Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 1 — Meta-analysis / systematic reviewPeer-reviewedConventional

Exploring global changes in agricultural ammonia emissions and their contribution to nitrogen deposition since 1980

Lei Liu, Wen Xu, X. L. Lu, Buqing Zhong, Yixin Guo, Xiao Lu, Yuanhong Zhao, Wei He, Songhan Wang, Xiuying Zhang, Xuejun Liu, Peter M. Vitousek

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2022

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Summary

Liu et al. assembled a substantially complete global dataset of agricultural ammonia emissions over nearly four decades to evaluate how these emissions contribute to nitrogen deposition patterns worldwide. The analysis reveals that reduced nitrogen deposition from agricultural sources has grown substantially and will increasingly dominate total nitrogen deposition without future regulatory action. The findings underscore the importance of recognising agricultural ammonia as a major driver of nitrogen pollution and inform policy formulation for ecosystem protection.

Regional applicability

The study's global assessment of ammonia emission trends and nitrogen deposition patterns is relevant to UK agricultural policy and environmental management, particularly given the UK's intensive livestock and arable sectors. However, country-specific ammonia mitigation strategies would require disaggregated analysis of UK emission sources and regional deposition patterns.

Key measures

Agricultural ammonia emissions (by region and time period); reduced nitrogen deposition; spatial-temporal patterns of nitrogen deposition; relative contribution of ammonia to total nitrogen deposition

Outcomes reported

The study developed a comprehensive agricultural ammonia emissions dataset spanning four decades and quantified the spatial and temporal patterns of reduced nitrogen deposition globally. It evaluated the relative contribution of agricultural ammonia to total nitrogen deposition and projected future trends without mitigation interventions.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Meta-analysis
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1073/pnas.2121998119
Catalogue ID
SNmohku3qn-ni2kdl

Topic tags

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