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

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.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Lassaletta, Luis, Sanz-Cobena, Alberto, Aguilera, Eduardo, Quemada, Miguel, Billen, Gilles, Bondeau, Alberte, Cayuela, María Luz, Cramer, Wolfgang, Eekhout, Joris P.C., Garnier, Josette, Grizzetti, Bruna, Intrigliolo, Diego S., Ramos, Margarita Ruiz, Nadal-Romero, Estela, Vallejo, Antonio, Gimeno, Benjamín S.
Other Authors:	European Commission
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	IOP Publishing 2021-07-23
Subjects:	Adaptation and mitigation synergies, Mediterranean region, Nitrogen fertilization, Nitrogen pollution, Nitrogen-water interaction, Regional strategies,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/10261/286572 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001665 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100012818 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85110483260
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