Efficient resource management in dairy farming on sandy soil

Abstract

Sandy soils in the Netherlands are mainly used for dairy farming. As a result of intensification of dairy farming in the recent past, valued functions of sandy regions now are threatened by high emissions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and by increased water consumption by forage crops. Improved utilisation efficiency of resources is proposed as a strategy to realise environmental targets in an economically attractive way. Experimental results of the prototype system 'De Marke' indicate that an average intensive commercial farm can halve inputs of fertilisers and feeds at least, without the need to reduce milk production per hectare or to export slurry. Besides, water consumption can be reduced by 13%, increasing groundwater 'production' by 570 m 3 ha -1 . Nitrate concentration in the upper groundwater decreased from 200 to 50 mg l -1 . Changes in soil fertility did not lead to serious agricultural problems but costs of milk production increased by 5%. However, additional costs probably can be compensated if the extra groundwater is 'harvested' by water companies, because of high cost of purification of surface water and consumer preference for drinking groundwater instead of water from rivers. In 1999, the examined strategy of improved resource management will be implemented on 12 commercial farms, representing the full range of conditions for dairy farming in the Netherlands.