FE8/2009 Development of the ammonia emission inventory in Finland. Revised model for agriculture.
Juha Grönroos, Pasi Mattila, Kristiina Regina, Jouni Nousiainen, Paula Perälä, Kristina Saarinen and Johanna Mikkola-Pusa, 2009
The Finnish Environment 8/2009, Environmental protection, 60 p. URN:ISBN:978-952-11-3399-2. ISBN 978-952-11-3399-2 (PDF). The publication is available also in printed form ISBN 978-952-11-3398-5 (pbk).
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Abstract
Agriculture is the main source of ammonia (NH3) emissions in Finland comprising ca. 90% of the total emissions annually. Agriculture is also an important source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas for which agriculture is responsible for ca. 50% of emissions. The main source for ammonia is livestock manure whereas for N2O its importance is much smaller. However, the same activity data are needed to assess both NH3 and direct N2O emissions from animal husbandry. In addition to this, indirect emissions of N2O are calculated based on NH3 and NO emissions. NH3 and N2O emissions are annually reported according to international reporting classifications. The aims of the study were 1) to construct a calculation model for gaseous agricultural nitrogen emissions thereby developing and updating the emission calculation procedure to better reflect the development of these emissions in Finland, and 2) to improve correspondence of the emission inventory reporting with the reporting classifications.
In 2007, the Finnish emissions of ammonia from agricultural sources totalled 30,686 tonnes, of which more than 60% originated from cattle manure. Time series for ammonia emissions from agriculture show that there have been no large changes in the total emissions during the last two decades. Despite the decreased number of cattle during that period the emissions have remained near the present level, mainly because of the increased nitrogen excretion of cattle. Emission projections for the years 2008–2050 show no significant changes in emissions in the future. As for ammonia, no significant changes for nitrous oxide emissions from animal husbandry have taken place, and no big changes can be expected in the future as long as there are no drastic alterations in animal production.
Despite the development of emission modelling, the emission estimates still include significant sources of uncertainty, which is mainly related to information on the distribution of manure management systems and the use of different manure application methods as well as to information on ammonia evaporation in different manure management phases in Finland.
Further information
Juha Grönroos, Senior Researcher
etunimi.sukunimi@ymparisto.fi
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