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DEGRADATION AND CONTROL PROCESSES |
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Degradation processes:
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Due to nutrient imbalance .
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Description:
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An excessive application of pig slurry to a given field may have undesired effects on the crop (increased height due to the effects of the nutrient imbalance and an excess of nitrogen). With cereal crops, there is an increased risk of flattening due to the effects of rain. Furthermore, the excess nitrates that are not taken up by the plants may reach the water table and affect water quality. In semi-arid areas, this may induce salinization processes.
Importance: high in areas of intensive pig production.
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Click on the image
Field with flattened wheat after rain due to the
excessive application of pig slurry. The nitrogen
imbalance caused excessively tall plant growth.
L'Empordà (J. Porta)
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Functions of affected soils:
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Biomass production (reduction of crop yields), environmental functions (filtration which improves water quality), hydrological function.
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Diagnostic criteria:
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Chemical analysis in the field and in the laboratory.
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Prevention and control:
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The soil is not a waste dump, either for pig slurry or for any other materials (sewage, sludge or other residues). If the substance to be applied to the soil contains nutrients, good practices call for the soil’s carrying capacity to be considered, as well as its nutrient content, the crop’s nutrient requirements, and the concentration of the product in question (slurry or other). The correct balance will make it possible to avoid nutrient imbalances and any other undesired environmental impacts (that could affect shallow water tables).
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