title: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Flows through the Manure Management Chain in China.
abstract: The largest livestock production and greatest fertilizer use in the world occurs in China. However, quantification of the nutrient flows through the manure management chain and their interactions with management-related measures is lacking. Herein, we present a detailed analysis of the nutrient flows and losses in the "feed intake-excretion-housing-storage-treatment-application" manure chain, while considering differences among livestock production systems. We estimated the environmental loss from the manure chain in 2010 to be up to 78% of the excreted nitrogen and over 50% of the excreted phosphorus and potassium. The greatest losses occurred from housing and storage stages through NH3emissions (39% of total nitrogen losses) and direct discharge of manure into water bodies or landfill (30-73% of total nutrient losses). There are large differences among animal production systems, where the landless system has the lowest manure recycling. Scenario analyses for the year 2020 suggest that significant reductions of fertilizer use (27-100%) and nutrient losses (27-56%) can be achieved through a combination of prohibiting manure discharge, improving manure collection and storages infrastructures, and improving manure application to cropland. We recommend that current policies and subsidies targeted at the fertilizer industry should shift to reduce the costs of manure storage, transport, and application.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences , 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang, 050021 Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Zhaohai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences , 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang, 050021 Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1761-0158
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Rural Economy Ministry of Agriculture , No. 56, Xisizhuanta Hutong, Beijing 100810, China.
authors.forename: Shuqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: College of Resources & Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei , Baoding 071001, China.
authors.forename: Wenqi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Gerard L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Velthof
authors.forename: Oene
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oenema
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences , 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang, 050021 Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University , Bangor LL57 2UW, U.K.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agriculture University , Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Fusuo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D009584:Nitrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D011188:Potassium
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium