Report from the Sub-comittee on the environment and health

Conclusions concerning
leaching of nutrients
184
for <strong>the</strong> remainder. If <strong>the</strong> yield were reduced with pesticide-free
production, import of feed would mean an overall rise in energy
consumption. It has not been possible, on <strong>the</strong> existing basis, to assess
changes in emissions of methane gas and nitrous oxide in <strong>the</strong> different
scenarios.
The sub-committee concludes that changes in mechanical soil treatment
and in crop rotations would affect <strong>the</strong> leaching of nutrients. The changes
could be both adverse and beneficial. An extensive analysis would be
needed to assess <strong>the</strong> net change, but would be encumbered with great
uncertainty. In <strong>the</strong> 0-scenario, <strong>the</strong> reduction in yield would, all else being
equal, imply a smaller consumption of fertiliser and consequently
reduced leaching. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, in <strong>the</strong> event of crop failure – for
example, as a result of fungal diseases – increased leaching could be
expected. Leaching would thus depend, <strong>from</strong> year to year, on an
interaction between <strong>the</strong> choice of crop, <strong>the</strong> level of fertilisation, <strong>the</strong>
intensity and timing of soil treatment, and plant health. The
implementation of Aquatic Environment Plan II would be accelerated in
step with <strong>the</strong> reduction of fertiliser consumption in <strong>the</strong> different
scenarios.