Developments in greenhouse gas emissions and net energy use in Danish agriculture - how to achieve substantial CO(2) reductions?

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture are a significant contributor to total Danish emissions. Consequently, much effort is currently given to the exploration of potential strategies to reduce agricultural emissions. This paper presents results from a study estimating agricultural GHG emissions in the form of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide (including carbon sources and sinks, and the impact of energy consumption/bioenergy production) from Danish agriculture in the years 1990–2010. An analysis of possible measures to reduce the GHG emissions indicated that a 50–70% reduction of agricultural emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 is achievable, including mitigation measures in relation to the handling of manure and fertilisers, optimization of animal feeding, cropping practices, and land use changes with more organic farming, afforestation and energy crops. In addition, the bioenergy production may be increased significantly without reducing the food production, whereby Danish agriculture could achieve a positive energy balance.     

Remediation of metal contaminated soil with mineral-amended composts

This study examined the use of two composts derived from green waste and sewage sludge, amended with minerals (clinoptilolite or bentonite), for the remediation of metal-contaminated brownfield sites to transform them into greenspace. Soils contaminated with high or low levels of metals were mixed with the mineral-enhanced composts at different ratios and assessed by leaching tests, biomass production and metal accumulation of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The results showed that the green waste compost reduced the leaching of Cd and Zn up to 48% whereas the composted sewage sludge doubled the leachate concentration of Zn. However, the same soil amended with composted sewage sludge showed an efficient reduction in plant concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb or Zn by up to 80%. The results suggest that metal immobilisation and bioavailability are governed by the formation of complexes between the metals and organic matter. The amendment with minerals had only limited effects.     

Zoogeography and diversity of euphausiids around southern Africa

Published and unpublished records of euphausiid distributions around southern Africa are examined for zoogeographic pattern and the results compared with patterns generated from intertidal data sets. Two basic groups of euphausiids are discerned from cluster analysis, corresponding to neritic and oceanic assemblages. Superimposed upon these are Indian Ocean (Agulhas Current) and Atlantic Ocean (Benguela Current) groups. Patterns of diversity and zoogeography generally conform to the large-scale hydrological features in the area. Diversity is higher in the oceanic than in neritic regions. Maximum diversity is recorded off Cape Point, where Indian, Atlantic and southern Ocean waters interact. Diversity is otherwise higher along the east coast, and particularly low in the nearshore waters of the Benguela Current. While particular species of euphausiids can be associated with Agulhas Current and Angola Current waters, westcoast communities lack any distinctive species, and this is discussed. Although the patterns of zoogeography observed for euphausiids are generally similar to those observed for rocky shore communities, there are clear differences between them that reflect their respective habitats and the influence that large-scale water movement has on each.     

Effects of farm heterogeneity and methods for upscaling on modelled nitrogen losses in agricultural landscapes

The aim of this study is to illustrate the importance of farm scale heterogeneity on nitrogen (N) losses in agricultural landscapes. Results are exemplified with a chain of N models calculating farm-N balances and distributing the N-surplus to N-losses (volatilisation, denitrification, leaching) and soil-N accumulation/release in a Danish landscape. Possible non-linearities in upscaling are assessed by comparing average model results based on (i) individual farm level calculations and (ii) averaged inputs at landscape level. Effects of the non-linearities that appear when scaling up from farm to landscape are demonstrated. Especially in relation to ammonia losses the non-linearity between livestock density and N-loss is significant (p > 0.999), with around 20–30% difference compared to a scaling procedure not taking this non-linearity into account. A significant effect of farm type on soil N accumulation (p > 0.95) was also identified and needs to be included when modelling landscape level N-fluxes and greenhouse gas emissions.     

Effects of amended compost on mobility and uptake of arsenic by rye grass in contaminated soil

Arsenic poses a major environmental and human health problem because of its carcinogenic nature and effect on the ecosystem. Therefore, a cost effective and socially acceptable technique is needed for its remediation. The effect of different combinations of compost amended with zeolite and/or iron oxide (up to 20% w/w) was tested on a contaminated soil with high arsenic levels (34470 mg kg(-1)). The bioavailability of arsenic was determined in terms of uptake by rye grass (Lolium perenne L.) under greenhouse experimental conditions. The results indicated that the arsenic concentrations in the rye grass was reduced to 2 mg kg(-1) dry weight by using 15% compost with 5% iron oxide and 15% compost with 5% zeolite. Less than 0.01% of the total arsenic content in the soil was being taken up by the plants. Both treatments were effective in establishing significantly higher plant growth on the contaminated soil compared to other treatments. The results from sequential extraction tests indicated that in all the compost-amended soils, there was a reduction in the soluble fraction (10-37%). Arsenic in soil was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results indicated that arsenic was distributed mostly within the matrix of iron and oxygen in treated samples. Amongst various treatment mixtures tested, high percent of compost (15%) with zeolite (5%) and/or iron oxide (5%) is effective in reducing arsenic uptake by plants and establish re-vegetation on the contaminated soil.     

Life-history correlates of extinction risk and recovery potential

Extinction risk is inversely associated with maximum per capita population growth rate (r(max)). However, this parameter is not known for most threatened species, underscoring the value in identifying correlates of r(max) that, in the absence of demographic data, would indirectly allow one to identify species and populations at elevated risk of extinction and their associated recovery potential. We undertook a comparative life-history analysis of 199 species from three taxonomic classes: Chondrichthyes (e.g., sharks; n = 82), Actinopterygii (teleost or bony fishes; n = 47), and Mammalia (n = 70, including 16 marine species). Median r(max) was highest for (and similar between) terrestrial mammals (0.71) and teleosts (0.43), significantly lower among chondrichthyans (0.26), and lower still in marine mammals (0.07). Age at maturity was the primary (and negative) correlate of r(max). In contrast, although body size was negatively correlated with r(max) in chondrichthyans and mammals, evidence of an association in teleosts was equivocal, and fecundity was not related to r(max) in fishes, despite recurring assertions to the contrary. Our analyses suggest that age at maturity can serve as a universal predictor of extinction risk in fishes and mammals when r(max) itself is unknown. Moreover, in contrast to what is generally expected, the recovery potential of teleost fishes does not differ from that of terrestrial mammals. Our findings are supportive of the application of extinction-risk criteria that are based on generation time and that are independent of taxonomic affinity.