Written by Charlotte Cunningham
The government has today (3 Nov) launched a consultation seeking views on reducing ammonia emissions from solid urea fertilisers used for growing plants and crops. Charlotte Cunningham reports. Ammonia emissions are harmful to natural habitats, rivers and lakes, as well as to human health, with 87% of the UK’s ammonia emissions coming from farming. The Government has committed to reducing ammonia emissions by 8% of 2005 levels by 2020, and a 16% reduction by 2030. According to Defra, the consultation presents three cost effective options: A total ban on solid urea fertilisers A requirement to stabilise solid urea fertilisers with the addition of a urease inhibitor – a chemical that helps slow the conversion of urea to ammonium A requirement to restrict the spreading of solid urea fertilisers so they can only be used from 15 Jan to 31 Mar While each of these options will support the Government’s commitment to reducing ammonia emissions, a ban on solid urea fertilisers would achieve around 31% of the ammonia reduction target by 2030, it says. Reducing ammonia emissions will significantly reduce nitrogen deposition to land and in turn help reduce damage to peat bogs, which are an important carbon sink, thereby helping…
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