Government does not consider largest nitrogen source

Nature is supplied with nitrogen from the air (from agriculture, industry, logistics). The size of this resource is calculated to the gram, every year. But nature also receives nitrogen from its own soil stock. This is still the largest source of nitrogen, which is not quantified and taken into account in nitrogen policy

Disruption of the natural soil, such as water abstraction and deforestation, drives the release of nitrogen from the soil stock. The size of this substantial nitrogen source is not shown, but rather is left out of the picture. This is remarkable, since this nitrogen affects nitrogen-sensitive nature just as much.

Farmers Defense Force was able to publicize a large number of measurements in nature reserves in Drenthe in April, via a WOB procedure. These measurements show that the largest nitrogen source is not nitrogen deposition, but the supply of nitrogen from the own soil stock.

Nature itself accumulates a lot of nitrogen
Where does the nitrogen that fertilizes and acidifies nature come from? Nature itself accumulates a lot of nitrogen. The total nitrogen deposition in the past 100 years amounts to 2.400 kilos per hectare. Measurements in 286 natural soils in the Province of Drenthe show that thousands of kilos of nitrogen are stored in the top 10 cm of the soil alone: ​​3.000 kilos per hectare (dry forest, dry heath), 4.000 kilo/ha (humid forest, moist heath ) to 10.000 kilo/ha (raised bogs, swamps). The layer below contains much more nitrogen, according to literature. So much more than has precipitated in 100 years.

From literature of the previous generation of nitrogen researchers it turns out that nature binds a lot of nitrogen (N2) from the air. In nitrogen-poor soil, this can be as much as 60 to 80 kilos per hectare per year. Soil organisms do this. As long as this nitrogen is stored, there is nothing to worry about. That will be different when it is released. This happens in the event of soil disturbance, usually the result of policy choices made by the government and/or nature manager.

When is the nitrogen released from the soil stock?
In principle, the soil stock of nitrogen is safely stored, fixed in organic matter. And it is almost not available to plants and can therefore do no harm to nitrogen-sensitive nature. This nitrogen is released through disturbances in the soil (in the past and present). The organic matter is then broken down more quickly. In the province of Drenthe, the annual amounts of nitrogen are estimated to be 30 to 250 kilos per hectare, which are released from the soil stock.

This is (much) more nitrogen than is supplied from emissions from agriculture, industry and logistics (together 22,5 kilos per hectare annually). Activities that boost nitrogen release on a long-term or even permanent basis include changing water management, water extraction or abstraction, felling forests or transforming nature.

Nitrogen source out of view
The government therefore keeps this largest source of nitrogen out of the picture. The largest nitrogen source is not quantified and not taken into account in nitrogen policy, while the size of this source is relatively easy to measure and monitor. The aim of nature policy is a good conservation status. When looking at the influence of nitrogen, all nitrogen sources that have an influence must be included. It is not right to keep a substantial nitrogen source out of the picture.

The billion-dollar package of measures to reduce depositions from agriculture, industry and logistics can never lead to a measurable result if profits are canceled out by larger losses. The nitrogen gain from the 100-kilometre measure for traffic amounts to approximately 0,3 kilos per hectare annually. This gain is negated by the loss of nitrogen from the soil stock of 30 to 250 kilos per hectare per year.

Degradation of soil stock
Policy-supporting institutes, NGOs and nature organizations are in an extraordinary hurry with measures that yield 0,3 to 5 kilos of nitrogen gain and are screaming bloody murder about this. But they are silent about the much larger nitrogen source: the degradation of the soil stock. The difference in attention correlates with the available budget. 

Transparency in the nitrogen dossier is hard to find. My experience is that a lot of data is withheld. The Province of Drenthe had also not made public the measurements in 286 natural soils, which visualized the supply of nitrogen from the soil itself. A WOB procedure had to be used to make the data available.

Ghost Rotgers

Investigative journalist in the agricultural sector

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