The impact of environmental policy on soil quality: Organic carbon and phosphorus levels in croplands and grasslands of the European Natura 2000 network.

ABSTRACT: In this study, the Natura 2000 nature protection network of the European Union is assessed in the context of soil quality management. We explore the hypothesis that the soil quality of croplands and grasslands - as indicated by soil organic carbon and phosphorus levels - is better in terms of environmental parameters within the Natura 2000 network than outside it. The soil organic carbon and phosphorus content of 479 cropland and 450 grassland sites within Natura 2000 were compared with their nearest neighbours outside the network. The comparisons were repeated for pairs of both cropland and grassland sites by soil texture groups. The study revealed that organic carbon content was significantly higher in Natura 2000 sites than in non-protected areas for both croplands and grasslands. For c

SUBMITTER: Hagyo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6087710 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature