Improper use of animal manure

Animal manure has been promoted as a more circular and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers. However, the use of manure can have negative environmental impacts if it is not properly treated or applied. It can lead to leaching of phosphate and nitrate into groundwater and surface water, ammonia emissions into the atmosphere and acidification due to nitrogen deposition. In addition, land application of manure can lead to deterioration of soil quality and soil life.

Nº 44


  • Land, Food & Agriculture
  • Waste Reduction
  • Promotion of Organic Fertilizers
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made

Improper use of animal manure

Animal manure has been promoted as a more circular and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers. However, the use of manure can have negative environmental impacts if it is not properly treated or applied. It can lead to leaching of phosphate and nitrate into groundwater and surface water, ammonia emissions into the atmosphere and acidification due to nitrogen deposition. In addition, land application of manure can lead to deterioration of soil quality and soil life.

The Netherlands has a highly concentrated livestock industry, which results in the production of significant amounts of manure. In order to manage this surplus, the practice of applying manure directly to the soil has become more widespread. Unfortunately, the improper treatment of manure has led to the leaching of phosphate and nitrate into surface and groundwater, increasing ammonia emissions and contributing to soil acidification.

  • Facilitated the efforts to address the initial problem
  • Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other); Multilple (effects disconected from each other)

Wageningen University and Research. (2014). Manure – A valueable resource. https://www.wur.nl/en/dossiers/file/manure-1.htm#:~:text=If%20manure%20is%20not%20processed,environment%20and%20cut%20back%20emissions

Toth, J. D., Dou, Z., Ferguson, J. D., Galligan, D. T., & Ramberg Jr, C. F. (2006). Nitrogen‐vs. phosphorus‐based dairy manure applications to field crops: Nitrate and phosphorus leaching and soil phosphorus accumulation. Journal of environmental quality, 35(6), 2302-2312.

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