Characterizing Emissions from Agricultural Diesel Pumps in the Terai Region of Nepal

Technology in farming: Unleashing farmers' behavioral intention for the adoption of agriculture 5.0

The agriculture sector has undergone a remarkable revolution known as Agriculture 5.0 (Ag 5.0), emphasizing digital technology to boost efficiency and profitability of farm business. However, little is known about farmers' behavioral intension to adopt Ag 5.0. In this study we examine factors influencing farmer's behavioral intension for Agriculture 5.0, identify implementation obstacles and provide managerial solutions to promote Ag 5.0 in Madhesh Province, Nepal, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Structural Equation Model (SEM). We tested total of 20 different hypotheses. Primary data were collected from 271 farmers across 9 municipalities in Saptari District, Nepal. The study reveals that technology anxiety [(β = 0.101, p<0.01); (β = 0.188, p<0.01)], self-efficacy [(β = 0.312, p<0.01, (β = 0.170, p<0.05)] and social influence [(β = 0.411, p<0.01), (β = 0.170, p<0.05)] significantly impact the perceived usefulness as well as perceived ease of use, respectively. Individual innovativeness also affects the perceived usefulness (β = 0.004, p<0.05) and perceived ease of use (β = 0.281, p<0.01). Moreover, the study found that attitude towards using Ag 5.0 is significantly influenced by perceived usefulness (β = 0.083, p<0.10) and ease of use (β = 0.189, p<0.01), which, in turn, affects the intention to use Ag 5.0 (β = 0.858, p<0.01). Farmers perceive training programs, government assistance, and subsidies as helpful in overcoming challenges associated with adopting Ag 5.0. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, development partners, and farmers' organizations, enabling them to understand the factors influencing the readiness for Ag 5.0 adoption in Nepal.

Environmental imprints of agricultural and livestock produce: A scoping review from South Asian countries

BACKGROUND

Agricultural activities in 2020 have resulted in 5.5 billion tons of CO2 equivalent globally, which is expected to rise because the food system would have to grow 70% more food for the population in 2050. Research suggests that agricultural productivity in South Asian countries, will increase food security; however, the role of their food crops and livestock products in environmental imprints is uncertain. This review aimed to assess the environmental impacts resulting from pre- and post-production agricultural activities related to edible food crops and livestock products consumed in eight South Asian countries.

METHODS

Studies were retrieved using three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct) from 2011 to 2022. The protocol for this scoping review was not registered.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in India. Twenty-four articles assessed greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, followed by water footprints (n = 5), nitrogen and phosphorus (N&P) emissions (n = 4), and land requirements (n = 4). The production of rice and wheat was identified as a significant contributor to GHG emissions. In India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the production of livestock (meat/bovine/shrimp and milk) was reported to be harmful to the environment. Inconclusive data were retrieved for other environment variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Diversification in food production and cultivating additional coarse cereals (millets) offer opportunities for GHG reduction. Nevertheless, more comprehensive and longitudinal studies for South Asian countries are essential to make precise conclusions and validate the present review.

Impact of air pollution on human health in different geographical locations of Nepal

According to a recent survey, Nepal's urban air quality has been classified as one of the worst in the globe. A large portion of the country's population is subjected to health risks caused by air pollution. As Nepal has a wide variation in altitude coupled with socio-cultural and biological diversities, it is important to understand the different health hazards in the different geographical regions - Terai, Hills and Mountains. Constantly increasing physical infrastructures (such as transport vehicles, open burning of plastics and other fuels) are the main reasons for the escalating air pollution in the country. This study aims to critically review the current air pollution status in different geographical locations along with its impacts on public health in the country. It has been revealed that irrespective of geographic location, the air pollutants interfere with different human physiological systems related to respiration as well as cardiovascular, ophthalmic, and gastrointestinal functioning. Further, the research findings highlighting the influence of prolonged exposure of the population to the air pollution leading to the significant number of deaths have been presented. A notable rise in the number of hospitalized patients suffering from illnesses related to above mentioned pollution borne cases has been reported.

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emission from Seedless Lime Cultivation Using Organic Fertilizer in a Province in Vietnam Mekong Delta Region

This study aimed to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from conventional cultivation (S1) of seedless lime (SL) fruit in Hau Giang province, in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. We adjusted the scenarios by replacing 25% and 50% of nitrogen chemical fertilizer with respective amounts of N-based organic fertilizer (S2 and S3). Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect primary data. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with the “cradle to gate” approach was used to estimate GHG emission based on the functional unit of one hectare of growing area and one tonnage of fresh fruit weight. The emission factors of agrochemicals, fertilizers, electricity, fuel production, and internal combustion were collected from the MiLCA software, IPCC reports, and previous studies. The S1, S2, and S3 emissions were 7590, 6703, and 5884 kg-CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per hectare of the growing area and 273.6, 240.3, and 209.7 kg-CO2e for each tonnage of commercial fruit, respectively. Changing fertilizer-based practice from S1 to S2 and S3 mitigated 887.0–1706 kg-CO2e ha–1 (11.7–22.5%) and 33.3–63.9 kg-CO2e t–1 (12.2–25.6%), respectively. These results support a solution to reduce emissions by replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers.

Emission factors and emission inventory of diesel vehicles in Nepal

A comprehensive emission inventory of the transport sector through fuel-based emission factors (EFs) was developed for the first time in Nepal. This study estimates air pollutants emission from diesel vehicles between the years 1989 and 2018 based on national statistical data, average vehicle kilometers travelled, fuel mileage, and measurement-based EFs for each vehicle category during idle and moving conditions. The consumption of diesel by vehicle category was also estimated and total consumption was compared with national sales data. The Monte Carlo was used to estimate uncertainties. Nationally, total diesel consumption was estimated as 892,770 kL (85-115%) in 2017/18, 13.4 times higher than 1989/90. Ratnoze1 and Microaeth were used to conduct the tail pipe emission measurements. The fuel-based EFs of CO₂, CO, BC, and PM_2.5 were calculated through the carbon mass balance method. Of all diesel vehicles measured (n = 29) during idling, the average EFs were estimated as CO₂ 2600 (99-101%), CO 33.3 (44-156%), BC 0.6 (25-101%), and PM_2.5 5.2 (0-235%) in unit of g L^-1. For moving conditions (n = 5), the average EFs were estimated to be CO₂ 2476 (90-110%), CO 97.3 (0-232%), BC 1.7 (46-110%), and PM_2.5 20.7 (0-255%), all in g L^-1. Multiplying fuel consumption by EFs, national air pollutant emissions were estimated as 2214 (90-110%) to 2781(85-115%) for CO_2, 27.7 (42-158%) to 88.8 (0-232%) for CO, 0.51 (23-177%) to 3.55 (46-110%) for BC and 3.42 (0-236%) to 23.47 (0-255%) for PM_2.5 in 2017/18 in unit of Gg. This paper recommends revising national vehicle mass emission standards based on the findings of this study and including and enhancing sustainable low-carbon transport through amendment of transport policy.

The Research Progress of the Influence of Agricultural Activities on Atmospheric Environment in Recent Ten Years: A Review

In recent years, the industrial emission of air pollution has been reduced via a series of measures. However, with the rapid development of modern agriculture, air pollution caused by agricultural activities is becoming more and more serious. Agricultural activities can generate a large amount of air pollutants, such as ammonia, methane, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and persistent organic pollutants, the sources of which mainly include farmland fertilization, livestock breeding, pesticide use, agricultural residue burning, agricultural machinery, and agricultural irrigation. Greenhouse gases emitted by agricultural activities can affect regional climate change, while atmospheric particulates and persistent organic pollutants can even seriously harm the health of surrounding residents. With the increasing threat of agricultural air pollution, more and more relevant studies have been carried out, as well as some recommendations for reducing emissions. The emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases can be significantly reduced by adopting reasonable fertilization methods, scientific soil management, and advanced manure treatment systems. Regarding pesticide use and agricultural residues burning, emission reduction are more dependent on the restriction and support of government regulations, such as banning certain pesticides, prohibiting open burning of straw, and supporting the recycling and reuse of residues. This review, summarizing the relevant research in the past decade, discusses the current situation, health effects, and emission reduction measures of agricultural air pollutants from different sources, in order to provide some help for follow-up research.

Cookstove Smoke Impact on Ambient Air Quality and Probable Consequences for Human Health in Rural Locations of Southern Nepal

Residential emission from traditional biomass cookstoves is a major source of indoor and outdoor air pollution in developing countries. However, exact quantification of the contribution of biomass cookstove emissions to outdoor air is still lacking. In order to address this gap, we designed a field study to estimate the emission factors of PM2.5 (particulate matter of less than 2.5 µ diameter) and BC (black carbon) indoors, from cookstove smoke using biomass fuel and with smoke escaping outdoors from the roof of the house. The field study was conducted in four randomly selected households in two rural locations of southern Nepal during April 2017. In addition, real-time measurement of ambient PM2.5 was performed for 20 days during the campaign in those two rural sites and one background location to quantify the contribution of cooking-related emissions to the ambient PM2.5. Emission factor estimates indicate that 66% of PM2.5 and 80% of BC emissions from biomass cookstoves directly escape into ambient air. During the cooking period, ambient PM2.5 concentrations in the rural sites were observed to be 37% higher than in the nearby background location. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO)'s AirQ+ model simulation, this 37% rise in ambient PM2.5 during cooking hours can lead to approximately 82 cases of annual premature deaths among the rural population of Chitwan district.

A Comparative Study of Stack Emissions from Straight-Line and Zigzag Brick Kilns in Nepal

Nepal has approximately 1000 operational brick kilns, which contribute significantly to ambient air pollution. They also account for 1.81% of the total bricks produced in the South Asian region. Little is known about their emissions, which are consequently not represented in regional/global emission inventories. This study compared emissions from seven brick kilns. Four were Fixed Chimney Bull’s Trench Kilns (FCBTKs) and three were Induced-Draught Zigzag Kilns (IDZKs). The concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), black carbon (BC), and particulate matter (PM) with a diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) were measured. The respective emission factors (EFs) were estimated using the carbon mass balance method. The average fuel-based EF for CO2, SO2, PM2.5, and BC were estimated as 1633 ± 134, 22 ± 22, 3.8 ± 2.6 and 0.6 ± 0.2 g per kg, respectively, for all FCBTKs. Those for IDZKs were 1981 ± 232, 24 ± 22, 3.1 ± 1, and 0.4 ± 0.2 g per kg, respectively. Overall, the study found that converting the technology from straight-line kilns to zigzag kilns can reduce PM2.5 emissions by ~20% and BC emissions by ~30%, based on emission factor estimates of per kilogram of fuel. While considering per kilogram of fired brick, emission reductions were approximately 40% for PM2.5 and 55% for BC, but this definitely depends on proper stacking and firing procedures.