Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide fluxes differ from tea plantation and tropical forest soils after nitrogen addition

South Asia is experiencing a rapid increase in nitrogen (N) pollution which is predicted to continue in the future. One of the possible implications is an increase in gaseous reactive N losses from soil, notably in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO). Current knowledge of N2O and NO dynamics in forest ecosystems is not sufficient to understand and mitigate the impacts on climate and air quality. In order to improve the understanding of emissions from two major land uses in Sri Lanka, we investigated the emission potential for N2O and NO fluxes measured by absorption spectroscopy and chemiluminescence, respectively, in response to three different N addition levels (the equivalent of 0, 40 and 100 kg N ha−1 yr.−1 deposition in the form of NH4+) from soils of two typical land uses in Sri Lanka: a secondary montane tropical forest and a tea plantation using soil laboratory incubations of repacked soil cores. We observed an increase in NO fluxes which was directly proportional to the amount of N applied in line with initial expectations (maximum flux ranging from 6–8 ng NO-N g−1 d−1 and from 16–68 ng NO-N g−1 d−1 in forest and tea plantation soils, respectively). However, fluxes of N2O did not show a clear response to N addition, the highest treatment (100 N) did not result in the highest fluxes. Moreover, fluxes of N2O were higher following the addition of a source of carbon (in the form of glucose) across treatment levels and both land uses (maximum flux of 2–34 ng N2O-N g−1 d−1 in forest and 808–3,939 ng N2O-N g−1 d−1 in tea plantation soils). Both N2O and NO fluxes were higher from tea plantation soils compared to forest soils irrespective of treatment level, thus highlighting the importance of land use and land management for gaseous reactive N fluxes and therefore N dynamics

A low-tech, low-cost method to capture point-source ammonia emissions and their potential use as a nitrogen fertiliser

Rising global energy prices have led to increased costs of nitrogen (N) fertilisers for farmers, but N pollution (losses) from agricultural activities can account for over 50% of the nitrogen applied. This study assesses the feasibility of a low-cost and low-tech method of NH3 emission capture from an agricultural point source (chicken manure) using a water column bubbling technique, and its application as a fertiliser to several plant types. Solutions of i) nitric acid (HNO3), ii) calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), iii) a mixture of Ca(NO3)2 and HNO3 and iv) deionised H2O were used to scrub NH3 from air pumped from a storage container containing chicken manure. We conclude that NH3 can be captured from manure using low-tech methods, and that solutions of common fertiliser compounds such as ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate can be replicated by binding captured NH3 to solutions of nitrate. Our results suggest that dissolved calcium nitrate is just as effective at scrubbing NH3 from the atmosphere as nitric acid at low concentrations, but could do so at a near neutral pH. For use on common silage grass for livestock feed, all of the captured ammonium solutions significantly increased yields, including the ammonium only solution. However, the aquatic plants (Taxiphyllum Barbieri and Salvinia auriculata) did not respond favourably to a high ratio of NH4+ in solution, and in the case of Salvinia auriculata, the plant was significantly damaged by the ammonium only solution. In conclusion, we highlight that the capture and utilisation of NH3 emissions from point sources is possible using very basic apparatus and that if used correctly, this captured nitrogen can be stored and applied to crops in a variety of forms which could reduce reliance and cost of mineral fertiliser use.<br/

A low-tech, low-cost method to capture point-source ammonia emissions and their potential use as a nitrogen fertiliser

Rising global energy prices have led to increased costs of nitrogen (N) fertilisers for farmers, but N pollution (losses) from agricultural activities can account for over 50% of the nitrogen applied. This study assesses the feasibility of a low-cost and low-tech method of NH3 emission capture from an agricultural point source (chicken manure) using a water column bubbling technique, and its application as a fertiliser to several plant types. Solutions of i) nitric acid (HNO3), ii) calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), iii) a mixture of Ca(NO3)2 and HNO3 and iv) deionised H2O were used to scrub NH3 from air pumped from a storage container containing chicken manure. We conclude that NH3 can be captured from manure using low-tech methods, and that solutions of common fertiliser compounds such as ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate can be replicated by binding captured NH3 to solutions of nitrate. Our results suggest that dissolved calcium nitrate is just as effective at scrubbing NH3 from the atmosphere as nitric acid at low concentrations, but could do so at a near neutral pH. For use on common silage grass for livestock feed, all of the captured ammonium solutions significantly increased yields, including the ammonium only solution. However, the aquatic plants (Taxiphyllum Barbieri and Salvinia auriculata) did not respond favourably to a high ratio of NH4+ in solution, and in the case of Salvinia auriculata, the plant was significantly damaged by the ammonium only solution. In conclusion, we highlight that the capture and utilisation of NH3 emissions from point sources is possible using very basic apparatus and that if used correctly, this captured nitrogen can be stored and applied to crops in a variety of forms which could reduce reliance and cost of mineral fertiliser use

UKCEH at the Edinburgh Climate Festival, 14th Aug 2021, Leith Links, Edinburgh

In total over 200 people engaged with the UKCEH Team between noon and 6 pm on the 14th Aug 2021 at the Edinburgh Climate Festival. The stand fulfilled its aim to raise awareness of publicly funded research conducted at UKCEH Edinburgh, including the national capability project UK-SCAPE, as evidenced by the number of people attracted into the stand, the remarks made in conversations with the team members and written in the answers to the poster quiz. Three activities were offered to target different age groups: • Carbon Game – target children- duration typically 2-4 min, estimated 100 children and adults participated • Intergenerational trend in CO2 concentration – target all age ranges – duration typically 1 to 5 min, estimated 80 children and adults participated • Poster quiz – target adults - duration typically 5-20 min, 42 primarily adults participated. A wide range of conversations were noted by the UKCEH team members primarily focused on: • the role of carbon in the environment and link to climate change • the steep rise in CO2 concentration in the lifetime of the people present • the range of science conducted at a local institution • the variety of options that people could make to their life choices that could improve the environment • routes for a career in STEM subjects

Climate emergency summit III:nature-based solutions report

An RSGS &amp; SNH report from the Climate Summit held in April 2020"The Climate Emergency is the result of burning fossils fuels and changes in the way we use the land that short-circuit global carbon and nitrogen cycles. To remain within safe climate limits (1.5-2°C), the remaining carbon budget for all people, and for all time, is now so small that stopping fossil fuel use, while essential, will not by itself address the problem. Changing the way we use the land and sea is now essential. Nature-based solutions are vital to creating a safe operating space for humanity. "Extract from the foreword by Dr Clive Mitchell, Outcome Manager: People and Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage. The report has 45 contributors for a variety of institutions

Estimation of ammonia deposition to forest ecosystems in Scotland and Sri Lanka using wind-controlled NH3 enhancement experiments

Ammonia (NH3) pollution has emerged as a major cause of concern as atmospheric concentrations continue to increase globally. Environmentally damaging NH3 levels are expected to severely affect sensitive and economically important organisms, but evidence is lacking in many parts of the world. We describe the design and operation of a wind-controlled NH3 enhancement system to assess effects on forests in two contrasting climates. We established structurally identical NH3 enhancement systems in a temperate birch woodland in the UK and a tropical sub-montane forest in central Sri Lanka, both simulating real-world NH3 pollution conditions. Vertical and horizontal NH3 concentrations were monitored at two different time scales to understand NH3 transport within the forest canopies. We applied a bi-directional resistance model with four canopy layers to calculate net deposition fluxes. At both sites, NH3 concentrations and deposition were found to decrease exponentially with distance away from the source, consistent with expectations. Conversely, we found differences in vertical mixing of NH3 between the two experiments, with more vertically uniform NH3 concentrations in the dense and multi-layered sub-montane forest canopy in Sri Lanka. Monthly NH3 concentrations downwind of the source ranged from 3 to 29 μg m−3 at the UK site and 2–47 μg m−3 at the Sri Lankan site, compared with background values of 0.63 and 0.35 μg m−3, respectively. The total calculated NH3 dry deposition flux to all the canopy layers along the NH3 transects ranged from 12 to 162 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in the UK and 16–426 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in Sri Lanka, representative of conditions in the vicinity of a range of common NH3 sources. This multi-layer model is applicable for identifying the fate of NH3 in forest ecosystems where the gas enters the canopy laterally through the trunk space and exposes the understorey to high NH3 levels. In both study sites, we found that cuticular deposition was the dominant flux in the vegetation layers, with a smaller contribution from stomatal uptake. The new facilities are now allowing the first ever field comparison of NH3 impacts on forest ecosystems, with special focus on lichen bio-indicators, which will provide vital evidence to inform NH3 critical levels and associated nitrogen policy development in South Asia

Consumers` satisfaction and attitudes to health tourism in the Varna region

Introduction: Modern lifestyle and the increasing number of chronic diseases prompt people to look for new ways for recovery. One of them is health tourism. It helps people to maintain, stabilize and re­store their physical and mental condition. The aim of the research is to study the attitudes of consum­ers towards the health tourism opportunities in the Varna region.Materials and methods: The research is based on a quantitative sociological survey, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 19 questions arranged into two sections, ex­ploring rehabilitation procedures on one hand and opportunities for health tourism on another. The survey was carried out among 119 tourists in the Varna region between 1st and 14th December 2017.Results: Consumers of recreation and rehabilitation health services assess the health tourism services in the Varna region positively in general (`excellent` - 7.6%, `very good` - 28% and `good` - 33.9%). Among the strengths of the Varna region as a health tourism destination, the respondents point out the favourable location (44.8%), high quality and complexity of the tourist products, including an op­portunity to combine health services with other forms of alternative tourism, such as cultural, eco­logical, rural (42.2%). Among the weak points of Varna as a destination are the polluted environment (39%), the outdated facilities (36%), and the lack of modern medical equipment (28%). Users find spe­cific information about the destination mainly on the Internet (75%) and get advice from friends and acquaintances (49.1%).Conclusions: Although the Varna region possesses all required prerequisites to become a preferred destination for health tourism, there is a need to streamline the users` sources of information and to improve the image of the region as a destination for health tourism, together with an improvement of the environment and providers` infrastructure

Meteorological data and ammonia concentration and deposition rates from an ammonia enhancement experiment site, Queensberry, Sri Lanka, 2022

This dataset contains information about meteorological conditions and ammonia concentration and deposition rates resulting from an experimental setup. An NH3 enhancement experiment along with a full suite of multi-height meteorological measurements was established in a tropical forest in central Sri Lanka. Under suitable wind conditions measured at the meteorological tower, NH3 is released towards two monitoring transects. Along the downwind monitoring transects, NH3 concentrations in the air are measured using monthly passive samplers. Deposition rates are modelled using a bi-directional resistance model based on measured NH3 concentrations in the air, micrometeorology and plant physiology. Additionally, NH3 concentrations were measured at high temporal resolution at a fixed downwind distance from the source to achieve the target enhancement concentrations. The work was supported by UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (Grant NE/S009019/1)

Meteorological data and ammonia concentration and deposition rates from an ammonia enhancement experiment site, Glencorse, UK, 2021-2022

This dataset contains information about meteorological conditions and ammonia concentration and deposition rates resulting from an experimental setup. An NH3 enhancement experiment along with a full suite of multi-height meteorological measurements was established in a Birch woodland near Edinburgh, UK. Under suitable wind conditions measured at the meteorological tower, NH3 is released towards a monitoring transect. Along the downwind monitoring transect, NH3 concentrations in the air are measured using monthly passive samplers. Deposition rates are modelled using a bi-directional resistance model based on measured NH3 concentrations in the air, micrometeorology and plant physiology. Additionally, NH3 concentrations were measured at high temporal resolution at a fixed downwind distance from the source to achieve the target enhancement concentrations. The work was supported by UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (Grant NE/S009019/1) and NERC (Grant NE/R016429/1). Funding: Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/S009019/