UC studies nitrogen on farms
The University of California, Davis, has begun a $2.8 million study of agricultural-based nitrogen, a key part of modern farming. Nitrogen has become a concern as a contaminant in the air and water. It is also a greenhouse gas.
"This is one of the most important and least publicized environmental issues we face: Escaped nitrogen from agricultural production affects the quality of our air, water, and soil and has huge potential to contribute to climate change," said Tom Tomich, director of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute at UC Davis.
Nitrogen comes from soils, seeps into groundwater and runs off into rivers and lakes. Nitrogen comes from many farm sources, including the waste of cattle, chickens and other livestock.
Farm machines burning oil, gasoline and diesel release nitrogen to the air.
What is nitrogen?
It is a chemical element, occurring naturally in the air, water and soil. It is essential to life, and it cycles through all plants, animals and people.
Nitrogen-based fertilizers help California farmers produce more than 400 agricultural commodities -- vegetables, fruits, meats and dairy products worth $36 billion a year.
Comments:
I'm a bit confused as to how nitrogen could be a greenhouse gas when it already exists in abundance in the atmosphere. Is nitrogen released from fertilizers different in form than atmospheric nitrogen?
Posted by: Mike D. at June 17, 2009 3:32 PM
It can be pretty confusing. I'm no expert. But I think it's more a case of too much of a natural thing. The same can be said for carbon dioxide, which also is abundant and natural. The climate warming is occurring because of the overabundance -- at least, that's what scientists tell me.
Posted by: Mark Grossi at June 17, 2009 3:36 PM
Hi,
I'm a communications fellow affiliated with the new nitrogen project. To clarify regarding Mike D.'s questions: nitrogen takes many gaseous forms and one of them, nitrous oxide, or N2O, is a potent greenhouse gas. That is what is primarily being referred to here. N2 is the nitrogen gas that is inert and constitutes the majority of the air in the atmosphere. NO, or NOx, or nitrogen oxide, is also an air pollutant that can have ozone impacts. Here's a link to an explanation of the nitrogen cycle (or cascade) http://is.gd/1dmrR and the Agricultural Sustainability Institute will also be updating our Web site with this type of information as the project progresses.
Posted by: Stephanie at June 25, 2009 12:25 PM
Fight on. Ag rules and don't forget it. For further enlightenment you might want to view the documentary FOOD, INC. If that doesn't give you a clue - nothing will.
Posted by: George Brown at July 1, 2009 8:44 AM
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