A push for cleaner industrial production - EEB

A PUSH FOR CLEANER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
The nitrogen application rate of 170 ka/ha is
exceeded in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy,
France, Spain and Portugal 27 . As a result of
high domestic nitrogen emissions and input
from rivers draining agricultural lands in other
countries, the Netherlands has the highest
nitrogen surplus in the EU, at 319 kg/ha 28 .
Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous
in Dutch coastal waters exceed natural values
by a factor of 5-10, causing frequent algae
blooms, and covering North Sea Beaches with
foam 29 .
Up to 65% of available nitrogen can be lost
to the air as ammonia from farm yard manure
left on the soil surface following application.
MAFF, 1999
Gaseous ammonia causes considerable nuisance
to local residents and upsets the nutritional
balance of surrounding ecosystems.
NH 3
is also a greenhouse gas contributing to
climate change.
The Solution: Applying BAT to Spreading of Manure
BAT for the spreading of manure involves following management principles, as well as using particular
equipment (injection or band-spreading and incorporation within 4 hours for pig manure
and incorporation within 12 hours for poultry manure).
Management principles
for spreading manure:
• Balance volume
applied with plant
needs
• Consider soil
characteristics
• Apply to dry land
• Do not apply to slops
• Do not apply close to
watercourses
• Time application with
plant growth
Denmark has successfully introduced controls on manure application
and significantly reduced nitrogen losses from agriculture.
• 31% reduction in the nitrogen surplus, 1990-2003
Kronvang et al., 2008
27
Commission, 2007c
28
BREF for Intensive Rearing of Poultry and Pigs, 2003
29
Erisman et al, 2005
28