Assessment of nitrogen and phosphorus flows in agricultural and urban systems in a small island under limited data availability

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2017-01, Vol.574, p.1521-1532
• Main Authors: Firmansyah, I., Spiller, M., de Ruijter, F.J., Carsjens, G.J., Zeeman, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agro Multi Functioneel Landgebruik; Environmental Technology; Land Use Planning; Landgebruiksplanning; Leerstoelgroep Landgebruiksplanning; Milieutechnologie; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; PPO/PRI AGRO Multifunctioneel Landgebruik; Sectie Milieutechnologie; Small island system; Sub-department of Environmental Technology; Substance Flow Analysis (SFA); Urban metabolism; Urban-agriculture; WASS; WIMEK
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.159

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are two essential macronutrients required in agricultural production. The major share of this production relies on chemical fertilizer that requires energy and relies on limited resources (P). Since these nutrients are lost to the environment, there is a need to shift from this linear urban metabolism to a circular metabolism in which N and P from domestic waste and wastewater are reused in agriculture. A first step to facilitate a transition to more circular urban N and P management is to understand the flows of these resources in a coupled urban-agricultural system. For the first time this paper presents a Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) approach for the assessment of the coupled agricultural and urban systems under limited data availability in a small island. The developed SFA approach is used to identify intervention points that can provide N and P stocks for agricultural production. The island of St. Eustatius, a small island in the Caribbean, was used as a case study. The model developed in this study consists of eight sub-systems: agricultural and natural lands, urban lands, crop production, animal production, market, household consumption, soakage pit and open-dump landfill. A total of 26 flows were identified and quantified for a period of one year (2013). The results showed that the agricultural system is a significant source for N and P loss because of erosion/run-off and leaching. Moreover, urban sanitation systems contribute to deterioration of the island's ecosystem through N and P losses from domestic waste and wastewater by leaching and atmospheric emission. Proposed interventions are the treatment of blackwater and greywater for the recovery of N and P. In conclusion, this study allows for identification of potential N and P losses and proposes mitigation measures to improve nutrient management in a small island context.