7 results
19 - Nitrogen as a threat to the European greenhouse balance
- from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats
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- By Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eiko Nemitz, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Sönke Zaehle, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Gilles Billen, University Pierre & Marie Curie, Pascal Boeckx, Ghent University, Jan Willem Erisman, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Josette Garnier, UMR Sisyphe UPMC & CNRS, Rob Upstill-Goddard, UMR Sisyphe UPMC & CNRS, Michael Kreuzer, ETH Zurich Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Science, Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Stefan Reis, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Martijn Schaap, TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, David Simpson, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Wim de Vries, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wilfried Winiwarter, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Mark A. Sutton, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 434-462
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Reactive nitrogen (Nr) is of fundamental importance in biological and chemical processes in the atmosphere–biosphere system, altering the Earth's climate balance in many ways. These include the direct and indirect emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), atmospheric Nr deposition and tropospheric ozone formation (O3), both of which alter the biospheric CO2 sink, Nr supply effects on CH4 emissions, and the formation of secondary atmospheric aerosols resulting from the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia (NH3).
Human production and release of Nr into the environment is thus expected to have been an important driver of European greenhouse balance. Until now, no assessment has been made of how much of an effect European Nr emissions are having on net warming or cooling.
Approaches
This chapter summarizes current knowledge of the role of Nr for global warming. Particular attention is given to the consequences of atmospheric Nr emissions. The chapter draws on inventory data and review of the literature to assess the contribution of anthropogenic atmospheric Nr emissons to the overall change in radiative forcing (between 1750 and 2005) that can be attributed to activities in Europe.
The use of Nr fertilizers has major additional effects on climate balance by allowing increased crop and feed production and larger populations of livestock and humans, but these indirect effects are not assessed here.
4 - Nitrogen in current European policies
- from Part I - Nitrogen in Europe: the present position
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- By Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Nils Axel Braathen, OECD, France, Michaela Budňáková, Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Keith Bull, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Lancaster Environment Centre, Pavel Čermák, Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture, Markus Geupel, Federal Environment Agency, Germany, Kevin Hicks, University of York, Robert Hoft, Convention on Biological Diversity, Natalia Kozlova, North-West Research Institute, Adrian Leip, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Till Spranger, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Laura Valli, CRPA, Italy, Gerard Velthof, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wilfried Winiwarter, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 62-81
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Europe, and especially the European Union (EU), has many governmental policy measures aimed at decreasing unwanted reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions from combustion, agriculture and urban wastes. Many of these policy measures have an ‘effects-based approach’, and focus on single Nr compounds, single sectors and either on air or waters.
This chapter addresses the origin, objectives and targets of EU policy measures related to Nr emissions, considers which instruments are being used to implement the policies and briefly discusses the effects of the policy measures.
Approaches
The chapter starts with a brief description of the basic elements of governmental policy measures.
A review of the main international conventions and EU policies related to emissions of Nr to air and water is then provided.
Finally the chapter provides a semi-quantitative assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of European policy measures.
Key findings/state of knowledge
International conventions and other treaties have played a key role in raising awareness and establishing policy measures for Nr emissions abatement in EU through so-called Directives and Regulations.
There are many different EU Directives, often addressing individual Nr compounds from individual sectors (e.g. NOx emissions from combustion; NH3 emissions from agriculture, pollution of groundwater and surface water by nitrates from agriculture, discharge of total nitrogen from urban sewage to surface waters).
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11 - Nitrogen flows and fate in rural landscapes
- from Part III - Nitrogen flows and fate at multiple spatial scales
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- By Pierre Cellier, INRA, France, Patrick Durand, INRA, France, Nick Hutchings, University of Aarhus, Ulli Dragosits, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Mark Theobald, Technical University of Madrid/Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Jean-Louis Drouet, INRA, France, Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Lutz Breuer, Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Tommy Dalgaard, Aarhus University, Sylvia Duretz, INRA, France, Johannes Kros, Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Benjamin Loubet, UMR Environm & Grandes Cultures, Joergen Eivind Olesen, Aarhus University Department of Agroecology and Environment, Philippe Mérot, INRA, France, Valérie Viaud, INRA, France, Wim de Vries, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Mark A. Sutton, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 229-248
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
The transfer of nitrogen by either farm management activities or natural processes (through the atmosphere and the hydrological network) can feed into the N cascade and lead to indirect and unexpected reactive nitrogen emissions.
This transfer can lead to large N deposition rates and impacts to sensitive ecosystems. It can also promote further N2O emission in areas where conditions are more favourable for denitrification.
In rural landscapes, the relevant scale is the scale where N is managed by farm activities and where environmental measures are applied.
Approaches
Mitigating nitrogen at landscape scale requires consideration of the interactions between natural and anthropogenic (i.e. farm management) processes.
Owing to the complex nature and spatial extent of rural landscapes, experimental assessments of reactive N flows at this scale are difficult and often incomplete. It should include measurement of N flows in the different compartments of the environment and comprehensive datasets on the environment (soils, hydrology, land use, etc.) and on farm management.
Modelling is the preferred tool to investigate the complex relationships between anthropogenic and natural processes at landscape scale although verification by measurements is required. Up to now, no model includes all the components of landscape scale N flows: farm functioning, short range atmospheric transfer, hydrology and ecosystem modelling.
Summary for policy makers
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- By Mark A. Sutton, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hans van Grinsven, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Gilles Billen, University Pierre & Marie Curie, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Alexander F. Bouwman, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Keith Bull, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Lancaster Environment Centre, Jan Willem Erisman, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Peringe Grennfelt, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd, Bruna Grizzetti, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Clare M. Howard, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Till Spranger, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Wilfried Winiwarter, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp xxiv-xxxiv
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Summary
Main messages
Too much nitrogen harms the environment and the economy
Over the past century humans have caused unprecedented changes to the global nitrogen cycle, converting atmospheric di-nitrogen (N2) into many reactive nitrogen (Nr) forms, doubling the total fixation of Nr globally and more than tripling it in Europe.
The increased use of Nr as fertilizer allows a growing world population, but has considerable adverse effects on the environment and human health. Five key societal threats of Nr can be identified: to water quality, air quality, greenhouse balance, ecosystems and biodiversity, and soil quality.
Cost–benefit analysis highlights how the overall environmental costs of all Nr losses in Europe (estimated at €70–€320 billion per year at current rates) outweigh the direct economic benefits of Nr in agriculture. The highest societal costs are associated with loss of air quality and water quality, linked to impacts on ecosystems and especially on human health.
Nitrogen cascade and budgets
The different forms of Nr inter-convert through the environment, so that one atom of Nr may take part in many environmental effects, until it is immobilized or eventually denitrified back to N2. The fate of anthropogenic Nr can therefore be seen as a cascade of Nr forms and effects. The cascade highlights how policy responses to different Nr forms and issues are inter-related, and that a holistic approach is needed, maximizing the abatement synergies and minimizing the trade-offs.
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23 - Developing integrated approaches to nitrogen management
- from Part V - European nitrogen policies and future challenges
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- By Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Joost Salomez, Flemish Government, Cristina Branquinho, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Michaela Budňáková, Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Pavel Čermák, Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture, Markus Geupel, Federal Environment Agency, Germany, Penny Johnes, University of Reading, Chris Tompkins, Independent consultant, Till Spranger, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Jan Willem Erisman, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Christian Pallière, Fertilizers Europe, Luc Maene, International Fertilizer Industry Association, Rocio Alonso, Rob Maas, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Jacob Magid, Copenhagen University, Mark A. Sutton, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hans van Grinsven, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 541-550
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Reactive nitrogen (Nr) occurs in different forms, arises from a wide range of activities and sources, and leads to environmental impacts over different spatial and temporal scales.
Integrated approaches to N management are anticipated to provide more effective (larger decreases in unwanted emissions) and /or more efficient (less side effects, less costs) policy measures than policy measures based on single sources and pollutant species.
There are many notions of integrated approaches, but as yet little consensus about the best integrated approaches. There is also little quantitative empirical evidence of the performance of these approaches in practice.
The pitfall of integrated approaches is that they may be more complex to agree, leading to a delayed implementation.
Approaches
Based on recent literature and a discussion among experts, the present chapter provides a conceptual framework for developing integrated approaches to N management.
Whilst discussing the framework, various examples of existing partially integrated N management approaches have been considered.
A package of key actions in different sectors is envisaged that, together, should contribute to further developing integrated approaches to N management in the future
21 - Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality
- from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats
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- By Gerard Velthof, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Sébastien Barot, IRD-Bioemco, Jaap Bloem, Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Wim de Vries, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Johannes Kros, Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Patrick Lavelle, INRA, Colombia, Jørgen Eivind Olesen, Aarhus University Department of Agroecology and Environment, Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 495-510
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
A large part of agricultural soils in Europe are exposed to high N inputs because of animal manure and chemical fertiliser use. Large parts of the European natural soils are exposed to high atmospheric N deposition.
High N inputs threaten soil quality, which may negatively affect food and biomass production and biodiversity and enhance emissions of harmful N compounds from soils to water and the atmosphere.
Approaches
An overview of the major soil functions and soil threats are presented, including a description of the objectives of the European Soil Strategy.
The major N threats on soil quality for both agricultural and natural soils are related to changes in soil organic content and quality, soil acidification, and loss of soil diversity. These threats are described using literature.
Key findings/state of knowledge
Generally, N has a positive effect on soil quality of agricultural soils, because it enhances soil fertility and conditions for crop growth. However, it generally has a negative effect on soil quality of natural soils, because it results in changes in plant diversity.
Soil acts as a filter and buffer for N, and protects water and atmosphere against N pollution. However, the filter and buffer capacity of soils is frequently exceeded by excess of N in both agricultural and natural soils, which results in emission of N to the environment.
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INFLUENCE OF TIME OF APPLICATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GLIRICIDIA PRUNINGS AS A SOURCE OF N FOR MAIZE
- WILKSON MAKUMBA, BERT JANSSEN, OENE OENEMA, FESTUS K. AKINNIFESI
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- Journal:
- Experimental Agriculture / Volume 42 / Issue 1 / January 2006
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 January 2006, pp. 51-63
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Asynchrony between nitrogen (N) released by organic materials and N demand by the crop leads to low N use efficiency. Optimizing the time of application could increase the N recovery. A field experiment was designed to determine the effects of time of application of Gliricidia sepium prunings and of the addition of small doses of inorganic N fertilizer on N recovery and yield of maize. Six split applications of gliricidia prunings (in October, December and February) were compared. The prunings were incorporated into the soil while fresh. The application in October was done four weeks before planting the maize. Higher N uptake and maize yields were obtained when gliricidia prunings were applied in October than when applied in December and February. The corresponding substitution values were 0.66, 0.32 and 0.20. Split applications of prunings prolonged mineral N availability in the soil until March but did not increase N uptake and maize grain yield compared to a sole application in October. Combinations of gliricidia prunings and inorganic fertilizer increased N uptake and maize yield over prunings alone but the effect was only additive. We concluded that application of gliricidia prunings in October was more efficient than application in December and February.