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Pratt C, Mahdi Z, El Hanandeh A. 'Climate Healing Stones': Common Minerals Offer Substantial Climate Change Mitigation Potential. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 73:1167-1179. [PMID: 38374402 PMCID: PMC11136852 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01945-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
This review proposes that mineral-based greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation could be developed into a substantial climate change abatement tool. This proposal was evaluated via three objectives: (1) synthesise literature studies documenting the effectiveness of geological minerals at mitigating GHG emissions; (2) quantify, via meta-analysis, GHG magnitudes that could be abated by minerals factoring-in the carbon footprint of the approach; and (3) estimate the global availability of relevant minerals. Several minerals have been effectively harnessed across multiple sectors-including agriculture, waste management and coal mining-to mitigate carbon dioxide/CO2 (e.g., olivine), methane/CH4 (e.g., allophane, gypsum) and nitrous oxide/N2O (e.g., vermiculite) emissions. High surface area minerals offer substantial promise to protect soil carbon, albeit their potential impact here is difficult to quantify. Although mineral-based N2O reduction strategies can achieve gross emission reduction, their application generates a net carbon emission due to prohibitively large mineral quantities needed. By contrast, mineral-based technologies could abate ~9% and 11% of global CO2 and CH4 anthropogenic emissions, respectively. These estimates conservatively only consider options which offer additional benefits to climate change mitigation (e.g., nutrient supply to agricultural landscapes, and safety controls in landfill operations). This multi-benefit aspect is important due to the reluctance to invest in stand-alone GHG mitigation technologies. Minerals that exhibit high GHG mitigation potential are globally abundant. However, their application towards a dedicated global GHG mitigation initiative would entail significant escalation of their current production rates. A detailed cost-benefit analysis and environmental and social footprint assessment is needed to ascertain the strategy's scale-up potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Pratt
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Zainab Mahdi
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Ali El Hanandeh
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.
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Li T, Wang Z, Wang C, Huang J, Feng Y, Shen W, Zhou M, Yang L. Ammonia volatilization mitigation in crop farming: A review of fertilizer amendment technologies and mechanisms. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 303:134944. [PMID: 35577135 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Good practices in controlling ammonia produced from the predominant agricultural contributor, crop farming, are the most direct yet effective approaches for mitigating ammonia emissions and further relieving air pollution. Of all the practices that have been investigated in recent decades, fertilizer amendment technologies are garnering increased attention as the low nitrogen use efficiency in most applied quick-acting fertilizers is the main cause of high ammonia emissions. This paper systematically reviews the fertilizer amendment technologies and associated mechanisms that have been developed for ammonia control, especially the technology development of inorganic additives-based complex fertilizers, coating-based enhanced efficiency fertilizers, organic waste-based resource fertilizers and microbial agent and algae-based biofertilizers, and their corresponding mechanisms in farmland properties shifting towards inhibiting ammonia volatilization and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency. The systematic analysis of the literature shows that both enhanced efficiency fertilizers technique and biofertilizers technique present outstanding ammonia inhibition performance with an average mitigation efficiency of 54% and 50.1%, respectively, which is mainly attributed to the slowing down in release and hydrolysis of nitrogen fertilizer, the enhancement in the adsorption and retention of NH4+/NH3 in soil, and the promotion in the microbial consumption of NH4+ in soil. Furthermore, a combined physical and chemical means, namely membrane/film-based mulching technology, for ammonia volatilization inhibition is also evaluated, which is capable of increasing the resistance of ammonia volatilization. Finally, the review addresses the challenges of mitigating agricultural ammonia emissions with the aim of providing an outlook for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianling Li
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, PR China; Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Zhengguo Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, PR China
| | - Chenxu Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, PR China
| | - Jiayu Huang
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, PR China
| | - Yanfang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, PR China
| | - Weishou Shen
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, PR China
| | - Ming Zhou
- Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Linzhang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, PR China
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Ossowski M, Wlazło Ł, Nowakowicz-Dębek B, Florek M. Effect of Natural Sorbents in the Diet of Fattening Pigs on Meat Quality and Suitability for Processing. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102930. [PMID: 34679951 PMCID: PMC8532964 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of three natural sorbents added to the diet of pigs on the composition and physicochemical properties of two skeletal muscles-the musculusLongissimuslumborum (MLL) and musculussemimembranosus (MSM) of crossbred pigs were evaluated. The experiment was carried out on a farm in two production cycles. The addition of biochar (trial 1) significantly influenced instrumental color parameters, shear force and energy, and the oxidative stability of the skeletal muscles, while the proximate composition, pH, texture, and water-holding capacity (WHC) parameters did not differ significantly between groups in either of the two muscles. Similarly, no statistical differences were noted in the proximate chemical composition, texture parameters, or WHC of the meat in trial 2. The addition of both sorbents was associated with a significantly (p ≤ 0.01) lower content of haem pigments in the MLL and MSM, which was accompanied by a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher lightness (L*). Moreover, the MLL muscle of the pigs had higher oxidative stability, as well as lower drip loss (DL). In turn, the MSM of pigs had a significantly lower pH compared to the control group, however, the ultimate pH (48 h) in all groups was within the acceptable range (5.50-5.80). Summing up, the sorbents used are a safe ingredient in the diet of pigs, however, there is a need to continue and strengthen this line of research, including the relationships linking the future production goals of pig farming and processing potential in the meat industry with current climate policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Ossowski
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (M.O.); (B.N.-D.)
| | - Łukasz Wlazło
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (M.O.); (B.N.-D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-445-69-98
| | - Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (M.O.); (B.N.-D.)
| | - Mariusz Florek
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland;
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Organic Wastes Amended with Sorbents Reduce N2O Emissions from Sugarcane Cropping. ENVIRONMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/environments8080078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Nutrient-rich organic wastes and soil ameliorants can benefit crop performance and soil health but can also prevent crop nutrient sufficiency or increase greenhouse gas emissions. We hypothesised that nitrogen (N)-rich agricultural waste (poultry litter) amended with sorbents (bentonite clay or biochar) or compost (high C/N ratio) attenuates the concentration of inorganic nitrogen (N) in soil and reduces emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). We tested this hypothesis with a field experiment conducted on a commercial sugarcane farm, using in vitro incubations. Treatments received 160 kg N ha−1, either from mineral fertiliser or poultry litter, with additional N (2–60 kg N ha−1) supplied by the sorbents and compost. Crop yield was similar in all N treatments, indicating N sufficiency, with the poultry litter + biochar treatment statistically matching the yield of the no-N control. Confirming our hypothesis, mineral N fertiliser resulted in the highest concentrations of soil inorganic N, followed by poultry litter and the amended poultry formulations. Reflecting the soil inorganic N concentrations, the average N2O emission factors ranked as per the following: mineral fertiliser 8.02% > poultry litter 6.77% > poultry litter + compost 6.75% > poultry litter + bentonite 5.5% > poultry litter + biochar 3.4%. All emission factors exceeded the IPCC Tier 1 default for managed soils (1%) and the Australian Government default for sugarcane soil (1.25%). Our findings reinforce concerns that current default emissions factors underestimate N2O emissions. The laboratory incubations broadly matched the field N2O emissions, indicating that in vitro testing is a cost-effective first step to guide the blending of organic wastes in a way that ensures N sufficiency for crops but minimises N losses. We conclude that suitable sorbent-waste formulations that attenuate N release will advance N efficiency and the circular nutrient economy.
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Inorganic and Organic Amendments Affect Soil Fertility, Nutrition, Photosystem II Activity, and Fruit Weight and May Enhance the Sustainability of Solanum lycopersicon L. (cv. ‘Mountain Fresh’) Crop. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12219028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
One of the most important issues for modern agriculture is how to decrease fertilization rates and enhance the sustainability of crops, without decreasing yields. Two inorganic (zeolite—zeo; vermiculite—ver) amendments and their mixtures with an organic soil amendment (goat manure) (i.e., zeo + ver, manure + ver, manure + zeo) were tested, and compared to the application of a controlled release fertilizer (CRF), in order to investigate if they were able to satisfy the nutritional needs of Solanum lycopersicon L. plants. For this purpose, a 112-day pot experiment was performed. After zeo and manure application, exchangeable K was increased from 16.5 times to 37.5 times. At the end of the experiment, total plant biomass was significantly higher in the CRF treatment, compared to the ver treatments (ver, ver + manure). Leaf K concentration was significantly higher in the zeo treatment (5.93% dw), compared to those determined in the CRF, ver, and ver + manure. In contrast, significantly higher foliar N was found in the CRF (4.83% dw) and zeo + ver (4.24% dw) treatments, compared to manure + ver. Finally, photosystem II (PSII) activity was significantly higher in ver, and this was ascribed to the optimum foliar Mn found in this treatment (138 mg kg−1 dw). It is expected that these data will provide a thorough insight towards decreasing chemical fertilization inputs and enhancing the sustainability of Solanum lycopersicon L. crop.
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Chin A, Schmidt S, Buckley S, Pirie R, Redding M, Laycock B, Luckman P, Batstone DJ, Robinson N, Brackin R. Sorbents can tailor nitrogen release from organic wastes to match the uptake capacity of crops. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 645:1474-1483. [PMID: 30248869 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Delivering nutrients from mineral or organic fertilizers out of synchrony with crop uptake causes inefficiencies and pollution. We explore methodologies for evaluating sorbents as additives to organic agricultural wastes to retain nitrogen in an exchangeable form and deliver at rates that approximate the uptake capacity of roots. Focussing on ammonium (NH4+) as the main inorganic nitrogen form in the studied wastes (sugarcane mill mud, poultry litter), we tested geo-sorbents and biochar for their ability to retain NH4+. Sorption capacity was ranked palagonite < bentonite, biochar, vermiculite < chabazite, clinoptilolite (5.7 to 24.3 mg NH4+ g-1 sorbent). Sorbent-waste formulations were analysed for sorption capacity, leaching and fluxes of NH4+. Ammonium-sorption capacity broadly translated to sorbent-waste formulations with clinoptilolite conferring the strongest NH4+ attenuation (80%), and palagonite the lowest (7%). A 1:1 ratio of sorbent:waste achieved stronger sorption than a 0.5:1 ratio, and similar sorption as a 1:1.5 ratio. In line with these results, clinoptilolite-amended wastes had the lowest in situ NH4+ fluxes, which exceeded the NH4+ uptake capacity (Imax) of sugarcane and sorghum roots 9 to 84-fold, respectively. Less efficient sorbent-waste formulations and un-amended wastes exceeded Imax of crop roots up to 274-fold. Roots preferentially colonized stronger sorbent-waste formulations and avoided weaker ones, suggesting that lower NH4+ fluxes generate a more favourable growth environment. This study contributes methodologies to identify suitable sorbents to formulate organic wastes as next-generation fertilizers with view of a crop's nutrient physiology. Efficient re-purposing of wastes can improve nutrient use efficiency in agriculture and support the circular nutrient economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Chin
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - S Schmidt
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - S Buckley
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - R Pirie
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - M Redding
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, PO Box 102, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
| | - B Laycock
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - P Luckman
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - D J Batstone
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - N Robinson
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - R Brackin
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Pratt C, Tate K. Mitigating Methane: Emerging Technologies To Combat Climate Change's Second Leading Contributor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:6084-6097. [PMID: 29719145 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Methane (CH4) is the second greatest contributor to anthropogenic climate change. Emissions have tripled since preindustrial times and continue to rise rapidly, given the fact that the key sources of food production, energy generation and waste management, are inexorably tied to population growth. Until recently, the pursuit of CH4 mitigation approaches has tended to align with opportunities for easy energy recovery through gas capture and flaring. Consequently, effective abatement has been largely restricted to confined high-concentration sources such as landfills and anaerobic digesters, which do not represent a major share of CH4's emission profile. However, in more recent years we have witnessed a quantum leap in the sophistication, diversity and affordability of CH4 mitigation technologies on the back of rapid advances in molecular analytical techniques, developments in material sciences and increasingly efficient engineering processes. Here, we present some of the latest concepts, designs and applications in CH4 mitigation, identifying a number of abatement synergies across multiple industries and sectors. We also propose novel ways to manipulate cutting-edge technology approaches for even more effective mitigation potential. The goal of this review is to stimulate the ongoing quest for and uptake of practicable CH4 mitigation options; supplementing established and proven approaches with immature yet potentially high-impact technologies. There has arguably never been, and if we do not act soon nor will there be, a better opportunity to combat climate change's second most significant greenhouse gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Pratt
- School of Environment and Science/Australian Rivers Institute , Griffith University , 170 Kessels Road , Nathan , Queensland 4111 , Australia
| | - Kevin Tate
- Landcare Research-Manaaki Whenua , Massey University , Riddet Road , Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand
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