The nutrient balance of agricultural activities in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina: a tool for sustainable management of agroecosystems on a regional scale

Abstract

The conservation of soil nutrients is a requirement for the conservation of the natural capital of
agroecosystems. The extraction and replenishment of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and S) of horticulture,
extensive crops and production of meat and bovine milk in the province of Buenos Aires,
were carried out, performing nutrient balances. Their relationship with the change in land use
was discussed. The average nutrient extraction among activities was 40.9; 6.1; 11.8; 2.7; 2.7
kg ha-1 for N, P, K, Ca and S, respectively. The balances per unit area found differed between
activities, being on average negative with values of -4.1; -1.6; -11.7; -2.4; -2.4 kg ha-1 for N, P,
K, Ca and S, respectively. Soybean cultivation generated the highest total nutrient loss. The
replacement of different agricultural crops by soybean and the reduction of the area under agricultural-
livestock rotation in favor of agriculture, contributed to the increase in nutrient deficits.