KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
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In 2020, agriculture contributed 92.8% of total ammonia emissions. From 1990 to 2020, ammonia emissions in Slovenia decreased by 22.9%. In recent years, ammonia emissions in Slovenia have been around 15% below the limit set by accepted international commitments (20,000 tonnes per year). We are also achieving the target set by the new NEC Directive for 2020 (at least 1 % decrease compared to 2005).


The indicator shows ammonia emissions in agriculture. The main sources of emissions and their changes between 1990 and 2020 are presented. The trend of emissions in the EU–27 countries is also presented.


Charts

Figure KM13-1: Contribution of agriculture to total emissions of ammonia in Slovenia in 2020
Sources:

SEA, 2022; AIS 2022

Show data
Agriculture[t/year] Other sources[t/year] Total[t/year] Share of agriculture in total emissions[%] Share of other sources in total emissions[%]
2020 16851.73 1314.41 18166.14 92.76 7.24
Figure KM13-2: Sources of ammonia emissions in Slovenian agriculture in 2020
Sources:

AIS, 2022

Show data
Emissions from animal houses[t/year] Emissions from manure management[t/year] Emissions due to fertilization with livestock manures and grazing[t/year] Emissions due to fertilization with mineral fertilizers [t/year] Emissions due to fertilization with other organic fertilizers [t/year] Emissions from animal houses[%] Emissions from manure management[%] Emissions due to fertilization with livestock manures and grazing[%] Emissions due to fertilization with mineral fertilizers [%] Emissions due to fertilization with other organic fertilizers [%]
2020 5213.87 2257.66 7849.72 1508.97 21.50 30.94 13.40 46.58 8.95 0.13
Figure KM13-3: Reduction of ammonia emissions by source
Sources:

AIS, 2022

Show data
1990[t] 2005[t] 2020[t] Changes in annual ammonia emissions 1990-2020[Index (1990=100)] Share in total emissons 2020[%]
From animal houses – cattle 3706.15 3425.55 3754.74 101.31 22.28
From animal houses – pigs 1687.90 1447.94 627.67 37.19 3.72
From animal houses – poultry 903.34 385.73 622.62 68.92 3.69
From animal houses – sheep, goats, horses, rabbits 107.94 214.85 208.84 193.48 1.24
Manure storage – cattle 2067.27 1815.82 1542.14 74.60 9.15
Manure storage – pigs 2026.97 829.11 220.36 10.87 1.31
Manure storage – poultry 462.76 186.43 327.13 70.69 1.94
Manure storage – sheep, goats, horses, rabbits 88.33 173.49 168.02 190.22 1.00
Fertilization – animal manures and grazing 9314.34 7991.50 7849.72 84.28 46.58
Fertilization – mineral fertilizers 1472.94 1729.71 1508.97 102.45 8.95
Fertilization – other organic ferztilizers 16.53 4.65 21.50 130.13 0.13
Animal production (total) 11050.66 8478.93 7471.53 67.61 44.34
Plant production (total) 10803.81 9725.86 9380.20 86.82 55.66
Agriculture (animal production and plant production together) 21854.47 18204.79 16851.73 77.11 100
Figure KM13-4: Reduction of annual emissions of ammonia in agriculture in EU–27 countries between 1990 and 2020
Sources:

EEA, 2022

Show data
Annual ammonia emisssions[Index (1990=100)] Ammonia emissions – 1990[t] Ammonia emissions – 2020[t]
Ireland 112.30 109.25 122.68
Spain 109.13 426.05 464.97
Luxembourg 104.42 5.45 5.69
Cyprus 102.61 7.83 8.03
Austria 92.27 66.65 61.49
Portugal 90.52 58.26 52.74
Sweden 86.31 54.31 46.87
France 85.11 627.98 534.48
Finland 84.45 32.64 27.57
Slovenia 77.11 21.86 16.85
Italy 76.37 451.76 345.01
Germany 74.48 687.90 512.34
EU27 70.14 4606.17 3230.74
Greece 68.06 85.92 58.47
Poland 64.30 484.50 311.54
Croatia 62.35 41.82 26.07
Malta 59.85 2.20 1.32
Hungary 54.87 125.57 68.91
Denmark 52.53 139.18 73.10
Belgium 49.91 127.67 63.72
Lithuania 47.80 76.71 36.67
Romania 46.52 298.96 139.08
Estonia 45.65 19.10 8.72
Latvia 43.76 31.45 13.76
Czechia 43.46 138.93 60.38
Slovakia 43.44 55.49 24.10
Bulgaria 37.90 98.03 37.15
Netherlands 32.97 330.72 109.03

Goals

  • Reduce and maintain annual ammonia emissions below 20,000 tonnes )target value for all sectors);
  • In 2020, total ammonia emissions (emissions from all sectors) must be at least 1% lower than in 2005, and by 2030, emissions must be progressively reduced to a level at least 15% lower than in 2005;
  • Reduce the negative impact of agriculture on water, soil and air.

In high concentrations, ammonia directly harms the health and well-being of humans and livestock. It is also harmful to plants. Of greatest concern, however, are its indirect effects. It is a precursor to particulate matter, which causes respiratory and cardiovascular disease. With ammonia, nitrogen is deposited in natural ecosystems, altering them (eutrophication) and threatening biodiversity. Ammonia emissions also cause economic damage through losses of plant-available nitrogen. Nitrous oxide is also emitted into the environment through the deposition of ammonia. In this way, it contributes to indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

Agriculture is the largest contributor to all ammonia emissions in Slovenia (92.8%). The largest share of ammonia in agriculture is emitted from the application of livestock manure, including grazing (46.6%), followed by emissions from animal houses (30.9%), emissions from the storage of livestock manure (13.4%) and emissions from the application of mineral fertilizers (9.0%). The high emissions from livestock manure application are partly due to the very limited use of band spreaders or slurry injectors. Tankers with discharge nozzles and sprayers, which are characterized by high emissions, are still predominantly used for liquid manure application.

Over the period from 1990 to 2020, annual ammonia emissions from agriculture decreased from 21,854 to 16,852 tonnes, or by 22.9%. The decrease in emissions was also significant for the period after 2005 (–7.4%), the base year for Slovenia's new ammonia emission commitments. The decrease was at the level of the EU–27 average. Throughout the period, the largest absolute decrease in emissions was in pig farming, followed by fertilization of agricultural plants with livestock manure, cattle production and poultry production. The large relative increase in emissions from small ruminants and horses is insignificant in absolute terms, as these emissions account only about 2% of total agricultural emissions.

The decrease in ammonia emissions is also due to regulations designed to protect water. In particular, it is the Decree on the Protection of Waters against Pollution by Nitrates from Agricultural Sources (UL RS, št. 113/09, 5/13, 22/15, 12/17 and 44/22) that sets the maximum permissible livestock density and restricts the use of nitrogen fertilizers on agricultural land. The Agricultural-Environmental-Climate Payments (KOPOP) and the Organic Farming measure from Rural Development Program also contribute to emission reduction. These measures include requirements that contribute to more efficient use of nitrogen in agriculture. In 2015, KOPOP introduced for the first time financial support for the implementation of fertilization with low ammonia emissions to air. The measure requires band application of slurry or its injection into the soil. In 2020, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning funded the publication of the Advisory Code of Good Agricultural Practices for Reducing Ammonia Emissions (Verbič, 2020).


Methodology

Date of data source summarization
Other sources and literature

EMEP/EEA, 2019: EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2019. Technical guidance to prepare national emission inventories, EEA Report No 13/2019, European Environment Agency.

Logar M., Mekinda Majaron T., Verbič J., Pečnik Ž. 2022. Slovenian informative inventory report 2022: Submission under the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants. Ljubljana: Slovenian Environment Agency, 294 str.

Uredba o varstvu voda pred onesnaževanjem z nitrati iz kmetijskih virov. Uradni list RS, št. 113/09, 5/13, 22/15, 12/17 in 44/22.

Verbič J., 2020. Svetovalni kodeks dobrih kmetijskih praks za zmanjševanje izpustov amonijaka. Ljubljana: Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije,  28 str.