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Modelling the interplay between nitrogen cycling processes and mitigation options in farming catchments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2015

P. DURAND Open the ORCID record for P. DURAND [Opens in a new window] ,
P. MOREAU ,
J. SALMON-MONVIOLA ,
L. RUIZ ,
F. VERTES  and
C. GASCUEL-ODOUX
P. DURAND*
Affiliation:
Inra, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France
P. MOREAU
Affiliation:
Inra, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France
J. SALMON-MONVIOLA
Affiliation:
Inra, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France
L. RUIZ
Affiliation:
Inra, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France
F. VERTES
Affiliation:
Inra, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France
C. GASCUEL-ODOUX
Affiliation:
Inra, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1069, Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, F-35000 Rennes, France
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: patrick.durand@rennes.inra.fr
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Summary

Quantitative assessment of mitigation measures for nitrogen (N) pollution requires adequate models, good knowledge of catchment functioning and a thorough understanding of agricultural systems and stakeholder constraints. The current paper analyses a set of results from simulations, with two models, of agricultural changes in two catchments in different contexts with different constraints. The results show that reducing N inputs and increasing grassland areas are the most efficient measures, not only because they reduce N fluxes in streams but also because they enhance N use by agriculture and the whole catchment system. Introducing catch crops, hedgerows and riparian buffers are interesting complementary measures but of limited impact when implemented alone. These results are sensitive to the way mitigation measures are translated into model inputs, and their operational implications are discussed.

Type
Nitrogen Workshop Special Issue Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 153 , Issue 6 , August 2015 , pp. 959 - 974
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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