Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Trends in Global Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Animal Production Systems

  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wastes from animal production systems contribute as much as 30–50% to the global N2O emissions from agriculture, but relatively little attention has been given on improving the accuracy of the estimates and on developing mitigation options. This paper discusses trends and uncertainties in global N2O emission from animal waste and discusses possible mitigation strategies, on the basis of literature data and results of simple calculations. Total N2O emissions from animal production systems are estimated at 1.5 Tg. Dung and urine from grazing animals deposited in pastures (41%), indirect sources (27%), animal wastes in stables and storages (19%), application of animal wastes to land (10%) and burning of dung (3%) are the five sources distinguished. Most sensitive factors are N excretion per animal head, the emission factor for grazing animals and that for indirect emissions. Total N2O emissions are related to type and number of animals, N excretion per animal, and the management of animal wastes. Projections by FAO suggest that animal numbers will increase by 40% between 2000 and 2030. Mean N excretion per animal head will probably also increase. These trends combined suggest a strong increase in total N2O emission from animal production systems in the near future, which is opposite to the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol. Improving N use efficiency, combined with anaerobic digestion of animal wastes for bio fuel generation are the most feasible options for mitigation, but these options seem insufficient to reverse the trend of increasing N2O emission. In conclusion, animal production systems are a major and increasing source of N2O in agriculture. The uncertainties in the emission estimates are large, due to the many complexities involved and the lack of accurate data, especially about N excretion and the management of animal wastes in practice. Suggestions are made how to increase the accuracy of the emission estimates and to mitigate N2O emission from animal production systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • B. Amon Th Amon J. Boxberger C. Alt (2001) ArticleTitleEmissions of NH3N2O and CH4 from diary cows housed in a farmyard waste tying stall (housing, waste storagewaste spreading). Nutr Cycl. Agroecosyst. 60 103–113 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1012649028772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B. Amon G. Moitzi M. Schimpl V. Kryvoruchko C. Wagner-Alt (2002) MethaneNitrous Oxide and Ammonia Emissions from Management of Liquid Wastes University of Agricultural Sciences, ILUET ViennaAustria 238

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouwman A.F., der Hoek K.W., Eickhout B. and Soenario I. 2003. Changes in world ruminant production systems between 1970 and 2030. In: Brouwer F.B. and Ball B. (eds), Transitions in Agricultural Land Use Patterns. Wageningen, December 2–4, 2003.

  • A.F. Bouwman D.S. Lee W.A.H. Asman F.J. Dentener K.W. der Hoek J.G.J. Olivier (1997) ArticleTitleA global high-resolution emission inventory for ammonia Global Biogeochem. Cycles 11 561–587 Occurrence Handle10.1029/97GB02266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.E. Bruinsma (2003) World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 An FAO perspective. Earthscan Publications London

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Clemens A. Huschka (2001) ArticleTitleThe effect of biological oxygen demenad of cattle slurry and soil moisture on nitrous oxide emissions Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 59 193–198 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1017562603343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C.A.M. De Klein L. Barton R.R. Sherlock Z. Li R.P. Littlejohn (2003) ArticleTitleEstimating a nitrous oxide emission factor for animal urine from New Zealnd pastoral soils Aust. J. Soil Res. 41 381–399 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SR02128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T. Dewes (1996) ArticleTitleEffect of pH, temperatureamount of litter and storage density on ammonia emissions from stable waste J. Agric. Sci. 127 501–509

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Dundee D.W. Hopkins (2001) ArticleTitleDifferent sensitivities to oxygen of nitrous oxide production by Nitrosomonas europaeaNitrosolobus multiformis Soil Biol. Biochem. 33 1563–1565 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0038-0717(01)00059-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO 2003. FAOSTAT. http://apps.fao.org.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameFAO InstitutionalAuthorNameIFA (2001) Global estimates of gaseous emissions of NH3NO and N2O from agricultural land Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, International Fertilizer Industry Association RomeItaly

    Google Scholar 

  • P.E. Fixen F.B. West (2002) ArticleTitleNitrogen fertilizers: meeting contemporary challenges Ambio 31 169–176 Occurrence Handle12078006

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T. Granli O.C. Bøckman (1994) ArticleTitleNitrous oxide from agriculture Norw. J. Agric. Sci., Suppl. 12 7–128

    Google Scholar 

  • D.A. Hegg L.F. Radke P.V. Hobbs R.A. Rasmussen P.J. Riggan (1990) ArticleTitleEmissions of some trace gases from biomass fires J. Geophys. Res. 95 5669–5675

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC 1995. Climate change 1994. In: Houghton J.T., Meira Filho L.G., Bruce J., Hoesung L., Callander B.A., Haites E., Harris N. and Maskell K. (eds), Radiative Forcing of Climate Change and an Evaluation of the IPCC IS92 Emissions Scenario. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameIPCC/OECD/IEA (1997) Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Volumes 1, 2 and 3 IPCC WGI Technical Support Unit Hadley CentreBracknell, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • S.C. Jarvis B.F. Pain (1997) Gaseous Nitrogen Emissions from Grasslands CAB International WallingfordUK 452

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Kituyi L. Marufu S.O. Wandiga I.O. Jumba M.O. Andreae G. Helas (2001) ArticleTitleBio fuel availability and domestic use patterns in Kenya Biomass Energy 2001 2001

    Google Scholar 

  • R.J. Laughlin R.J. Stevens (2002) ArticleTitleEvidence for fungal dominance of denitrification and codenitrification in a grassland soil Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66 1540–1548

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Ludwig L.T. Marufu B. Huber M.O. Andreae G. Helas (2003) ArticleTitleDomestic combustion of biomass fuels in developing countries: a major source of atmospheric pollutants J. Atmospheric Chem. 44 23–37 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1022159910667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L. Marufu J. Ludwig M.O. Andreae F.X. Meixner G. Helas (1997) ArticleTitleDomestic biomass burning in rural and urban Zimbabwe – Part A Biomass Energy 12 53–68 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0961-9534(96)00067-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Mosier C. Kroeze C. Nevison O. Oenema S. Seitzinger O. Van Cleemput (1998) ArticleTitleClosing the global N2O budget: nitrous oxide emissions through the agricultural nitrogen cycle. OECD/IPCC/IEA phase II development of IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventory methodology Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 52 225–248 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1009740530221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O. Oenema G.L. Velthof S. Yamulki S.C. Jarvis (1997) ArticleTitleNitrous oxide emissions from grazed grassland Soil Use Manage. 13 288–295

    Google Scholar 

  • O. Oenema A. Bannink S.G. Sommer G.L. Velthof (2001) Gaseous nitrogen emissions from animal production systems R.F. Follett J.L. Hatfield (Eds) Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems, and Management Elsevier Science AmsterdamThe Netherlands 255–289

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Papen R. von Berg I. Hinkel B. Thoene H. Rennenberg (1989) ArticleTitleHeterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis: NO2−NO3−N2O, and NO production in exponentially growing cultures Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55 2068–2072 Occurrence Handle2782877

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M. Poth D.D. Focht (1985) ArticleTitle15N kinetic analysis of N2O production by Nitrosomonas europaea: an examination of nitrifier denitrification Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49 1134–1141

    Google Scholar 

  • L.A. Robertson J.G. Kuenen (1990) ArticleTitleCombined heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification in Thiosphaera pantotrophaother bacteria Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 57 139–152 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00403948 Occurrence Handle2181927

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • H. Shoun D. Kim H. Uchiyama J. Sugiyama (1992) ArticleTitleDenitrification by fungi FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 94 277–282 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0378-1097(92)90643-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sims J.T., Bergström L., Bowman B.T. and Oenema O. 2004. Sustainable nutrient management for intensive animal agriculture. Soil Use and Management (in press).

  • V. Smil (1999) ArticleTitleNitrogen in crop production: an account of global flows Global Biogeochem. Cycles 13 647–662 Occurrence Handle10.1029/1999GB900015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • V. Smil (2002) ArticleTitleEating meat: evolution, patterns, and consequences Popul. Dev. Rev. 28 599–639 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1728-4457.2002.00599.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P.B. Thompson A. Nardone (1999) ArticleTitleSustainable livestock production: methodological and ethical challenges Livestock Prod. Sci. 61 111–119 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0301-6226(99)00061-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Van Aardenne (2002) Uncertainties in Emission Inventories Wageningen University Wageningen, The Netherlands 134

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Van Bruchem H. Schiere H. van Keulen (1999) ArticleTitleDairy farming in the Netherlands in transition towards more efficient nutrient use Livestock Prod. Sci. 61 145–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Groenigen J.W., Kuikman P.J., de Groot W.J.M. and Velthof G.L. 2005. Nitrous oxide emission from urine-treated soil as influenced by urine composition and soil physical conditions. Soil Biol. Biochem 37: 463–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • G.L. Velthof A.B. Brader O. Oenema (1996) ArticleTitleSeasonal variations in nitrous oxide losses from managed grasslands in the Netherlands Plant Soil 181 263–274 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00012061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G.L. Velthof P.J. Kuikman O. Oenema (2003) ArticleTitleNitrous oxide emissions from animal manure applied to soil under controlled conditions Biol. Fertil. Soils 2003 221–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Velthof G.L., Nelemans J.A., Oenema O. and Kuikman P.J. 2005. Gaseous nitrogen and carbon losses from pig manure derived from different diets. J. Environ. Qual. (in press).

  • R.T. Venterea D.E. Rolston (2002) ArticleTitleNitrogen oxide trace gas transport and transformations: II model simulations compared with data Soil Sci. 167 49–61 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00010694-200201000-00005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Webb D.R. Chadwick S. Ellis (2004) ArticleTitleEmissions of ammonia and nitrous oxide following incorporation in the soil of farmyard waste stored at different densities Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 70 67–76 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:FRES.0000045985.32440.27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.A. Webster D.W. Hopkins (1996) ArticleTitleNitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of nitrous oxide emitted from soil and produced by nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria Biol. Fertil. Soils 22 326–330

    Google Scholar 

  • D.C. Whitehead (2000) Nutrient Elements in Grassland. Soil-Plant-Animal Relationships CABI Publishing WallingfordUK 369

    Google Scholar 

  • N. Wrage G.L. Velthof M.L. Beusichem Particlevan O. Oenema (2001) ArticleTitleRole of nitrifier denitrification in the production of nitrous oxide Soil Biol. Biochem. 33 1723–1732 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0038-0717(01)00096-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N. Wrage G.L. Velthof H.J. Laanbroek O. Oenema (2004a) ArticleTitleNitrous oxide production in grassland soils: assessing the contribution of nitrifier denitrification Soil Biol. Biochem. 36 229–236

    Google Scholar 

  • N. Wrage G.L. Velthof O. Oenema H.J. Laanbroek (2004b) ArticleTitleAcetylene and oxygen as inhibitors of nitrous oxide production in Nitrosomonas europaeaNitrosospira briensis: a cautionary tale FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 47 13–18 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-6496(03)00220-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wageningen University and Research Centre, Alterra, Wageningen, P.O. Box 47, 6700, AA, The Netherlands

    Oene Oenema, Gerard L. Velthof, Jan Willem van Groenigen, Jan Dolfing & Peter J. Kuikman

  2. Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700, Wageningen, AA, The Netherlands

    Oene Oenema & Nicole Wrage

  3. Imperial College, Wye Campus Wye, TN25 5AH, Ashford, Kent, UK

    Nicole Wrage

Authors
  1. Oene Oenema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicole Wrage
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gerard L. Velthof
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jan Willem van Groenigen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jan Dolfing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Peter J. Kuikman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oene Oenema.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oenema, O., Wrage, N., Velthof, G.L. et al. Trends in Global Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Animal Production Systems. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 72, 51–65 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-004-7354-2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-004-7354-2

Key words

Search

Navigation