effluents Other diffuse sources
human waste
the nutrient cycle: closing the loop
and household
products
Sewage Treatment Works (STWs)
About 90% of N entering STWs is from
households, about 10% N is from industry
About 85% of P entering STWs is from
households, about 15% P is from industry
Public water supply Other diffuse sources also contribute
Combustion
Further N&P Other diffuse Sewage effluent Biosolids Land processes
removal sources