Organisation - June 13, 2013
Ammonia measurement methods are OK
No doubts about measurements of ammonia emissions.
But method is described as 'dated'.
The British scientist Mark Sutton of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in Edinburgh has now given a definite answer. The integrated horizontal flux method on which the Dutch emission factors are based is a scientifically solid basis for determining the ammonia emissions from manure, concludes Sutton. In contrast, the tunnel method used by Lantinga is not a good measure. Besides Sutton, two experts from France and Denmark reached the same conclusion.
Sutton does make the comment that the Wageningen method is rather dated. 'The Netherlands used to be a world leader in the estimation of ammonia emissions, but the scientific supporting data is from the 1980s and 1990s.' The Dutch contribution in this field has stagnated since then as the government has been investing less money in ammonia research, notes Sutton. State secretary Dijksma has responded to Sutton's signal. In her letter to Parliament, she says she aims to make funds available for new field measurements using the latest scientific measurement methods.