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Abatement of Agricultural Non-Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

Table of Contents

• Abatement of Agricultural Non-Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Disclaimer
• Foreword
• Foreword - Chair Review Team
• Part One- A Strategy and Priorities for Future Research on the Abatement of Agricultural Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions: Conclusions and Recommendations
  • Introduction
  • A Strategic Framework
  • A Definition of Greenhouse Gas Abatement Research
  • Desired Outcomes and Strategic Objectives
• A Research Strategy
• Nitrous Oxide: Abatement Technologies and Recommended Research
  • Research Priorities
• Methane: Abatement Technologies and Recommended Research
  • Research Priorities
• Opportunities for Synergy in the Research Strategy
• Other Research Needs
  • Measurement of Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions
  • Modeling Capability
• Funding
  • Table 1: Estimated Number of Additional Scientists and their Associated Costs Needed to Mount the Recommended Research Programme
• Management of the Research Programme
  • Collaboration with Other Countries
• Part Two - An Assessment of the Needs for Research on the Abatement of Non-Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture: A Review of Current and Published Research
  • Executive Summary
  • National Inventory
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Methane
  • Whole Farm Systems
  • A Framework for Developing a Research Strategy
• Chapter 1 - Introduction
  • Table 1.1: Sources of Natural and Anthropogenic Methane and Nitrous oxide
  • References
• Chapter 2 - Terms of Reference and Review Methods
  • 2.1 Terms of Reference
  • 2.2 The Reviewers
  • 2.3 Scope
  • 2.4 Review Process
  • 2.5 Approach
• Chapter 3 - A Summary of Current Research Investment in New Zealand
  • Summary
  • Table 3.1: Summary of Research Expenditure in 2000/01 by Type
  • Table 3.2: Research Expenditure by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology (FRST) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) on Greenhouse Gas Research
  • Table 3.3: Expenditure on Nitrous Oxide, Methane and Related Research (1999- 2002)
  • Conclusions
  • References
• Chapter 4 - New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Contribution from Agriculture
  • Summary
    • Table 4.1: Summary of New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • 4.1 Estimation of Agricultural Methane Emissions
    • 4.1.1 Estimation of methane from enteric fermentation
      • Figure 4.1 Elements of the Model Used to Estimate Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminants
      • Table 4.2: Productivity Gains in the New Zealand Sheep Industry in the Period 1986/87 to 1999/00
      • Table 4.3: Predicted Total and Per Animal Methane Emissions for 2010 Compared with 1990 Levels
    • 4.1.2 Methane emissions from animal manure management
    • 4.1.3 Methane emissions from the field burning of agricultural residues
  • 4.2 The Estimation of Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Production Systems
    • Figure 4.3: Indirect Nitrous Oxide Emissions
    • Table 4.4: Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Production in 2000
    • 4.2.1 The effect of animal numbers and productivity
    • 4.2.2 Specific nitrous oxide emission factor
    • 4.2.3 Use of nitrogen fertiliser
  • 4.3 Uncertainty
  • 4.4 Research to Improve the National Inventory
    • Table 4.6: Current Research to Improve the National Inventory
  • 4.5 Conclusions
    • References
• Chapter 5 - The Measurement of Agricultural Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions
  • Summary
  • 5.1 Measurement of Methane Emission
    • 5.1.1 Calorimeter/respiration chamber
    • 5.1.2 Tracer gas techniques
    • 5.1.3 Alternative methods for measuring methane emission in the field
    • 5.1.4 Prediction with regression equations
    • 5.1.5 Prediction with dynamic mathematical models
    • 5.1.6 Choice of a method for grazing animals
    • 5.1.7 Conclusions
    • References
  • 5.2 Measuring Nitrous Oxide Emission from Soil
    • 5.2.1 Chamber methods
    • 5.2.2 Micrometeorological methods
    • References
• Chapter 6 - Nitrous Oxide: Production, Sources and Abatement Options
  • Summary
  • 6.1 Introduction
    • Figure 6.1: Production of Nitrous Oxide by Nitrification and Denitrification
    • Figure 6.2: A conceptual Model of the Two Levels of Regulation of Nitrous Oxide Production by Nitrification and Denitrification: (i) The Flow of Nitrogen through the Process Pipes, and (ii) The Holes in the Pipes through which the Nitrous Oxide Leaks
  • 6.2 Factors Controlling the Formation of Nitrous Oxide
  • 6.3 Biomass Burning
  • 6.4. Nitrogen Inputs to Agriculture
    • Table 6.1: Input of Nitrogen to New Zealand Soils in 2000¹.
    • Figure 6.3: Fertiliser Use in New Zealand (1960-2001)
  • 6.5 Nitrous Oxide Emissions from New Zealand Agriculture
    • Table 6.2: Nitrous Oxide Inventory for New Zealand in 2000¹
  • 6.6 Management Practices to Decrease Nitrous Oxide Emission
    • 6.6.1 Direct emissions from soil
    • 6.6.1.1 Synthetic fertiliser and manure nitrogen
      • Table 6.3: Practices to Improve Efficiency of Use of Synthetic Fertiliser and Manure Nitrogen in Agriculture¹
    • 6.6.1.1.1 Match nitrogen supply with crop demand
    • 6.6.1.1.2 Tighten nitrogen flow cycles
    • 6.6.1.1.3 Use advanced fertilisation techniques
      • Table 6.4: Effect of Nitrification Inhibitors on Nitrous Oxide Emission (g N ha^-1 day^-1) ¹
    • 6.6.1.1.4 Optimise tillage, irrigation and drainage
    • 6.6.2 Direct emissions from animal production
    • 6.6.2.1 Wastes from housed animals
    • 6.6.2.2 Excreta deposited during grazing
      • Table 6.5: Efficiency of Nitrogen Use in Global Animal Production¹
      • Table 6.6: Amounts of Nitrogen Excreted on to Pasture in New Zealand in 1997¹
      • Table 6.7: Practices to decrease the emission of nitrous oxide resulting from animals grazing on pasture
    • 6.6.2.2.1 Grassland management
    • 6.6.2.2.2 Livestock production management
  • 6.6.3 Indirect emissions
    • 6.6.3.1 Atmospheric deposition
    • 6.6.3.2 Nitrate leaching and run-off
      • Figure 6.4: Relationship between Mineral Leached Per Annum and the Amount of Potentially Leacable N in the Soil
  • 6.7 Modeling
  • 6.8 Costs and Benefits of Adopting Mitigation Options
    • Table 6.8: Potential Costs and Benefits of Mitigation Options Applied to Main Sources of Nitrous Oxide
  • 6.10 Research on Nitrous Oxide Emission and Mitigation in New Zealand
    • 6.10.1 Processes
    • 6.10.2 Inventory
    • 6.10.3 Mitigation
    • 6.10.4 Modeling
    • 6.10.5 Farming systems
  • References
• Chapter 7 - Methane: Sources, Processes and Abatement Options
  • Summary
  • 7.1 Processes
    • 7.1.1 Digestion in the rumen
    • 7.1.1.1 Physiological parameters of the rumen
    • 7.1.1.2 Microbial synthesis of methane in the rumen
    • 7.1.2 Large intestinal methane production
    • 7.1.3 Methane emission from the degradation of faeces (manure)
    • 7.1.4 Soil as a source or sink for methane
  • 7.2 Sources of Methane
    • 7.2.1 Ruminant animals
      • Table 7.1: Measurements of Methane Emission from Various Classes of Grazing Ruminants in New Zealand 
      • Table 7.2: Methane Emission from Sheep and Dairy Cows Fed a Range of Diets Indoors
    • 7.2.2 Faeces
    • 7.2.3 Methane from effluent ponds
    • 7.2.4 Sources and sinks of methane in the soil
    • 7.2.5 Conclusions
  • 7.3 Factors Affecting Methane Emission
    • 7.3.1 Feed intake
      • Figure 7.1: Methane Emission Versus DM Intake in a Group of 50 Sheep Grazed on the Same Pasture (n=5)
      • Figure 7.2: Methane Emission Per Unit of Feed Intake Plotted against DM Intake in Sheep Grazing the Same Pasture
    • 7.3.2 Diet composition
    • 7.3.3 Digestibility
    • 7.3.4 Other factors
  • 7.4 Mitigation
    • 7.4.1 Reduction in livestock numbers
    • 7.4.2 Increasing the efficiency of livestock production
      • Table 7.5: A Calculation of the Proportion of the Methane Emission Attributable to Maintenance or Milk Production in 450 kg Grazing Dairy Cows
    • 7.4.2.3 Dietary manipulation
      • Table 7.7: A Calculation of the Effect of Feed Quality on Methane Emission of Cows at the Same Level of Milk Production
    • 7.4.2.4 Metabolic efficiency
      • Table 7.8: Calculated Effect of Bovine Somototrophin (bST) on Methane Emission by Lactating Cows
    • 7.4.3 Genetic improvement in animals to reduce methane emission
      • Table 7.9: Methane Emission (g/kg DMI) from Dairy Cows of Two Genotypes Fed Two Different Diets. TMR = Total mixed rations.
    • 7.4.4 Feed additives
      • 7.4.4.1 Alternative hydrogen acceptors
      • 7.4.4.2 Halogenated methane analogues
      • 7.4.4.3 Antibiotics
      • 7.4.4.4 Defaunating agents
      • 7.4.4.5 Probiotics
      • 7.4.4.7 Naturally ocurring plant compounds
    • 7.4.5 Immunisation
    • 7.4.6 Manipulation of the rumen microbial ecosystem
    • 7.4.7 Management of methane emissions at the farm-scale
    • 7.4.8 Conclusions
  • 7.5 Current Research on Methane in New Zealand
    • 7.5.1 Inventory
    • 7.5.2 Mitigation
    • 7.5.3 Methodology
    • 7.5.4 Models and systems approaches
    • References
• Chapter 8 - The Management of Emissions through Farming Practices
  • Summary
  • 8.1 Management of Methane Emissions at the Farm-scale
  • 8.1.1 Conclusions
  • 8.2 Systems Approach for Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emission
    • Table 8.1: Important Options to be Considered at Tactical and Operational Levels in Farming Systems
  • References
• Chapter 9 - A Framework for Future Research Investment
  • Summary
  • 9.1 Definition of the Types of Research that may be Considered as Abatement or Mitigation Research
  • 9.2 A Framework for Identifying, Considering and Prioritising Research to Maximise Abatement Opportunities
  • 9.3 Criteria for Identifying, Considering and Prioritising Relevant Research
    • Figure 9.1: A Suggested Framework for the Development of a Greenhouse Gas Research Strategy
• Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations and Symbols
• Appendix 1: Terms of Reference
  • Introduction
  • Outputs
  • Reviewers
  • Accountability
  • Process
• Appendix 2: Summary of Current Research Programmes
• Part Three: Joint New Zealand/Australia Workshop
  • Introduction
  • Objectives of the Workshop
• Opening Addresses
  • New Zealand
  • Australia
• Introductory Papers
  • New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Contribution from Agriculture - Dr Peter O'Hara
  • Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agriculture - Dr John Freney
  • Past and Present Research on Methane Emissions - Dr Marc Ulyatt
  • Similarities and Differences in the Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gas Emission Profiles of Australia and New Zealand:
• Workshops on Research Priorities
  • Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agriculture
  • Sources and processes
  • Strategies for Emission Reduction
  • Measurement, inventory and verification
  • Cropping systems
  • Intensive animal systems
  • Extensive livestock systems
  • Reducing Methane Emissions from Agriculture
  • Sources and processes
  • Abatement technologies
  • Inventory, verification
  • Rumen manipulation
  • Diet manipulation
  • Animal genetics
  • Farm-scale management of methane emissions
  • Inventory, verification
• Conclusions on Strategic Issues
• A Summary of International Experience
• Final Communiqué
• Networking
  • Australian Attendees and Guests
  • New Zealand Attendees and Guests
  • International Attendees
• PDF Version

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