Challengesand opportunities for nitrogen emission reduction strategies - Mark Sutton
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This document discusses challenges and opportunities for reducing nitrogen emissions. It notes that nitrogen flows are interlinked, presenting both challenges in avoiding pollution swapping, but also opportunities for synergistic reductions. Agriculture accounts for most nitrogen pollution, especially livestock farming. The document outlines seven key actions for better nitrogen management, including improving efficiency in crop and animal production, waste water treatment, consumption patterns, and others. It advocates that more efficient nitrogen use can save farmers money while reducing air and water pollution.
Challengesand opportunities for nitrogen emission reduction strategies - Mark Sutton
- 1. Challenges and opportunities for nitrogen emission reduction strategies Mark Sutton and Oene Oenema (co-chairs TFRN) Air Science Policy Forum 15 April 2013, Dublin www.clrtap-tfrn.org
- 2. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Ammonia (NH3) Leached Nitrate (NO3 -) Further emission of NOx & N2O carrying on the cascade Natural ecosystems Ammonium nitrate in rain (NH4NO3) Nitrate in streams, groundwater & coastal seas High temperature combustion & industry Nr Livestock farming for food Nr in manure Eventual denitrification to N2 Simplified view of the Nitrogen Cascade Unintended N flows N form in the cascade Terrestrial Eutrophication Freshwater Eutrophication Greenhouse gas balance Particulate Matter Tropospheric ozone formation Stratospheric ozone loss Soil acidification Urban air quality Marine Eutrophication Environmental concern from Nr Sutton et al. (2011 ENA) Fertilizer manufacture Crops for food & animal feed Crop biological nitrogen fixation Intended N flow
- 3. Challenges & Opportunities Challenges • Nitrogen flows are interlinked: Need to avoid pollution swapping • Much of the problem is related to agriculture, especially livestock (80% harvested N to animals) Opportunities • Nitrogen flows are interlinked: Opportunity for synergy in reducing multiple impacts • Opportunity to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency • Many mitigation opportunities in agriculture still available!
- 4. Nitrogen biodiversity and carbon sequestration Moninea Bog, Natura 2000 Site, Northern Ireland
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- 7. Threats to ecosystem services and recovery prospects • Timescales of recovery vary substantially • Fast recovery possible (order 10 years) – Epiphytic biodiversity – Heathland (with active restoration) • Slow recovery (several decades) – Forest ground flora (dynamic models…) – Peatland carbon sequestration…
- 8. Summary of N flows in Europe Human nutrit. agricult soils Livestock farming Atmospheric N2 pool Crop production Atm depos 17.6 7.1 11.8 1.5 2.1 4.5 2.3 1.0 3.1 Net import of food & feed 2Crop N2fix Fertilizers 11.2 3.8 NH3,NOx & N2O emission Denitrifi- cation N2 fix indust & traffic 3.4 Europe (EU27), around 2000. N fluxes in TgN/yr Export by rivers to the sea Net atmosph. export 9.3 2.4 3.5 6.84 6 13.8 0.4 4.7 5.8 3.7 0.8 3.2 0.1 Semi-nat. soils Nat N2fix Wood exp. Atmospheric NH3,NOx, N2O wwt Leaching & runoff 0.3 2.41.4 0.2 3.8 0.2 0.2 4.7 6 4 3 2 1 5 7 ENA, 2011
- 9. Agriculture 1. Improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop production 2. Improving nitrogen use efficiency in animal production 3. Increasing the fertilizer N equivalence value of animal manure Transport and Industry 4. Low-emission combustion and energy-efficient systems Waste water treatment 5. Recycling nitrogen (and phosphorus) from waste water systems Societal consumption patterns 6. Energy and transport saving 7. Lowering the human consumption of animal protein Seven key actions for better nitrogen management ENA, 2011 and Nature 14 April 2011 The Way Forward: More efficient N use saves farmers money reducing nitrogen air pollution, while being needed to meet Parties’ commitments for climate and water pollution
- 10. Short-term needs - Updating of the Ammonia Guidance Document - Options for the revision of Annex IX on Ammonia Long-term needs - Development of integrated perspective on nitrogen - European Nitrogen Assessment - New Guidance Document on Nitrogen Budgets - Nitrogen and the Green Economy Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen contributions to UNECE CLRTAP
- 11. Targets Emissions reduction targets (% decrease from reference) Thresholds Farm size (EU: 72% cattle on 13% farms), Tanker size for manure spreading (IE: 60% with >10 m3) Annex IX measures: ambition levels and thresholds
- 12. Overview of costs of ammonia abatement measures Measures Cost, €/kg NH3-N saved Nitrogen management -1.0 to 1.0 Feeding strategies -0.5 to 1.0 Animal housing 0.0 to 10.0 Covering slurry storages 0.1 to 4.0 Slurry application -0.5 to 3.0 Urea application -0.1 to 4.0
- 13. 5 top priorities for ammonia mitigation 1. Low-emission land application of manure & fertilizer: a) Application of cattle, pig & poultry slurry & solid manure b) Low emission use of urea fertilizer (ban is not proposed) 2. Animal feeding strategies to reduce N excretion, from cattle, pig & poultry. 3. Low-emission techniques for all new manure stores for cattle and pig slurries and poultry manure. 4. Strategies to improve N use efficiencies and reduce N surpluses, with N balances on demonstration farms, 5. Low-emission techniques in new and largely rebuilt pig & poultry housing.
- 14. Slurry spreading: a wide range of low-emission techniques are available The car and the exhaust pipe… Splash Plate Spreader - 1950s technology Trailing Shoe Slot Injector Trailing Hose
- 15. EU benefit-cost ratios for NH3 and NOx mitigation Van Grinsven et al. (2013, ES&T in press) NH3 NOx
- 16. Concluding remarks Low-cost nitrogen mitigation must increasingly focus on ammonia. The options have been described in detail in the draft Annex IX and the UNECE Guidance Document. Ammonia abatement is part of improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency, helping meet climate & water pollution targets, with significant economic benefits.