Reduced nitrogen in ecology and the environment.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Humanity has synthesized ammonia for fertilizers since the 19th century to support food production.
• Nitrogen fertilizers are vital for plant growth, producing amino acids and carbohydrates for human and animal consumption.
• Current fertilizer use exhibits low efficiency, with 85-95% of applied nitrogen lost to the environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify anthropogenic ammonia emissions throughout the lifecycle of industrial ammonia production and use in agriculture.
• To highlight the environmental significance of ammonia emissions.
• To underscore the need for ammonia management and abatement strategies.

Main Methods:

• Calculation of global industrial ammonia production figures (117 Mton NH(3)-N/year in 2004).
• Estimation of ammonia (NH(3)) emissions to the atmosphere resulting from the lifecycle of industrial ammonia in agriculture.
• Comparison of agricultural ammonia emissions with total industrial production.

Main Results:

• Industrial ammonia production reached 117 million metric tons of nitrogen per year in 2004.
• Anthropogenic ammonia emissions from the agricultural lifecycle of industrial ammonia were calculated to be 45.3 million metric tons of nitrogen per year.
• Agricultural ammonia emissions represent approximately half of the total industrial ammonia production.

Conclusions:

• Ammonia (NH(3)) plays a central role in numerous environmental issues.
• Increasing global population and demand for food and biofuels will likely drive higher fertilizer use.
• Effective management and abatement of ammonia emissions are necessary to mitigate environmental impacts.