Publication

Nitrogen dynamics in cropping systems under Mediterranean climate: a systemic analysis

EEKHOUT Joris, QUEMADA Miguel, GRIZZETTI Bruna, VALLEJO Antonio, RUIZ RAMOS Margarita, CRAMER Wolfgang, INTRIGLIOLO Diego, LASSALETTA Luis, BONDEAU Alberte, GIMENO Benjamín, AGUILERA Eduardo, BILLEN Gilles, ROMERO Estela, GARNIER Josette, CAYUELA Mariluz, SANZ-COBENA Alberto

2021

Overview

Worldwide, Mediterranean cropping systems face the complex challenge of producing enough high-quality food while preserving the quantity and quality of scarce water for people and agriculture in the context of climate change. While good management of nitrogen (N) is paramount to achieving this objective, the efficient strategies developed for temperate systems are often not adapted to the specificities of Mediterranean systems. In this work, we combine original data with a thorough literature review to highlight the most relevant drivers of N dynamics in these semi-arid systems. To do so, we provide an analysis at nested scales combining a bottom-up approach from the field scale, with a top-down approach considering the agro-food system where cropping systems are inserted. We analyze the structural changes in the agro-food systems affecting total N entering the territory, the contrasting response of yields to N availability under rainfed and irrigated conditions in a precipitation gradient, the interaction between N management and climate change adaptation, the main drivers affecting the release of Nr compounds (nitrate, ammonia, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide) compared with temperate systems and finally, the behavior of N once exported to highly regulated river networks. We conclude that sustainable N management in Mediterranean cropping systems requires the specific adaptation of practices to particular local agro-environmental characteristics with special emphasis on water availability for rainfed and irrigated systems. This approach should also include a systemic analysis of N input into the territory that is driven by the configuration of the agro-food system.

• Publisher: IOP PUBLISHING LTD,IOP Publishing
• Subject: Adaptation / adaptation and mitigation synergies / Ammonia / Aridity / Climate adaptation / Climate change / Cropping systems / Environmental Sciences / Food / Food quality / Food systems / Irrigation systems / Literature reviews / Mediterranean region / Nitric oxide / Nitrogen / nitrogen fertilization / nitrogen pollution / nitrogen–water interaction / Nitrous oxide / open climate campaign / regional strategies / River networks / River regulations / Territory / Water availability / Water scarcity