10.2478/sggw-2014-0002 Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW Land Reclamation No 46 (1), 2014: 17–31 (Ann. Warsaw Univ. Life Sci. – SGGW, Land Reclam. 46 (1), 2014) Estimation of selected agri-environmental indicators in farms located in direct infl uence zone on Natura 2000 area Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie (PLH300002) JERZY MIROSŁAW KUPIEC Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection University of Life Sciences in Poznań Abstract: Estimation of selected agri-environ- for structures to store manure. From the 75 stud- mental indicators in farms located in direct in- ied farms, only seven had the right size concrete fl uence zone on Natura 2000 area Dąbrowy structure for storing solid manure for a period of Krotoszyńskie (PLH300002). The aim of this pa- six months. As many farmers had a suitable tank perwork was the potential risk assessment from for liquid manure. Concrete for solid manure did farming for natural-valuable ecosystems in Na- not have 18% of farmers and 73%, there was no tura 2000 area, based on selected production tank for liquid manure. This demonstrates the and environment indicators. There were select- high negligence in this area and the potential risk ed 75 farms located in Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie of migration of nutrients to the environment. (PLH300002) and in zone of direct effect on the NATURA 2000 area, in the Wielkopolska prov- Key words: Natura 2000, Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie, ince. In the research data from years 2004–2011 non-pointed pollution, agri-environmental indi- were used. Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie are located in cators two nitrogen vulnerable zone’s (NVZ) – Orla riv- er, Czarna Woda and Kuroch rivers. Average size INTRODUCTION of 75 farms chosen to research was 37.8 ha. All of farms led plant and animal production. In the Intensive farming, irrational and set to structure of livestock species predominated cattle profi t maximization, consuming large (62.1%). Pork accounted for 36.6% share. To hear the current threat to the quality of surface waters amounts of artifi cial production means, from agricultural production for the 26 representa- like fertilizers, manures and industrial tive farms were calculated NPK nutrients balance feeds comes to changes in environment by “on fi eld surface” methodology. The results (OECD 2008). Changes in plant and wild showed the average balance of nutrients surplus, animals diversity are the most danger- –1 the group analyzed on the level 121.9 kg N·ha ous, also surface water eutrophication, and 47.1 kg K·ha–1, which indicates that macro- -components are unsustainable management. Con- acidifi cation of soil or water pollution tent of phosphorus did not exceed standards. One (Kajak 1994, Kupiec and Zbierska 2006, of the basic environmental indicators in agricul- Kupiec 2007, Ławniczak et al. 2008). ture is a load of farmland nitrogen from manure In Europe, as a result of soil over-rich produced by livestock kept on the farm. Of the 75 with nitrogen, moors massively die. But surveyed farms only 12% exceeded the recom- mended standard 170 kg N·ha–1, while in 56% of agriculture areas are in many examples farms had amount not exceeding 100 kg N·ha–1. In a refuge for rare plant and animal spe- the paper were analyzes the status and the needs cies, which adjust their development to 18 J.M. Kupiec treatments made in agriculture, and MATERIAL AND METHODS thanks to them they survived. In time There were selected 75 farms located in of Poland’s transition from central- Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie and in zone of ly-controlled economy to European direct effect on the Natura 2000 area in Union, agri-environment politic in the Wielkopolska province (Figs 1, 2). In country was not priority. By the re- the research data from years 2004–2011 moval of government support for agri- were used. Details about land structure, culture, contribute to reduction of some plant and animal production or infra- production means use, like plant protec- structure were obtained directly from tion products, fertilizers or energy. This farms, based on special questionnaire. resulted a drop of agriculture produc- Part of data came from community of- tion intensity, and because of that this fi ce, from identify cards of farms. This sector’s pressure on environment has cards are prepared for implementing so- decreased. In 1990 had introduced some -called Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) pro-environment actions, like so-called and Action program in nitrogen vulner- Green Lungs of Poland which was vol- able zones (NVZs). Chosen farms were untary project in order to protect natural- different in size, production and spe- -valuable agricultural areas in north-east cialization. Enclosures were located in Poland. First National Environmental 23 places and 9 communes (Dobrzyca, Policy had introduced in 1991 principles Kobylin, Koźmin Wielkopolski, Kro- which regulates water and soil protec- toszyn, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Raszków, tion. However, the Nature Conservation Rozdrażew, Sulmierzyce, Zduny). In the Act from 1995 establishes protection of paperwork animal production in farms agricultural genetic resources in country. Very important step was to initiate Euro- pean Ecological Network Natura 2000, in order to keep wildlife heritage. The Network comprising Special Protec- tion Areas – SPAs (in Polish legislative OSO) based on so-called Bird Direc- tive (79/409/EEC) and Special Areas of Conservation – SACs (in Polish legisla- tive SOO) based on so-called Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The aim of this paperwork was the potential risk assessment from farming for natural-valuable ecosystems in Na- tura 2000 area, based on selected pro- FIGURE 1. Localization of Natura 2000 area duction and environment indicators. Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie in Poland Estimation of selected agri-environmental indicators... 19 FIGURE 2. The analyzed zone of Natura 2000 area Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie with farms location was analyzed (manures policy, storage of ionaceous plants in fi eld crops and manures, nitrogen application). To recog- on the grassland, nitrogen fi xation by nize potential risk assessment of environ- soil microorganisms, deposit atmo- ment quality from agri-production, fi rst sphere’s nutrients; of all surface and underground water, – output: taking of nitrogen with yields for 26 chosen representative farms the (main and by-product); balance of nutrients (NPK) was counted – surplus (= input – output) – losses with “fi eld surface balance” method, used calculated of balance sheet included in many countries in different modifi ca- tions (Oenema 1999, Kupiec and Zbier- emission of ammonia from farming ska 2012). This balance included: fertilizers, nitrogen losses from deni- – input: use of fertilizers, manures, trifi cation, nutrient leaching from biological nitrogen fi xation by papil- fertilizers. 20 J.M. Kupiec The balance of owned buildings to The content of nutrients in bought manures storage analyze was made with and applied mineral fertilizers was esti- environmental unit of farms rapid of mated with information given by produc- identifi cation system (SSI), worked up to ers. Nutrients content in own production estimate farms infl uence on environment and purchased manures was counted (Raport… 2011). It was cataloged the oc- according to Mazur and Górski (under currence and size of concrete for solid Wrześniowski et al. 1997). Biological manures and tanks for liquid manures and N2 fi xation by various species of Rhizo- counted demand for these constructions on bium bacteria living in symbiosis with the basis of inventory according to animals papilionaceous plants was calculated on average year balance (Rozporządzenie… the basis of symbiotic nitrogen binding 2002, Rozporządzenie… 2005). Lack coeffi cients obtained from literature data of that constructions were referenced to (Gorlach and Mazur 2002). The amount point scale (Table 1). In the scale included of nitrogen bound by free-living micro- tolerance to 5% from optimal demand for organisms in the soil was assumed by buildings to magazine manures, resulted Fotyma and Mercik (1995). The size of from changes in inventory. The assessment atmospheric nutrients deposition for the for constructions to magazine separately examined regions was adopted on the solid and liquid manures was made. basis of the total NPK fall (GUS 2010). The content of nutrients in the main TABLE 1. Point scale SSI for farm risk assess- crops, by-products and catch crops was ment in owned constructions for manures storage adopted from information obtained on Range of the size shortages Points farms, literature data, tables of food of constructions (%) chemical composition and recommen- ≤ 50dations for practice (Czarnik et al. 1986, 6–15 1 Piekarska and Łoś-Kuczera 1990, Ko- 16–25 2 stuch 1996, Sady 2000, Elmadfa and Muskat 2003, Furgał-Dzierżuk et al. 26–35 3 2003, Kunachowicz 2005) or own ana- 36–45 4 lyses. 46–55 5 Calculations of ammonia emission in animal production were carried out ac- > 55–99 6 cording to recommendations for Poland Lack of constructions, 100 7 based on model of RAINS – regional air pollution information and simula- Quantity of produced manures tion (Klimont and Brink 2004). Losses was counted basing on animals aver- of NH3 were calculated depending on age year balance according to guide- animal species and technology of their lines from Ministry of the Environment rearing taking into consideration emis- Ordinance dated from 18 May 2005 sions in animal housing facilities, dur- (Rozporządzenie… 2005). ing storage and agricultural utilisation Estimation of selected agri-environmental indicators... 21 of manures as well as on pastures and 3 as priority. Besides that, this area is cattle yards. Emissions of N2O follow- located in close neighborhood to one ing denitrifi cation as well as NH3 release of the most valuable ornithologist areas from mineral fertilizers were calculated – bird habitat of European importance using coeffi cients elaborated by Polish E54 (Dolina Baryczy PLH020041). researchers (Fotyma and Mercik 1995, Dąbrowy Krotoszyńskie is located in two Skiba et al. 1997). The level of the nu- NVZ areas – Orla river, Czarna Woda and trients losses as a result of leaching Kuroch rivers.