Research
Same farms, different answers: When nitrogen pollution estimates don't add up
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- California's Central Valley uses five data sets to estimate surplus nitrogen from synthetic fertilizer and livestock waste.
- Most other parts of the United States use only one or two such data sets.
- The article reports that estimates from these data sets can differ for the same farms.
Why it matters
Nitrogen surplus estimates guide pollution control policy, so disagreement between data sets affects how regulators and researchers assess nitrate risks to water and air.
Who’s affected
- researchers and regulators working on agricultural nitrogen pollution
- residents of California's Central Valley
- #nitrogen
- #agriculture
- #water quality
- #data sets
- #california
To reduce nitrogen pollution stemming from synthetic fertilizer and livestock waste, California's Central Valley relies on five data sets to estimate surplus nitrogen. However, most parts of the United States use just one or two data sets—the U.S. Department of Agriculture's…
Timeline
Earth News - Earth Science News, Earth Science, Climate Change
Same farms, different answers: When nitrogen pollution estimates don't add up
Earth News article on divergent Central Valley nitrogen estimates published