Maximum potential nitrate discharge hazard (country method)

The maximum potential risk of nitrate discharge is used to assess the maximum risk of nitrate leaching from the root space of vegetation by leaching soil water. The location of the assessment is the lower bound of the rooted soil layer. The ratio of leachate rate and usable field capacity in the effective root space (nFKWe) first provides the exchange frequency of the plant-available soil water. This is classified in 5 stages (very low – very high) and gives the pNAG. The characteristic value of the potential risk of nitrate discharge is not suitable for deriving quantitative statements, as use-dependent influencing variables (e.g. crop type, quantities of nitrogen added and removed, autumn nitrate content in the soil) are not taken into account. The state method for calculating the potential risk of nitrate discharge is a modification of the federal method, which takes into account the particular risk of groundwater and peatland sites. Further information can be found here: The potential risk of nitrate discharge is used to assess the risk of nitrate leaching from the root space of vegetation by leaching soil water. The location of the assessment is the lower bound of the rooted soil layer. The ratio of leachate rate and usable field capacity in the effective root space (nFKWe) first provides the exchange frequency of the plant-available soil water. This is classified in 5 stages (very low – very high) and gives the pNAG. The characteristic value of the potential risk of nitrate discharge is not suitable for deriving quantitative statements, as use-dependent influencing variables (e.g. crop type, quantities of nitrogen added and removed, autumn nitrate content in the soil) are not taken into account. The state method for calculating the potential risk of nitrate discharge is a modification of the federal method, which takes into account the particular risk of groundwater and peatland sites. Further information can be found here: https://geo.brandenburg.de/karten/htdocs/21042020_Sickerwasserrate.pdf