The Nutrient Cycle 1 Marco Bruni, seecon international gmbh.

The Nutrient Cycle

The Nutrient Cycle

1

Marco Bruni, seecon international gmbh

The Nutrient Cycle

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The Nutrient Cycle


Contents

1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life2. Natural Nutrient Cycles3. How Humans influence Nutrient Cycles4. Consequences5. Outlook6. References

3

The Nutrient Cycle


The Fellow Players

• Nutrients are chemicals that all organism need to live and grow.• 95 – 98% of living matter

consists of C, H, O (MAHENDRAPPA 2007)

• Although only needed in smallamounts, macro- and micro-nutrients are essential for plant growth, blooming, photosynthesis,etc.

• In relation to water manage-ment and sanitation, N and P are of high priority because oftheir high potential to cause eutrophication.

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1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life

MacronutrientsNitrogen (N)Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K)Sulphur (S)Magnesium (Mg)Calcium (Ca)

Nutrients

MicronutrientsVarious others

Non-mineralCarbon (C)Hydrogen (H)Oxygen (O)

Adapted from: R. GENSCH (2010)

The Nutrient Cycle


The Fellow Players





5



Nutrients




The Nutrient Cycle


The Fellow Players





6



Nutrients




The Nutrient Cycle


Think in Cycles rather than in linear Processes

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Living OrganismsEnvironment

• Soil (Mineral Nutrients)

• Air• Water

• Plants• Animals

The Nutrient Cycle


In permanent Circulation

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2. Natural Nutrient Cycles

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• Every nutrient has its own cycle

• Characteristics of every cycle: Permanent circulation Renewable resource

The Nutrient Cycle


The Principle – In the Past

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3. How Humans influence Nutrient Cycles

Loss of nutrientsin the soil

Cons

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Return of nutrients to the

soil

The Nutrient Cycle


The Principle – Today

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3. How Humans influence Nutrient Cycles

Loss of nutrientsin the soil

Consumptionof plants and animals

Discharge of nutrients into rivers or lakes

The Nutrient Cycle


Shortage versus Excess

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4. Consequences

1

2

Lack of nutrients on land:

Soil Depletion

Excess of nutrients in bodies of water:

Water pollution andEuthrophication

Nutrients

Nutrients

The Nutrient Cycle


The Impact on Land: Soil Depletion

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4. Consequences

Source: REKACEWICZ (2002)

The Nutrient Cycle


The Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems: Water Pollution

• Accumulation of phosphorus and nitrogen in water bodies• Uncontrolled growth of algae• High demand for oxygen for decomposition of algae• Lack of oxygen for other species• ‘Dead zones’:

aquatic life disappears

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4. Consequences

Source: AHLENIUS (2008)

Due to sewer-based wastewater management, many coastal zones along developed countries are oxygen-depleted.

The Nutrient Cycle


Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference

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5. Outlook

Unbalance and instability due to:•Unsustainable use•Sectoral thinking•Mismanagement•Absence of water governance

Results in:•Lack of nutrients on the land•Excess of nutrients in aquatic systems•Need for the application of artificial fertiliser •Decrease of food security•Less nutrients in food•‚Dead zones‘ in aquatic systems

The Nutrient Cycle


Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference

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5. Outlook

Unbalance and instability due to:•Unsustainable use•Sectoral thinking•Mismanagement•Absence of water governance

Need for an integrated, holistic approach.Link sustainable water management to sanitation and to agriculture.Hence, wastewater should not be considered as a waste, but as a resource, full of nutrients that can be recycled and reused.

Results in:•Lack of nutrients on the land•Excess of nutrients in aquatic systems•Need for the application of artificial fertiliser •Decrease of food security•Less nutrients in food•‚Dead zones‘ in aquatic systems

The Nutrient Cycle


Integrated, holistic Approach

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5. Outlook

Source: sswm.info

The Nutrient Cycle


AHLENIUS, H. (2008): Sites with dead zones (oxygen depletion on the sea bottom). UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library. http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/sites-with-dead-zones-oxygen-depletion-on-the-sea-bottom [Accessed: 25.01.2012].

MAHENDRAPPA, T. (2007): The Nutrient Cycle “ Soil is the basis of life”. Canadian Forest Service. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/Fo103-1-1-2004E.pdf [Accessed: 25.01.2012].

REKACEWICZ, P. (2002): Degraded soils. UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library. http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/degraded-soils [Accessed: 25.01.2012].

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6. References

The Nutrient Cycle 18

“Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture”

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