Emissions to air by agriculture and horticulture in the Netherlands, 1990-2002*
Agriculture and horticulture are major contributors to total emissions of ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide and particulate matter. Emissions of the first two in particular have fallen considerably since 1990.
| 1990 | 1995 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002* | |
| million kg | ||||||
| Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 1) | 0.96 | 0.60 | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.34 | 0.34 |
| Furnaces | 0.96 | 0.60 | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.34 | 0.34 |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 1) | 9.8 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Furnaces | 9.8 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) 1) | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Furnaces | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) 1)2) | 8 427 | 8 063 | 7 085 | 7 104 | 6 892 | 6 832 |
| Furnaces | 8 427 | 8 063 | 7 085 | 7 104 | 6 892 | 6 832 |
| Particulate matter | 8.8 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| Furnaces | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Other | 8.6 | 9.4 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| VOC 3) | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Furnaces | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Other | 0.24 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.16 |
| Methane (CH4) | 508 | 480 | 427 | 413 | 412 | 391 |
| Furnaces | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Other | 505 | 477 | 425 | 411 | 410 | 389 |
| Nitrous oxide (N2O) | 22 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| Furnaces | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Other | 22 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| Ammonia (NH3) 4) | 220 | 179 | 153 | 139 | 129 | 123 |
| Other | 220 | 179 | 153 | 139 | 129 | 123 |
| Source: CCDM (2003). | CBS/EDC/Aug03/0099 | |||||
| 1) Other emissions nil. 2) Other emissions not measured. 3) Volatile organic compounds, excluding methane. 4) Emissions from furnaces nil. N.B. Excluding emissions from mobile machinery. These are included under traffic and transport. | ||||||
Ammonia, methane and nitrous oxide are the main agricultural emissions.
Agriculture and horticulture are major contributors to Dutch emissions of ammonia, methane and nitrous oxide. Ammonia makes a significant contribution to acidification and eutrophication. Methane and nitrous oxide are both greenhouse gases. Emissions of ammonia and methane in particular have fallen considerably since 1990.
Causes of emissions to air
The emissions are caused by the combustion of fuels by stationary sources (the contribution is only a small proportion of the national total) or by other processes. The following processes specific to agriculture and horticulture play a role here:
- emissions resulting from the use of chemical fertilisers (NH3 and N2O);
- emissions from manure (NH3, N2O and CH4);
- emissions by nitrogen fixing by papilionaceous plants (N2O);
- emissions from the nitrogen stocks in agricultural land (N2O)
- emissions from animal accommodation (NH3 and particulate matter).
