Iowa has some of the highest atmospheric ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition rates in the country. Ammonia is a nitrogen-containing compound emitted primarily by livestock production (67%) and nitrogen fertilizer use (29%). Most ammonia is redeposited from the atmosphere to nearby land and water – a process referred to as nitrogen deposition.

Nitrogen deposition harms terrestrial ecosystems, including Iowa’s prairies and oak savannahs, by decreasing biodiversity and depleting soil nutrients. Nitrogen deposition also harms coastal aquatic ecosystems. Nitrogen deposited in the Mississippi River and its tributaries travels down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to the formation of an oxygen-poor “dead zone” roughly the size of New Jersey. Furthermore, atmospheric ammonia reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur oxides (SOX) to form fine particulate matter.

For more information about ammonia pollution:

National Atmospheric Deposition Program web site

[link to http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/]

For maps of atmospheric ammonium ion concentrations, ammonium ion deposition rates, and total nitrogen deposition rates across the United States (see “isopleth maps”) and reports on the impacts of nitrogen deposition on the environment (see “publications”).

Vitousek, Peter et al. (Spring 1997) “Human Alteration of the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and Consequences,” Issues in Ecology.

[link to http://www.esa.org/science_resources/issues.php]

For information about how humans have altered the global nitrogen cycle and the impacts of nitrogen deposition on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. At this web site, you can download a pdf file or order a hard copy of this report (Issue 1).

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve – nitrogen deposition

[link to http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/research/nitrogen.shtml]

For an explanation of the research being conducted at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve on the impacts of nitrogen deposition on Midwest prairies, including key results.

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve – publications

[link to http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/biblio/citation/ip001.html]

For links to peer reviewed scientific journal articles about the impacts of nitrogen fertilization on Midwest prairies.

McCubbin, Donald et al. (2002) Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 36 (6), pp. 1141–1146.

[link to http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es010705g]

For information about the impacts of ammonia emissions on fine particulate matter concentrations.

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve – publications

[link to http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/biblio/citation/ip001.html]

For links to peer reviewed scientific journal articles about the impacts of nitrogen fertilization on Midwest prairies.

McCubbin, Donald et al. (2002) Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 36 (6), pp. 1141–1146.

[link to http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es010705g]

For information about the impacts of ammonia emissions on fine particulate matter concentrations.