Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Abstract

Abstract:This study investigated potential ammonia impacts on a sand dune nature reserve 600 m upwind of an intensive poultry unit. Ammonia concentrations and total nitrogen deposition were measured over a calendar year. A series of ammonia and nitrogen exposure experiments using dune grassland species were conducted in controlled manipulations and in the field.Ammonia emissions from the intensive poultry unit were detected up to 2.8 km upwind, contributing to exceedance of critical levels of ammonia 800 m upwind and exceedance of critical loads of nitrogen 2.8 km upwind. Emissions contributed 30% of the total N load in parts of the upwind conservation site. In the nitrogen exposure experiments, plants showed elevated tissue nitrogen contents, and responded to ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition loads observed in the conservation site by increasing biomass. Estimated longterm impacts suggest an increase in the soil carbon pool of 9% over a 50-year timescale.

Evidence for sensitivity of dune wetlands to groundwater nutrients

“…While the effects of atmospheric deposition have received recent attention in dry dune 60 habitats (Plassmann et al, 2009; Remke et al 2009;Jones et al 2013), relatively little attention has 61 been given to the impact of other sources of nutrients in dune wetlands, indeed in wetlands in general, 62 and the issue of groundwater or surface water-derived nutrients is not explicitly considered within 63 atmospheric critical loads frameworks. In dune systems that are not isolated hydrologically from 64 surrounding groundwater, there is the potential for nutrient inputs to these habitats from agricultural and 65 other sources via groundwater to add to the nutrient load already received from atmospheric deposition.…”

Evaluating ammonia (NH3) predictions in the NOAA National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC) using in situ aircraft, ground-level, and satellite measurements from the DISCOVER-AQ Colorado campaign

“…This leads to an increase in the level of biologically available nitrogen, which can affect species diversity and can lead to eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems (Jones et al, 2013;Paerl, 1988;U.S. EPA SAB, 2007).…”

Evaluating Ammonia (NH3) Predictions in the NOAA NAQFC for Eastern North Carolina Using Ground Level and Satellite Measurements

“…Ammonia and particulate ammonium compounds (NH 4 + ) in the atmosphere are deposited through both wet and dry processes to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, leading to increased levels of biologically available nitrogen, termed reactive nitrogen, in these ecosystems. This can lead to eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems and losses of species diversity (Battye et al, ; Jones et al, ; Paerl, ; U.S. EPA SAB, ). A portion of the NH 3 and NH 4 + is also converted to gaseous nitrous oxide (N 2 O) by soil and aquatic microorganisms.…”