Estimation of interannual trends of ammonia emissions from agriculture in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2017

Abstract

As the only alkaline gas in the atmosphere, ammonia could react with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to form the secondary particles. A large amount of NH3 in the atmosphere accelerates the rate of formation of fine particles; it therefore plays an important role in haze pollution. Livestock and poultry farming and nitrogen fertilizer application are the two main NH3 emission sources. Jiangsu Province contributes the largest proportion of NH3 emissions from agriculture in key areas of national air pollution control in China. The aims of this study are to investigate NH3 emissions from agriculture in Jiangsu Province using the emissions factor method, and analyze and summarize the characteristics and trends of NH3 emissions from 2000 to 2017. Results show that the NH3 emissions from agriculture in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2017 were mainly contributed by livestock and poultry farming (78.08%) and nitrogen fertilizer application (21.92%). Furthermore, a general fluctuation trend of an initial decrease and then an increase, of NH3 emissions from agriculture, could be found from 2000 to 2012, with minimum NH3 emissions in 2007 (708.76 kt yr−1) and maximum emissions in 2012 (837.64 kt yr−1); and then a decreasing trend was apparent from 2012 (837.64 kt yr−1) to 2017 (690.64 kt yr−1). A detailed estimation of the interannual trends and potential measures are also proposed. This study provides a solid theoretical foundation for the development of NH3 emissions control in Jiangsu Province.