Umweltbundesamt
Too high phosphorus concentrations are measured at more than half of all river measurement stations.The share has declined by around one third since the beginning of the 1980s. Very high levels of pollution are very rare nowadays.The Federal Government's aim is to meet the requirements for good status for phosphorous in all water bodies by 2030 at the latest.This requires a change in fertiliser pr... read more
The European Nitrates Directive places Germany under the obligation to prevent exceedances of the quality standard of 50 milligrams nitrate per litre.Since 2008, the quality standard has been exceeded every year at almost one in six measuring points.On June 21, 2018, the European Court of Justice found Germany guilty of violating the EU Nitrates Directive.Agriculture is the most important source o... read more
In order to develop and grow, apart from adequate water, plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate and potassium and trace elements such as copper and zinc. Only if these requirements are met can high yield, high quality crops be obtained. Crop plants obtain nutrients and trace elements from the soil via their root systems, a process in which soil humus content plays an instrumental role.... read more
Germany’s farming sector uses the largest amount of land, but is at the same a lynchpin of our economy – one that provides a reliable food supply and produces sustainable raw materials. The farming sector also plays a key role when it comes to preservation and development of the man-made environment. But increasingly intensive farming brings with it a host of eco-unfriendly effects. read more
In as much as nitrogen is an indispensable nutrient for all living things, the use of mineral and organic nitrogen fertilizers to increase crop yields is a common practice. It is essential that such fertilizer be used judiciously and on a needs oriented basis. Nitrogen surpluses can damage terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and can have harmful climatic, air quality, and biodiversity effects. read more
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
