Nitrogen Emissions from Agriculture and Livestock Sector, Among the Causes of Climate Change

Abstract

This paper aimed to review the nitrogen emissions from the agriculture and livestock sector and their impact on the environment in the light of the actual global climate change picture. Emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxide and nitrous oxide contribute to air pollution and global warming, while nitrates contribute to soil and water pollution. The agriculture and livestock sector is responsible for ammonia emissions representing approximately 80-90% of total anthropogenic emissions. Approximately 52% of total nitrous oxide emissions are coming from agriculture, and there is a strong correlation with the application rates of synthetic fertilizers. The nitrogen lost in the soil and water through leaching represents an important nitrate emission with negative effects on the environment due to acidification and eutrophication. As a result of human activity in recent decades, significant amounts of reactive nitrogen were released into the environment, disrupting the natural nitrogen cycle. The main causes of nitrogen emissions in the agriculture and livestock sector are represented by the excessive and inefficient use of synthetic fertilizers, manure management, including the low efficiency of nitrogen conversion into milk, meat and eggs by animals.

Keywords

• agriculture
• emission
• livestock
• nitrogen
• nitrogen cycle
• nitrogen efficiency