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Kirchmann, Holger; Lundvall, Anders

doi:10.1023/a:1009709011820

Cited by 45 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 13 publications

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“…Land application of manure as fertilizer is an effective means to recycle animal waste; however, it can contribute to significant ammonia volatilization. Direct ground injection and tillage after surface application are two commonly examined measures to reduce volatilization and can significantly decrease ammonia losses from 50 to 90%, depending on soil conditions, climate, and application practice ( − ). To estimate the control effectiveness, we use a range of 20−60%, which reflects the published research on incorporating waste into the soil as well as the possibility that, in practice, farmers may have less success than the researchers in part because of delays in applying waste to fields.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock Ammonia Management and Particulate-Related Health Benefits

McCubbin

Apelberg

Roe

et al. 2002

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Agricultural operations are the largest source of ammonia emissions in the United States and contribute to the formation of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, two prevalent forms of fine particulate matter. Researchers have found an association between fine particulate matter and a variety of adverse healths effects, including premature mortality, chronic bronchitis, hospital admissions, and asthma attacks. Management practices that reduce ammonia emissions may decrease adverse health effects, resulting in significant economic benefits. We estimated the impact of a variety of emission controls, including diet optimization, alum, and incorporation of manure into the land. The results suggest that relatively modest management policies can have a significant impact on fine particulate formation in the atmosphere. Because of the heterogeneous nature of particulate matter, a key question is the importance of particulate matter size and composition. To the extent that ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate contribute to adverse health effects, ammonia management may have significant health implications. Our results suggest that a 10% reduction in livestock ammonia emissions can lead to over $4 billion annually in particulate-related health benefits.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock Ammonia Management and Particulate-Related Health Benefits

McCubbin

Apelberg

Roe

et al. 2002

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Managing manure heaps with agro-organic wastes and cover to reduce nitrogen losses during storage on smallholder farms

Gichangi

Karanja

Wood

Advances in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

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Can Organic Crop Production Feed the World?

Kirchmann

Bergström²,

Kätterer³

et al.

Organic Crop Production – Ambitions and Limitations

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Agriculture provides the most essential service to mankind, as production of crops in sufficient amounts is necessary for food security and livelihood. This chapter examines the question of whether organic agriculture can produce enough food to meet future demand. This question relates to a moral imperative and any evaluation must therefore be based on objective scientific facts excluding ideological bias, political correctness, economic incentives or environmental opinions. The chapter begins by defining the conditions necessary for a stringent evaluation of crop yields and explains potential pitfalls. Yield data from national statistics, organic and conventional long-term experiments and comparative studies are then compiled and evaluated, followed by a discussion of the main factors behind low-yielding production. In a global perspective, the scientific literature shows that organic yields are between 25 and 50% lower than conventional yields, depending on whether the organic system has access to animal manure. The amount of manure available on organic farms is usually not sufficient to produce similar crop yields as in conventional systems and therefore green manures are commonly used. However, organic crop yields reported for rotations with green manure require correction for years without crop export from the field, which reduces average yield over the crop rotation. When organic yields are similar to those in conventional production, nutrient input through manure is usually higher than nutrient addition in conventional agriculture, but such high inputs are usually only possible through transfer of large amounts of manure from conventional to organic production. The main factors limiting organic yields are lower nutrient availability, poorer weed control and limited possibilities to improve the nutrient status of infertile soils. It is thus very likely that the rules that actually define organic agriculture, i.e. exclusive use of manures and untreated minerals, greatly limit the potential to increase yields. Our analysis of some yield-related statements repeatedly used by advocates of organic agriculture reached the following conclusions: Organic manure is a severely limited resource, unavailable in quantities sufficient for sustaining high crop yields; legumes are not a free and environmentally sound N source that can replace inorganic fertilisers throughout; and low native soil fertility cannot be overcome with local inputs and untreated minerals alone. 2Agricultural methods severely limiting crop yields are counter-productive. Lower organic yields require compensation through expansion of cropland -the alternative is famine. Combining expected population growth and projected land demand reveals that low-yielding agriculture is an unrealistic option for production of sufficient crops in the future. In addition, accelerated conversion of natural ecosystems into cropland would cause significant loss of natural habitats. Further improvement of conventional agriculture based on innovations, enhanced...

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Untitled

Cited by 45 publications

References 13 publications

Livestock Ammonia Management and Particulate-Related Health Benefits

Livestock Ammonia Management and Particulate-Related Health Benefits

Managing manure heaps with agro-organic wastes and cover to reduce nitrogen losses during storage on smallholder farms

Can Organic Crop Production Feed the World?

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