IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v12y2022i4p447-d777985.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Catch Crops in Lower Saxony—More Than 30 Years of Action against Water Pollution with Nitrates: All in Vain?

Author

Listed:
  • Susanne Klages

    (Coordination Unit Climate, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Christina Aue

    (Abteilung Hydrochemie, Landwirtschaft und Boden, OOWV, 26919 Brake, Germany)

  • Karin Reiter

    (Institute of Rural Studies, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Claudia Heidecke

    (Coordination Unit Climate, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Bernhard Osterburg

    (Head of Coordination Units Climate and Soil, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

Abstract

Intensive animal production, vast amounts of biogas plants, and the spreading of manure and digestates, exerts strong pressure on water quality in the German federal state of Lower Saxony. Catch and cover crop (c&c) cultivation is seen as one measure to inhibit nitrate leaching into soils, and to prevent water pollution with nitrates. A document analysis was carried out, covering the time span of 1992 to 2020, and the findings were combined with available quantitative data of the same period, and with GIS analysis. From 1994 to the year 2020, the acreage of subsidized c&cs increased from ca. 10,000 ha to ca. 380,000 ha. In addition, there was an acreage of unsubsidized c&cs of about 100,000 ha declining to 50,000 ha. In comparison, the acreage of arable land remained at approximately 1,880,000 ha. We found that c&cs did not contribute substantially to water protection for the following reasons: the design of the measure, control of farmer’s actions, and the antagonistic trend due to the increase in animal numbers and biogas plants. The development of c&cs over time and space reveals that frame conditions and management requirements of cultivating c&cs need to be well designed to be effective and efficient (with regard to N reduction and reduction of costs). It is vital to coordinate all programs and schemes in one region. From our evaluation, we conclude that a measure such as c&c cultivation, which is simple to introduce and easy to control, should be implemented over winter as a mandatory measure in order to achieve a greater uptake. Additionally, result-based measures could complement this scheme, as there is a strong link between subsidy level and the success of the measure.

Suggested Citation

  • Susanne Klages & Christina Aue & Karin Reiter & Claudia Heidecke & Bernhard Osterburg, 2022. "Catch Crops in Lower Saxony—More Than 30 Years of Action against Water Pollution with Nitrates: All in Vain?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:4:p:447-:d:777985
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/4/447/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/4/447/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matteo Olivieri & Maria Andreoli & Daniele Vergamini & Fabio Bartolini, 2021. "Innovative Contract Solutions for the Provision of Agri-Environmental Climatic Public Goods: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Techen, Anja-Kristina & Ries, Elke & Steinführer, Annett, 2015. "Evaluierung der Gewässerschutzberatung in Hessen im Kontext der EU-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Auswirkungen auf Wissen und Handeln von Landwirten," Thünen Report 212003, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    3. Shackelford, Gorm E. & Kelsey, Rodd & Dicks, Lynn V., 2019. "Effects of cover crops on multiple ecosystem services: Ten meta-analyses of data from arable farmland in California and the Mediterranean," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. de Oliveira, Ingrid Nehmi & de Souza, Zigomar Menezes & Lovera, Lenon Henrique & Vieira Farhate, Camila Viana & De Souza Lima, Elizeu & Aguilera Esteban, Diego Alexander & Fracarolli, Juliana Aparecid, 2019. "Least limiting water range as influenced by tillage and cover crop," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cezary A. Kwiatkowski & Małgorzata Pawłowska & Elżbieta Harasim & Lucjan Pawłowski, 2023. "Strategies of Climate Change Mitigation in Agriculture Plant Production—A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-27, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. de Lima, Renato P. & Tormena, Cássio A. & Figueiredo, Getulio C. & da Silva, Anderson R. & Rolim, Mário M., 2020. "Least limiting water and matric potential ranges of agricultural soils with calculated physical restriction thresholds," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    2. Dardonville, Manon & Legrand, Baptiste & Clivot, Hugues & Bernardin, Claire & Bockstaller, Christian & Therond, Olivier, 2022. "Assessment of ecosystem services and natural capital dynamics in agroecosystems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Morugán-Coronado, Alicia & Linares, Carlos & Gómez-López, María Dolores & Faz, Ángel & Zornoza, Raúl, 2020. "The impact of intercropping, tillage and fertilizer type on soil and crop yield in fruit orchards under Mediterranean conditions: A meta-analysis of field studies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    4. Yoder, Landon & Houser, Matthew & Bruce, Analena & Sullivan, Abigail & Farmer, James, 2021. "Are climate risks encouraging cover crop adoption among farmers in the southern Wabash River Basin?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    5. Aguilera, Eduardo & Díaz-Gaona, Cipriano & García-Laureano, Raquel & Reyes-Palomo, Carolina & Guzmán, Gloria I. & Ortolani, Livia & Sánchez-Rodríguez, Manuel & Rodríguez-Estévez, Vicente, 2020. "Agroecology for adaptation to climate change and resource depletion in the Mediterranean region. A review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    6. Ureta, J. Carl & Motallebi, Marzieh & Vassalos, Michael & Seagle, Steven & Baldwin, Robert, 2022. "Estimating residents' WTP for ecosystem services improvement in a payments for ecosystem services (PES) program: A choice experiment approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    7. Oliveira, Ingrid Nehmi de & de Souza, Zigomar Menezes & Lovera, Lenon Henrique & Farhate, Camila Viana Vieira & Lima, Elizeu de Souza & Esteban, Diego Alexander Aguilera & Totti, Maria Cecilia Vieira, 2020. "Capacitance probe calibration for an Ultisol Udult cultivated with sugarcane by soil tillages," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    8. Beniaich, Adnane & Guimarães, Danielle Vieira & Avanzi, Junior Cesar & Silva, Bruno Montoani & Acuña-Guzman, Salvador Francisco & dos Santos, Wharley Pereira & Silva, Marx Leandro Naves, 2023. "Spontaneous vegetation as an alternative to cover crops in olive orchards reduces water erosion and improves soil physical properties under tropical conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    9. Andrzej Sałata & Gaetano Pandino & Halina Buczkowska & Sara Lombardo, 2020. "Influence of Catch Crops on Yield and Chemical Composition of Winter Garlic Grown for Bunch Harvesting," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, April.
    10. Ruan, Renjie & Zhang, Zhongbin & Wang, Yuekai & Guo, Zichun & Zhou, Hu & Tu, Renfeng & Hua, Keke & Wang, Daozhong & Peng, Xinhua, 2022. "Long-term straw rather than manure additions improved least limiting water range in a Vertisol," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    11. Quigley, David T. & Che, Yuyuan & Yasar, Mahmut & Rejesus, Roderick M., 2023. "Cover Crop Adoption and Climate Risks: An Application of Causal Random Forests," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335586, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    12. He, Juan & Shi, Xueyi & Fu, Yangjun & Yuan, Ye, 2020. "Evaluation and simulation of the impact of land use change on ecosystem services trade-offs in ecological restoration areas, China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    13. Runge, Tania & Eichhorn, Theresa & Schaller, Lena, 2023. "Agrarumweltleistungen durch ergebnisbasierte und kollektive Vertragslösungen - Erkenntnisse aus Befragungen in Österreich und Deutschland," Thünen Working Paper 337991, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    14. Camila Viana Vieira Farhate & Zigomar Menezes de Souza & Maurício Roberto Cherubin & Lenon Herique Lovera & Ingrid Nehmi de Oliveira & Marina Pedroso Carneiro & Newton La Scala Jr., 2020. "Abiotic Soil Health Indicators that Respond to Sustainable Management Practices in Sugarcane Cultivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-19, November.
    15. Runge, Tania & Eichhorn, Theresa & Schaller, Lena, 2023. "Agrarumweltleistungen durch ergebnisbasierte und kollektive Vertragslösungen: Erkenntnisse aus Befragungen in Österreich und Deutschland," Thünen Working Papers 218, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    16. Bredemeier, Birte & Herrmann, Sylvia & Sattler, Claudia & Prager, Katrin & van Bussel, Lenny G.J. & Rex, Julia, 2022. "Insights into innovative contract design to improve the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural management," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    17. René Rietra & Marius Heinen & Oene Oenema, 2022. "A Review of Crop Husbandry and Soil Management Practices Using Meta-Analysis Studies: Towards Soil-Improving Cropping Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-31, February.
    18. Francesco Riccioli & Mario Cozzi, 2021. "Modelling the Economic, Social and Environmental Components of Natural Resources for Sustainable Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-3, August.
    19. Kelemen, Eszter & Megyesi, Boldizsár & Matzdorf, Bettina & Andersen, Erling & van Bussel, Lenny G.J. & Dumortier, Myriam & Dutilly, Céline & García-Llorente, Marina & Hamon, Christine & LePage, Annabe, 2023. "The prospects of innovative agri-environmental contracts in the European policy context: Results from a Delphi study," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    20. Hughes, Helen M. & McClelland, Shelby C. & Schipanski, Meagan E. & Hillier, Jonathan, 2023. "Modelling the soil C impacts of cover crops in temperate regions," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:4:p:447-:d:777985. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.