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In 2019, agriculture contributed 92.0% of total ammonia emissions. From 1990 to 2019, ammonia emissions in Slovenia decreased by 21.8%. 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 2019 are presented. The trend of emissions in the EU-28 countries is also presented.


Charts

Figure KM13-1: Contribution of agriculture to total emissions of ammonia in Slovenia in 2019
Sources: 

 SEA, 2021; AIS 2021

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 [%]

2019

16625.73

1437.75

18063.49

92.04

7.96

Figure KM13-2: Sources of ammonia emissions in Slovenian agriculture in 2019
Sources: 

AIS, 2021

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 [%]

2019

5395.83

2283.42

7530.20

1397.86

18.42

32.45

13.73

45.29

8.41

0.11

Figure KM13-3: Reduction of ammonia emissions by source
Sources: 

AIS, 2021

Show data

1990 [t]

2005 [t]

2019 [t]

Changes in annual ammonia emissions 1990-2019 [Index (1990=100)]

Share in total emissons 2019 [%]

From animal houses – cattle

4242.79

3642.31

3843.39

90.59

23.12

From animal houses – pigs

1687.90

1447.94

662.89

39.27

3.99

From animal houses – poultry

903.34

385.73

680.68

75.35

4.09

From animal houses – sheep, goats, horses, rabbits

107.94

214.85

208.87

193.50

1.26

Sladiščenje živinskih gnojil – govedo

Skladiščenje šivinskih gnojil – prašiči

1923.02

1739.17

1531.64

79.65

9.21

Skladiščenje živinskih gnojil – perutnina

2026.97

829.11

232.65

11.48

1.40

Skladiščenje živinskih gnojil – ovce, koze, konji, kunci

462.76

186.43

351.08

75.87

2.11

88.33

173.49

168.05

190.24

1.01

Fertilization – animal manures and grazing

Fertilization – mineral fertilizers

8316.78

7488.45

7530.20

90.54

45.29

Fertilization – other organic ferztilizers

1472.94

1729.71

1397.86

94.90

8.41

Živinoreja (skupaj)

16.53

4.65

18.42

111.44

0.11

Rastlinska pridelava (skupaj)

Kmetijstvo (živinoreja in rastlinska pridelava skupaj)

11443.05

8619.03

7679.25

67.11

46.19

9806.24

9222.81

8946.48

91.23

53.81

21249.29

17841.84

16625.73

78.24

100

Figure KM13-4: Reduction of annual emissions of ammonia in EU countries between 1990 and 2018
Sources: 

EEA, 2021

Show data

Annual ammonia emisssions [Index (1990=100)]

Ammonia emissions – 1990 [t]

Ammonia emissions – 2018 [t]

Cyprus

110.41

6.16

6.80

Ireland

108.07

109.48

118.31

Spain

105.63

429.83

454.03

Austria

102.19

59.10

60.40

Finland

90.30

31.90

28.81

France

90.01

617.73

556.02

Sweden

85.42

54.27

46.36

Luxembourg

84.16

6.59

5.55

Germany

83.70

724.91

606.77

Slovenia

81.32

21.04

17.11

United Kingdom

81.21

296.35

240.68

Portugal

80.66

56.97

45.95

Italy

76.64

450.23

345.06

EU 28

73.34

4887.39

3584.30

EU 27

72.83

4591.03

3343.61

Poland

68.83

433.96

298.68

Greece

67.18

85.73

57.60

Malta

63.90

1.87

1.20

Croatia

63.04

46.09

29.05

Denmark

58.43

124.90

72.98

Hungary

58.41

124.06

72.47

Belgium

51.66

125.94

65.06

Czech Republic

50.21

129.03

64.78

Lithuania

49.04

73.31

35.95

Romania

48.49

322.53

156.38

Slovakia

44.89

62.29

27.96

Estonia

42.52

0.02

0.01

Latvia

39.22

32.79

12.86

Bulgaria

34.33

108.29

37.18

The Netherlands

33.63

330.53

111.14


Goals

  • Zmanjšanje in vzdrževanje letnih izpustov amonijaka pod 20.000 ton;
  • leta 2020 morajo biti izpusti amonijaka najmanj 1 % nižji kot leta 2005, do leta 2030 je treba izpuste postopno zmanjševati do ravni, ki je najmanj 15 % nižja od izpustov v letu 2005
  • zmanjšanje negativnih vplivov kmetijstva na vode, tla in zrak.

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 (92.0%). The largest share of ammonia in agriculture is emitted from the application of livestock manure, including grazing (45.3%), followed by emissions from animal houses (32.5%), emissions from the storage of livestock manure (13.7%) and emissions from the application of mineral fertilizers (8.4%). 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 2019, annual ammonia emissions from agriculture decreased from 21,249 to 16,626 tonnes, or by 21.8%. The decrease in emissions was also significant for the period after 2005 (-6.8%), the base year for Slovenia's new ammonia emission commitments. The decrease was at the level of the EU-28 average. Throughout the period, the largest absolute decrease in emissions was in pig farming, followed by cattle production and fertilization of agricultural plants with livestock manure. The large relative increase in emissions from small ruminants and horses is insignificant in absolute terms, as these emissions account for less than 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 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.


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., Česen M. 2021. Slovenian informative inventory report 2021: 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, 311 str.

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

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