The Nutrient Cycle
Marco Bruni, seecon international gmbh
The Nutrient Cycle
1
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
Copyright & Disclaimer
Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source!
Copyright
Included in the SSWM Toolbox are materials from various organisations and sources. Those materials are open source. Following the opensource concept for capacity building and non-profit use, copying and adapting is allowed provided proper acknowledgement of the source
is made (see below). The publication of these materials in the SSWM Toolbox does not alter any existing copyrights. Material published in
the SSWM Toolbox for the first time follows the same open-source concept, with all rights remaining with the original authors or producing
organisations.
To view an official copy of the the Creative Commons Attribution Works 3.0 Unported License we build upon, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0. This agreement officially states that:
You are free to:
• Share - to copy, distribute and transmit this document
• Remix - to adapt this document. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any changes that you have made to improve this
document.
Under the following conditions:
• Attribution: You must always give the original authors or publishing agencies credit for the document or picture you are using.
Disclaimer
The contents of the SSWM Toolbox reflect the opinions of the respective authors and not necessarily the official opinion of the funding or
supporting partner organisations.
Depending on the initial situations and respective local circumstances, there is no guarantee that single measures described in the toolbox
will make the local water and sanitation system more sustainable. The main aim of the SSWM Toolbox is to be a reference tool to provide
ideas for improving the local water and sanitation situation in a sustainable manner. Results depend largely on the respective situation
and the implementation and combination of the measures described. An in-depth analysis of respective advantages and disadvantages and
the suitability of the measure is necessary in every single case. We do not assume any responsibility for and make no warranty with
respect to the results that may be obtained from the use of the information provided.
The Nutrient Cycle
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
Contents
1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life
2. Natural Nutrient Cycles
3. How Humans influence Nutrient Cycles
4. Consequences
5. Outlook
6. References
The Nutrient Cycle
3
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life
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 small
amounts, macro- and micronutrients are essential for plant
growth, blooming, photosynthesis,
etc.
• In relation to water management and sanitation, N and P
are of high priority because of
their high potential to cause eutrophication.
The Nutrient Cycle
Nutrients
Non-mineral
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Oxygen (O)
Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Sulphur (S)
Magnesium (Mg)
Calcium (Ca)
Micronutrients
Various others
Adapted from: R. GENSCH (2010)
4
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life
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 small
amounts, macro- and micronutrients are essential for plant
growth, blooming, photosynthesis,
etc.
• In relation to water management and sanitation, N and P
are of high priority because of
their high potential to cause eutrophication.
The Nutrient Cycle
Nutrients
Non-mineral
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Oxygen (O)
Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Sulphur (S)
Magnesium (Mg)
Calcium (Ca)
Micronutrients
Various others
Adapted from: R. GENSCH (2010)
5
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life
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 small
amounts, macro- and micronutrients are essential for plant
growth, blooming, photosynthesis,
etc.
• In relation to water management and sanitation, N and P
are of high priority because of
their high potential to cause eutrophication.
The Nutrient Cycle
Nutrients
Non-mineral
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Oxygen (O)
Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Sulphur (S)
Magnesium (Mg)
Calcium (Ca)
Micronutrients
Various others
Adapted from: R. GENSCH (2010)
6
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
1. Nutrients – The Fuel of Life
Think in Cycles rather than in linear Processes
Environment
• Soil (Mineral
Nutrients)
• Air
• Water
The Nutrient Cycle
Living
Organisms
• Plants
• Animals
7
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
2. Natural Nutrient Cycles
Source: http://www.pikeconservation.org/soil_ecosystem.htm [Accessed: 30.01.2010]
In permanent Circulation
The Nutrient Cycle
• Every nutrient has its
own cycle
• Characteristics of every
cycle:
 Permanent circulation
 Renewable resource
8
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
3. How Humans influence Nutrient Cycles
The Principle – In the Past
The Nutrient Cycle
9
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
3. How Humans influence Nutrient Cycles
The Principle – Today
Consumption
of plants and
animals
Discharge of nutrients
into rivers or lakes
The Nutrient Cycle
10
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
4. Consequences
Shortage versus Excess
1
Lack of nutrients on land:
Soil Depletion
2
Excess of nutrients in bodies
of water:
Water pollution and
Euthrophication
The Nutrient Cycle
11
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
4. Consequences
The Impact on Land: Soil Depletion
Source: REKACEWICZ (2002)
The Nutrient Cycle
12
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
4. Consequences
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
Due to sewer-based
wastewater management,
many coastal zones along
developed countries are
oxygen-depleted.
Source: AHLENIUS (2008)
The Nutrient Cycle
13
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
5. Outlook
Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference
Unbalance and
instability due to:
• Unsustainable use
• Sectoral thinking
• Mismanagement
• Absence of water
governance
The Nutrient Cycle
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
14
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
5. Outlook
Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference
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
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.
The Nutrient Cycle
15
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
5. Outlook
Integrated, holistic Approach
Source:
sswm.info
The Nutrient Cycle
16
Find this presentation and more on: www.ssswm.info.
6. References
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].
The Nutrient Cycle
17
“Linking up Sustainable Sanitation,
Water Management & Agriculture”
SSWM is an
initiative
supported by:
Created
by:
The Nutrient Cycle
18