Hans Kros - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Hans Kros
Forest Ecology and Management, Sep 25, 2009
In the Netherlands nitrogen control policy is focusing on reducing (i) leaching and runoff of N t... more In the Netherlands nitrogen control policy is focusing on reducing (i) leaching and runoff of N to ground water and surface water and (ii) emissions of ammonia (NH 3 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) to the atmosphere. An integrated N model is thus crucial to determine the (cost) effectiveness of measures at regional and national scale. Because existing models do not focus on the fluxes of all relevant reactive N compounds to different compartments and are mostly complex, parameter rich and data hungry, they are less suitable for an integrated evaluation of mitigation measures on a regional or national scale. Therefore, the integrated nitrogen model Initiator was developed, representing all crucial processes in the N chain by simple process descriptions. Here we address the plausibility of Initiator and demonstrate how the model can be used for the evaluation of mitigation strategies. Plausibility was judged on a comparison of the crucial model outputs (leaching and runoff of N to ground water and surface water and emissions of NH 3 and N 2 O to the atmosphere) with those of the complex national reference models and a comparison between modelled nitrate concentrations in groundwater with available measurements. Results show that the model performance of Initiator is comparable to that of complex references models,, especially when focussing at a national scale. Mitigation measures where evaluated on their environmental benefit and their cost effectiveness as well. Management measures appear to be rather cost effective in order to reduce the N losses to atmosphere and water compartments, but additional expensive technical measures are needed to comply with national and European directives on ammonia emissions to the
Excess nitrogen inputs by animal manure and fertilizer in the Netherlands do cause various effect... more Excess nitrogen inputs by animal manure and fertilizer in the Netherlands do cause various effects, such as (i) decreased plant species diversity of terrestrial ecosystems by eutrophication and acidification induced by elevated N deposition, (ii) decreased water quality and species diversity of aquatic ecosystems and eutrophication of coastal systems, mainly induced by runoff of N, (iii) high NO 3 concentrations in groundwater, used as drinking water with potential health impacts and (iv) elevated N 2 O emissions causing climate change. Apart from N emissions, excessive manure inputs also cause emissions of other greenhouse gases, mainly methane (CH 4 ), and accumulation and/or elevated leaching of various compounds to ground water and surface water. This paper presents an overview of the integrated model system IMITATOR predicting: (i) emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases (CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O) from animal housing systems, agricultural land and drained peat lands and (ii) accumulation and leaching and runoff of carbon, nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate and base cations) and metals from agricultural soils to ground water and surface water. Results of various mitigation measures in view of reducing emissions of nitrogen compounds to air, ground water and surface water, including improved farming practices and structural changes in agriculture, do have a positive spinoff on the emissions or accumulation of other compounds as illustrated in the paper.
The integrated modelling system INITIATOR was applied to a landscape in the northern part of the ... more The integrated modelling system INITIATOR was applied to a landscape in the northern part of the Netherlands to assess current nitrogen fluxes to air and water and the impact of various agricultural measures on these fluxes, using spatially explicit input data on animal numbers, land use, agricultural management, meteorology and soil. Average model results on NH 3 deposition and N concentrations in surface water appear to be comparable to observations, but the deviation can be large at local scale, despite the use of high resolution data. Evaluated measures include: air scrubbers reducing NH 3 emissions from poultry and pig housing systems, low protein feeding, reduced fertilizer amounts and low-emission stables for cattle. Low protein feeding and restrictive fertilizer application had the largest effect on both N inputs and N losses, resulting in N deposition reductions on Natura 2000 sites of 10% and 12%, respectively.
The Netherlands is "well known" for its nitrogen problems; it has one of the highest reactive nit... more The Netherlands is "well known" for its nitrogen problems; it has one of the highest reactive nitrogen (Nr) emission densities in the world. It is a small country at the delta of several large European rivers. Ever since the industrial revolution, there has been a growing excess of nutrients and related emissions into the atmosphere (ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide) and into groundwater and surface water (nitrate), leading to a large range of cascading environmental impacts. Vehicular traffic, sewage and animal husbandry are the main sources of oxidized and reduced forms of Nr. This paper provides an overview of the origin and fate of nitrogen in the Netherlands, the various reported impacts of nitrogen, the Dutch and European policies to reduce nitrogen emissions and related impacts. In addition, ways are presented to go forward to potentially solve the problems in a European perspective. Solutions include the improvement of nitrogen efficiencies in different systems, technological options and education.
Dit rapport bevat de resultaten van verkenningen die zijn uitgevoerd naar de effecten van maatreg... more Dit rapport bevat de resultaten van verkenningen die zijn uitgevoerd naar de effecten van maatregelen in de landbouw op de emissie van stikstof uit de landbouw naar de atmosfeer, grondwater en oppervlaktewater. Het doel van deze verkenningen is om de effectiviteit van de afzonderlijke maatregelen vast te stellen. De maatregelen, variërend van aanpassingen in het beweidingsregime tot emissieloze varkens- en pluimveebedrijven, zijn tevens gegroepeerd in een beheer- en een technisch scenario. Het beheerscenario, dat met name bestaat in het efficiënter gebruik van veevoer en dierlijke en kunstmeststoffen, blijkt met name effectief in het reduceren van de emissies naar grond- en oppervlaktewater. Het technische scenario, dat voornamelijk bestaat uit emissiebeperkingen uit stallen en opslagen, is met name effectief in het reduceren van ammoniakemissie naar de atmosfeer. Uit de verkenning blijkt dat het areaal waar de nitraatnorm voor grondwater wordt overschreden, vrij snel te reduceren is. Reducties in normoverschrijdingen voor het oppervlaktewater blijken lastiger te realiseren. Op provinciaal niveau zijn zowel het korte- als het langetermijndoel voor ammoniakemissie te realiseren. Op lokaal niveau blijft echter sprake van overschrijdingen.
BIJLAGE I. BEKNOPT OVERZICHT VAN DE MODELLEN STOFSTROMEN EN STONE 55 Overzicht van de stikstofcyc... more BIJLAGE I. BEKNOPT OVERZICHT VAN DE MODELLEN STOFSTROMEN EN STONE 55 Overzicht van de stikstofcyclus in het model STONE 55 Overzicht van het model Stofstromenmodel 56 BIJLAGE II. OPTIES VOOR HET KWANTIFICEREN VAN STIKSTOFPLAFONDS 59 BIJLAGE III. BETROUWBAARHEID VAN DE BEREKENDE STIKSTOFPLAFONDS 63 Kwalitatieve analyse 63 Kwantitatieve analyse 65 BIJLAGE IV. GEWASEMISSIES 67 Factoren die het compenstatiepunt voor NH 3 -emissie door gewassen bepalen 69
Forest Ecology and Management, Sep 25, 2009
In the Netherlands nitrogen control policy is focusing on reducing (i) leaching and runoff of N t... more In the Netherlands nitrogen control policy is focusing on reducing (i) leaching and runoff of N to ground water and surface water and (ii) emissions of ammonia (NH 3 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) to the atmosphere. An integrated N model is thus crucial to determine the (cost) effectiveness of measures at regional and national scale. Because existing models do not focus on the fluxes of all relevant reactive N compounds to different compartments and are mostly complex, parameter rich and data hungry, they are less suitable for an integrated evaluation of mitigation measures on a regional or national scale. Therefore, the integrated nitrogen model Initiator was developed, representing all crucial processes in the N chain by simple process descriptions. Here we address the plausibility of Initiator and demonstrate how the model can be used for the evaluation of mitigation strategies. Plausibility was judged on a comparison of the crucial model outputs (leaching and runoff of N to ground water and surface water and emissions of NH 3 and N 2 O to the atmosphere) with those of the complex national reference models and a comparison between modelled nitrate concentrations in groundwater with available measurements. Results show that the model performance of Initiator is comparable to that of complex references models,, especially when focussing at a national scale. Mitigation measures where evaluated on their environmental benefit and their cost effectiveness as well. Management measures appear to be rather cost effective in order to reduce the N losses to atmosphere and water compartments, but additional expensive technical measures are needed to comply with national and European directives on ammonia emissions to the
Excess nitrogen inputs by animal manure and fertilizer in the Netherlands do cause various effect... more Excess nitrogen inputs by animal manure and fertilizer in the Netherlands do cause various effects, such as (i) decreased plant species diversity of terrestrial ecosystems by eutrophication and acidification induced by elevated N deposition, (ii) decreased water quality and species diversity of aquatic ecosystems and eutrophication of coastal systems, mainly induced by runoff of N, (iii) high NO 3 concentrations in groundwater, used as drinking water with potential health impacts and (iv) elevated N 2 O emissions causing climate change. Apart from N emissions, excessive manure inputs also cause emissions of other greenhouse gases, mainly methane (CH 4 ), and accumulation and/or elevated leaching of various compounds to ground water and surface water. This paper presents an overview of the integrated model system IMITATOR predicting: (i) emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases (CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O) from animal housing systems, agricultural land and drained peat lands and (ii) accumulation and leaching and runoff of carbon, nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate and base cations) and metals from agricultural soils to ground water and surface water. Results of various mitigation measures in view of reducing emissions of nitrogen compounds to air, ground water and surface water, including improved farming practices and structural changes in agriculture, do have a positive spinoff on the emissions or accumulation of other compounds as illustrated in the paper.
The integrated modelling system INITIATOR was applied to a landscape in the northern part of the ... more The integrated modelling system INITIATOR was applied to a landscape in the northern part of the Netherlands to assess current nitrogen fluxes to air and water and the impact of various agricultural measures on these fluxes, using spatially explicit input data on animal numbers, land use, agricultural management, meteorology and soil. Average model results on NH 3 deposition and N concentrations in surface water appear to be comparable to observations, but the deviation can be large at local scale, despite the use of high resolution data. Evaluated measures include: air scrubbers reducing NH 3 emissions from poultry and pig housing systems, low protein feeding, reduced fertilizer amounts and low-emission stables for cattle. Low protein feeding and restrictive fertilizer application had the largest effect on both N inputs and N losses, resulting in N deposition reductions on Natura 2000 sites of 10% and 12%, respectively.
The Netherlands is "well known" for its nitrogen problems; it has one of the highest reactive nit... more The Netherlands is "well known" for its nitrogen problems; it has one of the highest reactive nitrogen (Nr) emission densities in the world. It is a small country at the delta of several large European rivers. Ever since the industrial revolution, there has been a growing excess of nutrients and related emissions into the atmosphere (ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide) and into groundwater and surface water (nitrate), leading to a large range of cascading environmental impacts. Vehicular traffic, sewage and animal husbandry are the main sources of oxidized and reduced forms of Nr. This paper provides an overview of the origin and fate of nitrogen in the Netherlands, the various reported impacts of nitrogen, the Dutch and European policies to reduce nitrogen emissions and related impacts. In addition, ways are presented to go forward to potentially solve the problems in a European perspective. Solutions include the improvement of nitrogen efficiencies in different systems, technological options and education.
Dit rapport bevat de resultaten van verkenningen die zijn uitgevoerd naar de effecten van maatreg... more Dit rapport bevat de resultaten van verkenningen die zijn uitgevoerd naar de effecten van maatregelen in de landbouw op de emissie van stikstof uit de landbouw naar de atmosfeer, grondwater en oppervlaktewater. Het doel van deze verkenningen is om de effectiviteit van de afzonderlijke maatregelen vast te stellen. De maatregelen, variërend van aanpassingen in het beweidingsregime tot emissieloze varkens- en pluimveebedrijven, zijn tevens gegroepeerd in een beheer- en een technisch scenario. Het beheerscenario, dat met name bestaat in het efficiënter gebruik van veevoer en dierlijke en kunstmeststoffen, blijkt met name effectief in het reduceren van de emissies naar grond- en oppervlaktewater. Het technische scenario, dat voornamelijk bestaat uit emissiebeperkingen uit stallen en opslagen, is met name effectief in het reduceren van ammoniakemissie naar de atmosfeer. Uit de verkenning blijkt dat het areaal waar de nitraatnorm voor grondwater wordt overschreden, vrij snel te reduceren is. Reducties in normoverschrijdingen voor het oppervlaktewater blijken lastiger te realiseren. Op provinciaal niveau zijn zowel het korte- als het langetermijndoel voor ammoniakemissie te realiseren. Op lokaal niveau blijft echter sprake van overschrijdingen.
BIJLAGE I. BEKNOPT OVERZICHT VAN DE MODELLEN STOFSTROMEN EN STONE 55 Overzicht van de stikstofcyc... more BIJLAGE I. BEKNOPT OVERZICHT VAN DE MODELLEN STOFSTROMEN EN STONE 55 Overzicht van de stikstofcyclus in het model STONE 55 Overzicht van het model Stofstromenmodel 56 BIJLAGE II. OPTIES VOOR HET KWANTIFICEREN VAN STIKSTOFPLAFONDS 59 BIJLAGE III. BETROUWBAARHEID VAN DE BEREKENDE STIKSTOFPLAFONDS 63 Kwalitatieve analyse 63 Kwantitatieve analyse 65 BIJLAGE IV. GEWASEMISSIES 67 Factoren die het compenstatiepunt voor NH 3 -emissie door gewassen bepalen 69