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1. Definition
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Name
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FERTILIZER
APPLICATION
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Brief
definition
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Extent
of fertilizer use in agriculture, per unit of agricultural
land area
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Unit of measure
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kg/ha
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2.
Position within the logical framework DPSIR
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Type
of Indicator
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Driving
Force
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3.
Target and political pertinence
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Objective
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The
purpose of this indicator is to measure the intensity
of fertilizer use in agriculture (crop husbandry).
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|
Importance
with respect to desertification
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The
challenge for agriculture is to increase food production
in a sustainable way. This indicator shows the potential
environmental pressure from agricultural activities.
The actual environmental effects will depend on pollution
reduction practices, soil and plant types, and meteorological
conditions.
Application
of fertilizers can be beneficial for protecting the
land from soil erosion, land degradation and desertification.
Fertilizers can also have a strong negative effect
on water pollution with nitrates and phosphates. When
fertilizers are applied biomass production can be
higher (if no other factors are limited) and therefore
vegetation cover can be higher protecting the soil
from erosion. Furthermore, it is expected higher amounts
of plant residuals will be incorporated into the soil
favouring better soil structure development (C. Kosmas).
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|
International
Conventions and agreements
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The
UNCCD emphasizes that in order to combat desertification,
it must be tackled within the general framework of
actions that promote sustainable development
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Secondary objectives
of the indicator
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Extensive fertilizer
use is usually associated with intensive agricultural
practices. It can be used to evaluate the intensity
of resources use. Extensive fertilizer use is linked
to eutrophication of water bodies, soil acidification,
and potential of contamination of water supply with
nitrates.
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4.
Methodological description and basic definitions
|
Definitions
and basic concepts
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Data
on the quantities of fertilizers used are converted into the
three basic nutrient components and aggregated. The three
components are nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P205),
and potassium (K20). Factors for chemical
breakdown are standardized. Agricultural land is the sum of
arable and permanent crop land and land under permanent pastures
and meadows.
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Benchmarks
Indication of the values/ranges of value
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0;
<100; 100-300; 300-500; >500; other
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Methods
of measurement
|
Sum
of main fertilizers used (N, P205,
K20) on hectares of Agricultural Land
|
|
Limits
of the indicator
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Environmental
impacts caused by leaching and volatilization of fertilizer
nutrients depend not only on the quantity applied,
but also on the condition of the agro-ecosystem, cropping
patterns, and on farm management practices. In addition,
this indicator does not include organic fertilizer
from manure and crop residues, or the application
of fertilizers to grasslands. The indicator assumes
even distribution of fertilizer on the land.
A
more relevant and sophisticated indicator would focus
on nutrient balance to reflect both inputs and outputs
associated with all agricultural practices. This would
address the critical issue of surplus or deficiency
of nutrients in the soil. This would need to be based
on agro-ecological zones.
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Linkages with other
indicators
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This indicator is closely
linked to others in the agricultural and water groups, such
as Mechanisation index,
Irrigation potential
realised.
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5.
Evaluation of data needs and availability
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Data
required to calculate the indicator
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Data
on fertilizer use for N, P205,
and K20; and agricultural area.
|
|
Data
sources
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The
Environmental Agency regularly gathers information
on fertilizer use. Area of Agricultural Land is available
from official statistics.
|
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Availability of data
from national and international sources
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Data
for all countries exist at the national level only.
The data are updated on a regular basis. At the international
level, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) is the primary source.
The most accurate information can be obtained
from the land user.
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6.
Institutions that have participated in developing the indicator
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Main
institutions responsible
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University
of Basilicata, Italy
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Other
contributing organizations
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Universities
of Lisbon, Murcia, Athens
The
International Fertilizer Association is associated
with the development of this indicator.
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7.
Additional information
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Bibliography
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FAO.
1998. Food and agricultural sector profiles. Country
tables 1997. Statistics Div.; FAO, Rome (Italy). Agriculture
and Economic Development Analysis Division, 427 pp.
FAO.
1996. Fertilizer use by crop, 3. International Fertilizer
Industry Association, Paris (France); International
Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL (USA);
FAO, Rome (Italy). Statistics Division, 49 pp.
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Other
references
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Internet
sites:
FAO
Statistical Databases. http://apps.fao.org/
International Fertilizer Association. http://www.fertilizer.org/
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Contacts Name and address
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University of Basilicata
Prof Giovanni Quaranta
email: quaranta@unibas.it
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