Ammonia emissions by Agriculture and horticulture in the Netherlands, 1980-2002
| 1980 | 1990 | 1995 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002* | ||
| million kg | ||||||||
| Total | 220 | 223 | 179 | 153 | 139 | 129 | 123 | |
| Manure | 204 | 210 | 166 | 141 | 128 | 120 | 114 | |
| of which | stables and manure depots | 77 | 89 | 89 | 79 | 73 | 64 | 61 |
| manure spreading | 114 | 105 | 62 | 51 | 45 | 46 | 44 | |
| pasturage | 14 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Fertiliser | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | |
| % | ||||||||
| Change compared to 1980 | 100 | 101 | 81 | 70 | 63 | 59 | 56 | |
| Source: CCDM (2003). | RIVM/EDC/Nov03 | |||||||
| * provisional figures | ||||||||
Ammonia emissions from Agriculture and horticulture continue to fall
The Agriculture and horticulture sector is emitting less and less ammonia (NH3). In 2002, emissions fell by 5% compared to 2001.
The fall in ammonia emissions from Agriculture and horticulture is a result of the low-emission approach to spreading manure. A survey conducted as part of the 2000 Landbouwtelling ('Agricultural Census') showed that virtually all manure spreading was conducted using a low-emission approach (CBS, 2001). In 1980, Agriculture and horticulture applied all manure on the surface. The 2001 survey showed that approximately 15% of all pigs are housed in low-emission accommodation.
Between 1980 and 1990, the increases in ammonia emissions and nitrogen excretions from all farm animals followed the same pattern. As a result of the low-emission approach to manure spreading, ammonia emissions have fallen faster than nitrogen excretion since 1990.
Policy
There is a maximum emission target for ammonia emissions from agriculture and other sources combined of 128 million kg for 2010 (UN-ECE, 1999). Total emissions of ammonia in the Netherlands in 2002* amounted to 138 million kg. Total emissions in 2002 were therefore 10 million kg above the EU ceiling of 128 million kg.
The target set by national government is lower. The ammonia emission target stated in the fourth National Environmental Policy Plan (VROM, 2001) is 100 million kg NH3 for 2010.



