Human Behavioral Impact on Nitrogen Flow — A Case Study of the Rural Areas of the Middle and Lower Reaches of Changjiang River, China

DOI Web Site 3 Citations 19 References

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 中国長江中下流農村地域における人間生活が窒素フローに及ぼす影響 の現地調査研究
  • チュウゴク チョウコウ チュウカリュウ ノウソン チイキ ニ オケル ニンゲン セイカツ ガ チッソ フロー ニ オヨボス エイキョウ ノ ゲンチ チョウサ ケンキュウ

Search this article

Description

To assess sustainability of rural management in Changjiang (Yangtze) River basin, human behavioral (food consumption and human waste disposal) impact on nitrogen flow was quantitatively evaluated. A survey of day-to-day activities was conducted in 2 representative counties: Taoyuan (a modernized agricultural area in Hunan province that uses farm machines mainly in the plains) and Taihe (a traditional agricultural area on hilly lands in Jiangxi province). Daily nitrogen intake from food per capita and potential nitrogen load on the environment from human waste were calculated. The survey showed that daily per capita nitrogen intake from food in Taoyuan and Taihe is 17.0 g-N and 16.0 g-N respectively. It was also noted that in Taoyuan, 47% of total calorie intake is from grains and 33% from animal products such as meat, egg, fish and dairy products; while in Taihe grains accounts for 50% and animal products 29% of total calorie intake. As for human waste disposal/management, 26 % in Taoyuan and 67% in Taihe are utilized or returned to agricultural lands while 74% in Taoyuan and 33% in Taihe are washed-off by drainage runoff into river systems. Therefore, with regards per capita potential nitrogen load from human waste onto the environment in Taoyuan, approximately 1.61 kg-N returns to farmlands and 4.58 kg-N discharges directly into river systems annually. Similarly, approximately 3.91 kg-N returns to farmlands and 1.93 kg-N discharges directly into river systems annually in Taihe. Furthermore, the impact of changing patterns of human life-style on nitrogen flow was examined by comparing the two areas using a nitrogen flow model that incorporates not only food production processes, but also human food consumption process. It was shown that economic growth and urbanization push up: (1) consumption of animal products in rural areas, which in turn makes secondary products such as meat, egg and dairy lot more important than primary/crop products; (2) less use of organic recyclables such as disposed human waste, which in turn makes rural communities more dependent on chemical fertilizers and imported animal feeds. China is facing serious water pollution problems, and in such a development, recycling organic matter within communities needs reconsideration.

Journal

Citations (3)*help

See more

References(19)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top