Journal article

National nitrogen budget for Germany


Authors listHäußermann, U; Bach, M; Fuchs, S; Geupel, M; Heldstab, J; Klement, L; Knoll, L; Reutimann, J; Schäppi, B; Weber, T; Breuer, L

Publication year2021

JournalEnvironmental Research Communications

Volume number3

Issue number9

ISSN2515-7620

Open access statusGold

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac23e5

PublisherIOP Publishing


Abstract
Emissions of reactive nitrogen (N-r) give rise to a wide range of environmental problems. Nitrogen budgets for various systems and on different scales are an established tool to quantify the sources and fate of N-r. The national nitrogen budget (NNB) for Germany calculates the nitrogen flows for eight pools: Atmosphere, Energy and Fuels, Material and Products in Industry, Humans and Settlements, Agriculture, Forest and Semi-natural Vegetation, Waste, and Hydrosphere, as well as for the transboundary N-flows. In Germany, in total 6,275 kt N-r a(-1) has been introduced into the nitrogen cycle annually (mean 2010 to 2014), of which 43% stem from ammonia synthesis. Domestic extraction and import of nitrogenous fossil fuels (lignite, coal, crude oil) releases another 2,335 kt N-r a(-1). Import of food, feed and materials contributes 745 kt N-r a(-1), while biological N fixation converts 308 kt N-r a(-1) into organically bound nitrogen. In terms of N-r sinks, the combustion and denoxing of fuels and the refining of crude oil converts 2,594 kt N-r a(-1) to N-2. In waters, soils, and wastewater treatment plants, denitrification leads to the release of 1,107 kt N-r a(-1) as N-2. Via the atmosphere and hydrosphere, Germany exports 755 kt N-r a(-1) to neighbouring countries and into coastal waters. On balance, Germany releases 1,627 kt N-r a(-1) annually to the environment. However, the NNB as a whole and the individual pool balances involve substantial uncertainties, which have to be considered when interpreting the results.



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Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleHäußermann, U., Bach, M., Fuchs, S., Geupel, M., Heldstab, J., Klement, L., et al. (2021) National nitrogen budget for Germany, Environmental Research Communications, 3(9), Article 095004. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac23e5

APA Citation styleHäußermann, U., Bach, M., Fuchs, S., Geupel, M., Heldstab, J., Klement, L., Knoll, L., Reutimann, J., Schäppi, B., Weber, T., & Breuer, L. (2021). National nitrogen budget for Germany. Environmental Research Communications. 3(9), Article 095004. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac23e5


Last updated on 2025-10-06 at 11:30