Ammonia (NH3) volatilisation reduces N use efficiency in agricultural production systems, contributes to indirect N2O emissions and is also related to deterioration of regional air quality, and eutrophication and acidification of natural ecosystems. As a result, a number of European countries, including Ireland, have set annual emissions ceilings for NH3 under the European Communities National Emissions Ceiling Directive (S.I. No. 10/2004: NECD). Meeting these ceiling obligations presents a challenge for Irish agriculture, which accounts for 98% of Ireland national NH3 emissions. Previous Irish research has focused on NH3 emissions from slurry landspreading and fertiliser N applications. The LowAmmo project was therefore established to focus on some key gaps in the knowledge on Irish NH3 emissions and includes measurement, modelling and mitigation of ammonia emissions from livestock housing, grazing depositions and slurry storage.
Overall project objectives:
1. Measure NH3 emissions associated with dairy and beef housing and grazing systems
2. Modelling of NH3 emissions from farms
3. Quantify the abatement potential of mitigation strategies. These include dietary strategies to reduce excreted N, slurry treatment to reduce volatilisation and manipulation of housing and storage to reduce volatilisation.
- Teagasc Johnstown Castle (Co-ordinators)
- Teagasc Grange
- Teagasc Moorepark
More information on LowAmmo: measurement and abatement of ammonia emissions from agriculture, is available on Researchgate