Costs and benefits of nitrogen in the environment

Brink, Corjan; Grinsven, Hans van; Jacobsen, Brian H.; Rabl, Ari; Gren, Ing‐Marie; Holland, Mike; Klimont, Zbigniew; Hicks, Kevin; Brouwer, Roy; Dickens, Roald; Willems, J.; Termansen, Mette; Velthof, G.L.; Alkemade, Rob; Oorschot, M. van; Webb, J.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511976988.025

Cited by 83 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Nitrogen (N) is essential for agricultural production, but is also a key driver of environmental pollution, and can result in N concentrations in air and water exceeding critical limits for eutrophication , significant greenhouse gas emissions (Alcamo and Olesen, 2012), biodiversity deterioration (Dise et al, 2011), and severe human health impacts (Brink and van Grinsven, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm nitrogen balances in six European landscapes as an indicator for nitrogen losses and basis for improved management

Dalgaard

Bieńkowski²,

Bleeker

et al. 2012

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Improved management of nitrogen (N) in agriculture is necessary to achieve a sustainable balance between the production of food and other biomass, and the unwanted effects of N on water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity deterioration and human health. To analyse farm N-losses and the complex interactions within farming systems, efficient methods for identifying emissions hotspots and evaluating mitigation measures are therefore needed. The present paper aims to fill this gap at the farm and landscape scales. Six agricultural landscapes in Poland (PL), the Netherlands (NL), France (FR), Italy (IT), Scotland (UK) and Denmark (DK) were studied, and a common method was developed for undertaking farm inventories and the derivation of farm N balances, N surpluses and for evaluating uncertainty for the 222 farms and 11 440 ha of farmland included in the study.In all landscapes, a large variation in the farm N surplus was found, and thereby a large potential for reductions. The highest average N surpluses were found in the most livestock-intensive landscapes of IT, FR, and NL; on average 202 ± 28, 179 ± 63 and 178 ± 20 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , respectively. All landscapes showed hotspots, especially from livestock farms, including a special UK case with large-scale landless poultry farming. Overall, the average N surplus from the land-based UK farms dominated by extensive sheep and cattle grazing was only 31 ± 10 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , but was similar to the N surplus of PL and DK (122 ± 20 and 146 ± 55 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , respectively) when landless poultry farming was included.We found farm N balances to be a useful indicator for N losses and the potential for improving N management. Significant correlations to N surplus were found, both with ammonia air concentrations and nitrate concentrations in soils and groundwater, measured during the period of N management data collection in the landscapes from [2007][2008][2009]. This indicates that farm N surpluses may be used as an independent dataset for validation of measured and modelled N emissions in agricultural landscapes. No significant correlation was found with N measured in surface waters, probably because of spatial and temporal variations in groundwater buffering and biogeochemical reactions affecting N flows from farm to surface waters.A case study of the development in N surplus from the landscape in DK from 1998-2008 showed a 22 % reduction related to measures targeted at N emissions from livestock farms. Based on the large differences in N surplus between average N management farms and the most modern and Nefficient farms, it was concluded that additional N-surplus reductions of 25-50 %, as compared to the present level, were realistic in all landscapes. The implemented N-surplus Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. T. Dalgaard et al.: Farm nitrogen balances as indicator for nitrogen lossesmethod was thus effective for comparing and synthesizing results on farm N emissions and the potentials of miti...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm nitrogen balances in six European landscapes as an indicator for nitrogen losses and basis for improved management

Dalgaard

Bieńkowski²,

Bleeker

et al. 2012

Biogeosciences

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“…The negative effects of human N fixation are substantial and have been estimated to be EUR 70-320 billion annually for Europe Brink et al, 2011). A comprehensive global assessment of the costs of human use of fixed N has yet to be made.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of global change during the 21st century on the nitrogen cycle

et al. 2015

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Abstract. The global nitrogen (N) cycle at the beginning of the 21st century has been shown to be strongly influenced by the inputs of reactive nitrogen (N r ) from human activities, including combustion-related NO x , industrial and agricultural N fixation, estimated to be 220 Tg N yr −1 in 2010, which is approximately equal to the sum of biological N fixation in unmanaged terrestrial and marine ecosystems. According to current projections, changes in climate and land use during the 21st century will increase both biological and anthropogenic fixation, bringing the total to approximately 600 Tg N yr −1 by around 2100. The fraction contributed directly by human activities is unlikely to increase substantially if increases in nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture are achieved and control measures on combustion-related emissions implemented.Some N-cycling processes emerge as particularly sensitive to climate change. One of the largest responses to climate in the processing of N r is the emission to the atmosphere of NH 3 , which is estimated to increase from 65 Tg N yr −1 in 2008 to 93 Tg N yr −1 in 2100 assuming a change in global surface temperature of 5 • C in the absence of increased anthropogenic activity. With changes in emissions in response to increased demand for animal products the combined effect would be to increase NH 3 emissions to 135 Tg N yr −1 . Another major change is the effect of climate changes on aerosol composition and specifically the increased sublimation of NH 4 NO 3 close to the ground to form HNO 3 and NH 3 in a warmer climate, which deposit more rapidly to terrestrial surfaces than aerosols. Inorganic aerosols over the polluted regions especially in Europe and North America were dominated by (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 in the 1970s to 1980s, and large reductions in emissions of SO 2 have removed most of the SO 2− 4 from the atmosphere in these regions. Inorganic aerosols from anthropogenic emissions are now dominated by NH 4 NO 3 , a volatile aerosol which contributes substantially to PM 10 and human health effects globally as well as eutrophication and climate effects. The volatility of NH 4 NO 3 and rapid dry deposition of the vapour phase dissociation Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. D. Fowler et al.: Effects of global change during the 21st century on the nitrogen cycleproducts, HNO 3 and NH 3 , is estimated to be reducing the transport distances, deposition footprints and inter-country exchange of N r in these regions.There have been important policy initiatives on components of the global N cycle. These have been regional or country-based and have delivered substantial reductions of inputs of N r to sensitive soils, waters and the atmosphere. To date there have been no attempts to develop a global strategy to regulate human inputs to the nitrogen cycle. However, considering the magnitude of global N r use, potential future increases, and the very large leakage of N r in many forms to soils, waters and the atmosphere, international action is re...

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“…While the paper focuses on Europe, the general principles are applicable globally. For the purpose of this review, we have disregarded N 2 O as it has no health effects at ambient concentration levels and an insignificant role in atmospheric deposition of N. It should be noted though that it does play a role in the chemistry of the stratosphere and as a climate forcer (Pinder et al, 2012), as well as in leading to depletion of stratospheric ozone (Brink et al, 2011;Butterbach-Bahl et al, 2011b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%