scholarly journals Impact of Emerging Agricultural Contaminants on Global Warming

Author(s):  
Nosiri Chidi ◽  
Anyanwu Chukwuma ◽  
Nwaogwugwu Joel

There are many definitions of emerging contaminants (ECs). They are not usually new chemicals and could be substances that have stayed long in the environment with their presence and importance being recognized now. They may be chemicals or microorganisms which are not usually monitored in the environment but with known or suspected potential to cause ecological damage or adverse human effects. Some natural products and those transformed through biochemical processes from synthetic chemicals may be formed in the environment as ECs. Emerging Agricultural Contaminants are released to the environment or enter indirectly to the soil during the application of manure, fertilizers, biosolids or other solid waste materials. Once they enter the soil, they may be transported by leaching, runoff and drainage processes to water bodies. The extent of the transport is dependent on the persistence of the EC and on how it interacts with soil and air. These ECs contribute to global warming through the emissions of Greenhouse gases. The largest source of GHG emission from Agriculture is Nitrous oxide (N2O) and it accounts for 38% of the total global emission through the process of nitrification and denitrification, anthropogenic activities (use of nitrogen fertilizer, production of nitrogen-fixing crops and forages, retention of crop residues, application of managed livestock manure) which are either through direct additions and/or through indirect additions (atmospheric deposition of applied nitrogen). The natural digestive processes in ruminants otherwise known as enteric fermentation account for the key source of methane production under livestock production hence the second largest source of total agricultural emission with 34% global share and rice cultivation being the third with 11%. The three important greenhouse gases (Methane, Carbon dioxide and Nitrous oxide) are not harmful in naturally occurring quantities for their atmospheric presence helps in sustaining life on the planet when they trap heat energy near the surface of the earth. Concentration of greenhouse gases from both the natural and human factors have been increasing and contributing to Global Warming and Climate Change. Increase in greenhouse gases may cause tremendous changes to our civilization positively or negatively but the total impact is uncertain. Climate change comes as a result of a warming planet which can affect the weather adversely in many ways. So, as climate changes, extreme weather activities release severe threats on human society. Indicators of global warming include sea surface temperature, temperature over land, snow cover on hills, temperature over land and humidity. It is expected that climate change may cause more floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weathers activities. IPCC estimated that temp may rise from 2 to 6°C within 2021. Mitigation of greenhouse effect could be achieved through Biochemical methods on enteric fermentation, development of good environmental policies even Methanotrophs also aid in recycling the atmospheric Methane.

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 328-342
Author(s):  
M. A Adeyemi ◽  
E. O. Akinfala

Greenhouse gases are becoming devastating on agriculture and environment because of its effect on climate and global warming. The aim of this review is to provide update on livestock greenhouse gases emission and rekindle available mitigation strategies. Recently, global warming and climate change have become one of the most discussed issues globally because of their negative effect on ecosystem worldwide. The livestock sub-sector as a major source of greenhouse gas emission, has been identified to contribute substantially to the recent rise in global warming and climate change. Livestock, most importantly ruminants plays a major role in the emission of methane, one of the potent greenhouse gases. This methane is usually released through enteric fermentation in animals and manure management system, though the latter account for smaller quantity. Estimate of methane emission inventory from livestock in Nigeria showed that 96.15 % of methane produced by livestock was by ruminants with cattle alone accounting for 74.06 %. With this background, strategies to date for reducing methane emissions should centre on ruminant. Efforts to reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation generally focus on options for improving production efficiency. This has been demonstrated with intensive animal production systems. However, in Nigeria, this system has been successful only for non-ruminants while the extensive and semi extensive systems are being practiced for ruminants. In view of this, options for reducing emissions must be selected to be consistent with country-specific circumstances. Those circumstances should include animal management practices (including cultural traditions), nutrition and economic development priorities.     Les gaz à effet de serre deviennent dévastateurs de l'agriculture et de l'environnement en raison de son effet sur le climat et le réchauffement de la planète. L'objectif de cet examen est de fournir une mise à jour sur les stratégies d'atténuation disponibles des gaz à effet de serre de bétail. Récemment, le réchauffement climatique et le changement climatique sont devenus l'une des questions les plus discutées à l'échelle mondiale en raison de leur effet négatif sur l'écosystème mondial. Le sous-secteur de l'élevage en tant que source majeure d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre, a été identifié pour contribuer de manière substantielle à la hausse récente du réchauffement de la planète et du changement climatique. Le bétail, plus important encore, les ruminants jouent un rôle majeur dans l'émission de méthane, l'un des gaz à effet de serre puissants. Ce méthane est généralement libéré par la fermentation entérique chez les animaux et le système de gestion de fumier, bien que ces derniers représentent une plus petite quantité. L'estimation des stocks d'émissions de méthane provenant du bétail au Nigéria a montré que 96,15% de méthane produites par le bétail étaient par des ruminants avec des bovins à eux-mêmes représentant 74,06%. Avec ce contexte, des stratégies à ce jour pour réduire les émissions de méthane doivent être centrées sur le ruminant. Les efforts visant à réduire les émissions de méthane de la fermentation entérique se concentrent généralement sur les options d'amélioration de l'efficacité de la production. Cela a été démontré avec des systèmes de production d'animaux intensifs. Cependant, au Nigéria, ce système n'a abouti que pour les non-ruminants tandis que les systèmes étendus et semi-étendus sont pratiqués pour les ruminants. Compte tenu de cela, les options de réduction des émissions doivent être sélectionnées pour être cohérentes avec des circonstances spécifiques à chaque pays. Ces circonstances devraient inclure des pratiques de gestion des animaux (y compris des traditions culturelles), des priorités de nutrition et de développement économique


2007 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Krishna B. Karki

Concentration of greenhouse gases has been found increasing over the past centuries. Carbon dioxide (9-26% greenhouse effect), methane (4-9%), and nitrous oxide (3-6%) are the three principal greenhouse gasses though chloroflourocarbon and halon are also included as greenhouse gasses but are in very small greenhouse effect. These gasses are produced both from natural process and anthropogenic activities .Increase of these greenhouse gasses from nature in the atmosphere is mainly from the decomposition of organic matter, nitrification and denitrification of nitrogen including respiration by the plants. Anthropogenic production of carbon dioxide is from burning of fossil fuel whereas for methane livestock and paddy cultivation. Agricultural activities mainly use of mineral fertilizer is responsible for nitrous oxide emission. Increase of these gasses in atmosphere increases temperature that further accelerates evaporation of moisture from the earth’s surface. Increase in water vapor in the atmosphere will further aggravate temperature rise. This increase in atmospheric temperature has direct effect in the melting of glacier ice in Nepalese Himalaya. Melting of ice and increases water volume in the glacier fed rivers and glacier lakes. Rise in water volume beyond its capacity the glacial lakes bursts releasing millions of cubit meters of water and takes million of lives and properties downstream. If this continues there will be no more ice left in the Himalaya and in the long run all the rivers of Nepal will go dry and country will face serious water shortage for drinking, irrigation and other purposes. The Journal of AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT Vol. 8, 2007, pp. 1-7


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Kehan Li

Climate change is of great importance in modern times and global warming is considered as a significant part of climate change. It is proved that human’s emissions such as greenhouse gases are one of the main sources of global warming (IPCC, 2018). Apart from greenhouse gases, there is another kind of matter being released in quantity via emissions from industries and transportations and playing an important role in global warming, which is aerosol. However, atmospheric aerosols have the net effect of cooling towards global warming. In this paper, climate change with respect to global warming is briefly introduced and the role of aerosols in the atmosphere is emphasized. Besides, properties of aerosols including dynamics and thermodynamics of aerosols as well as interactions with solar radiation are concluded. In the end, environmental policies and solutions are discussed. Keywords: Climate change, Global warming, Atmospheric aerosols, Particulate matter, Radiation, Environmental policy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Marszałek ◽  
Zygmunt Kowalski ◽  
Agnieszka Makara

Abstract Pig slurry is classified as a natural liquid fertilizer, which is a heterogeneous mixture of urine, faeces, remnants of feed and technological water, used to remove excrement and maintain the hygiene of livestock housing. The storage and distribution of pig slurry on farmland affect the environment as they are associated with, among others, the emission of various types of gaseous pollutants, mainly CH4, CO2, N2O, NH3, H2S, and other odorants. Methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases (GHGs) which contribute to climate change by increasing the greenhouse effect. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are malodorous gases responsible for the occurrence of odour nuisance which, due to their toxicity, may endanger the health and lives of humans and animals. NH3 also influences the increase of atmosphere and soil acidification. The article presents the environmental impact of greenhouse gases and odorous compounds emitted from pig slurry. Key gaseous atmospheric pollutants such as NH3, H2S, CH4, CO2 and N2O have been characterized. Furthermore, methods to reduce the emission of odours and GHGs from pig slurry during its storage and agricultural usage have been discussed.


Author(s):  
Gordon Conway ◽  
Ousmane Badiane ◽  
Katrin Glatzel

This chapter explores threats to food security. It reveals many challenges arising from a range of threats external to the farm household, including severe biological threats from pests, disease, and weeds. Moreover, healthy, fertile soils are the cornerstone of food security and rural livelihoods, but African soils are degrading. Water is just as important for the productivity of plants, and lack of water leads to chronic and acute stress. Indeed, Africa is already battling the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures and variable rainfall are increasing the exposure of smallholders to drought, famine, and disease. Agriculture is an important emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), not only carbon dioxide but also such powerful gases as methane and nitrous oxide. In addition, there are often severe socioeconomic challenges, including unstable and high prices of basic commodities. Finally, conflicts cause disruption to food security.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Eelco J. Rohling

This chapter outlines the challenge facing us. The Paris Agreement sets a target maximum of 2°C global warming and a preferred limit of 1.5°C. Yet, the subsequent combined national pledges for emission reduction suffice only for limiting warming to roughly 3°C. And because most nations are falling considerably short of meeting their pledges, even greater warming may become locked in. Something more drastic and wide-ranging is needed: a multi-pronged strategy. These different prongs to the climate-change solution are introduced in this chapter and explored one by one in the following chapters. First is rapid, massive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Second is implementation of ways to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Third may be increasing the reflectivity of Earth to incoming sunlight, to cool certain places down more rapidly. In addition, we need to protect ourselves from climate-change impacts that have already become inevitable.


Author(s):  
Mark Maslin

‘Evidence for climate change’ considers both past and recent climate change through changes in temperature, precipitation, and relative global sea level to show that significant changes in climate have been recorded. These include a 0.85°Celsius (C) increase in average global temperatures over the last 150 years, sea-level rise of over 20 cm, significant shifts in the seasonality and intensities of precipitation, changing weather patterns, and significant retreat of Arctic sea ice and nearly all continental glaciers. The IPCC 2013 report states that the evidence for global warming is unequivocal and that there is very high confidence that this warming is due to human emissions of greenhouse gases.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulperi Selcan Öncü

<div> <p>In recent times we have often received news such as about melting glaciers, sudden and torrential rain, storms, increased atmospheric temperatures, and forest fires. We have also observed some of these phenomena in our immediate vicinity. There is a frequently used expression among the public, 'the seasons are shifting'. </p> <p>Students have asked the reasons why these changes have been occurring and what about changes between the past and present. In order to understand these changes we all know that they need to understand global warming in the first place. To help them with this as an science teacher I have guided them to be capable of using experimental methods within project-based learning approaches. First they did preliminary literature surveys and then they designed an experiment. In the experiment, they tested the hypothesis that the water inside the bell JAR, which is coated with black cardboard, heats up more than the transparent one. In this way they began to investigate climate change due to greenhouse gases. </p> <p>In the experiment, two bell glasses were used to represent the atmosphere layers. One was intermittently covered with pieces cut out of black cardboard. Black cardboard was used to represent the greenhouse gas due since the black colour absorbs light. Two beakers of the same size were used, filled with water. A thermometer was placed inside and bell jars were turned upside down and put over the beakers. The two thermometers were used to measure the water temperature inside the beakers. </p> <p>The first apparatus is the control group (inside uncovered). The second apparatus is the experimental group (covered with independent black cardboard). In the experimental and observation stage, the independent variable is the bell jar; the dependent variable is the water temperature. The constant variables are the size of the jar, the size of the beaker, the amount of water and the ambient conditions. </p> <p>Having set up the apparatus, the initial temperature of water was measured and recorded. Students carried out the experiment on a sunny day by placing the apparatus in a sun-covered field. They recorded the data in the tables they completed periodically. Then they shared the results with participants at the science festival. </p> <p>In this way they began to investigate the impact of greenhouse gases on climate change.</p> </div>


2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 1664-1668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo Lin Bao ◽  
Hong Qi Hui

CO2 is the most frequently implicated in global warming among the various greenhouse gases associated with climate change. Chinese government has been taking serious measures to control energy consumption to reduce CO2 emissions. This study applies the grey forecasting model to estimate future CO2 emissions and carbon intensity in Shijiazhuang from 2010 until 2020. Forecasts of CO2 emissions in this study show that the average residual error of the GM(1, 1) is below 1.5%. The average increasing rate of CO2 emissions will be about 6.71%; and the carbon intensity will be 2.10 tons/104GDP until year 2020. If the GDP of Shijiazhuang city can be quadruple, the carbon intensity will be half to the 2005 levels until 2020. The findings of this study provide a valuable reference with which the Shijiazhuang government can formulate measures to reduce CO2 emissions by curbing the unnecessary the consumption of energy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fallon Fowler ◽  
Christopher J. Gillespie ◽  
Steve Denning ◽  
Shuijin Hu ◽  
Wes Watson

AbstractBy mixing and potentially aerating dung, dung beetles may affect the microbes producing the greenhouse gases (GHGs): carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Here, their sum-total global warming effect is described as the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Our literature analysis of reported GHG emissions and statistics suggests that most dung beetles do not, however, reduce CO2e even if they do affect individual GHGs. Here, we compare the GHG signature of homogenized (“premixed”) and unhomogenized (“unmixed”) dung with and without dung beetles to test whether mixing and burial influence GHGs. Mixing by hand or by dung beetles did not reduce any GHG – in fact, tunneling dung beetles increased N2O medians by ≥1.8x compared with dung-only. This suggests that either: 1) dung beetles do not meaningfully mitigate GHGs as a whole; 2) dung beetle burial activity affects GHGs more than mixing alone; or 3) greater dung beetle abundance and activity is required to produce an effect.


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