Transitions in Chinese agriculture resulted in industrial animal production systems, disconnected from crop production. We analyzed side-effects of these transitions on total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and phosphorus (TDP) inputs to rivers. In 2000, when transitions were ongoing, 30%–70% of the manure was directly discharged to rivers (range for sub-basins). Before the transition (1970) this was only 5%. Meanwhile, animal numbers more than doubled. As a result, TDN and TDP inputs to rivers increased 2- to 45-fold (range for sub-basins) during 1970–2000. Direct manure discharge accounts for over two-thirds of nutrients in the northern rivers and for 20%–95% of nutrients in the central and southern rivers. Environmental concern is growing in China. However, in the future, direct manure inputs may increase. Animal production is the largest cause of aquatic eutrophication. Our study is a warning signal and an urgent call for action to recycle animal manure in arable farming.
Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands;Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resource, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huaizhong Road 286, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050021, People’s Republic of China;Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resource, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huaizhong Road 286, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050021, People’s Republic of China;Peking University, University Town, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China;Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands;Department of Science, Faculty of Management, Science & Technology, Open University of the Netherland, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands;Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands;Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands;Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
Recommended Citation:
Maryna Strokal,Lin Ma,Zhaohai Bai,et al. Alarming nutrient pollution of Chinese rivers as a result of agricultural transitions[J]. Environmental Research Letters,2016-01-01,11(2)