Tagged: nitrogen

Featured image: We managed to toilet train cows (and they learned faster than a toddler). It could help combat climate change

We managed to toilet train cows (and they learned faster than a toddler). It could help combat climate change - Hot off the press

Guest Author • Sep 14, 2021 •

Douglas Elliffe, University of Auckland and Lindsay Matthews, University of Auckland   Can we toilet train cattle? Would we want to? The answer to both of these questions is yes — and doing so could help us address issues of water contamination and climate change. Cattle urine is high in nitrogen, and this contributes to a range of environmental problems. Read More

How does agriculture affect New Zealand’s water quality? - Waiology

Waiology • Dec 05, 2013 •

By Bob Wilcock About 40% of the land area of New Zealand is in some form of agriculture. Sheep and beef farming are the most extensive (33%) followed by dairy farming at 6%, and the remainder being horticulture and cropping. Based on a large number of comparative land use studies we have a good understanding of how agriculture affects … Read More

Managing nitrogen in the Lake Taupo catchment - Waiology

Waiology • Nov 13, 2013 •

By Bill Vant and Jon Palmer More than 10 years ago, the Waikato Regional Council became concerned about the effects of increasing catchment loads of nitrogen on the water quality of Lake Taupo. Calculations showed that most (>90%) of the manageable nitrogen entering the lake came from areas of pasture in the catchment. A variation to the Waikato Regional … Read More

The use of dicyandiamide (DCD) to control nitrogen pollution in NZ - Waiology

Waiology • Jan 25, 2013 •

By Bob Wilcock For the last 20 years New Zealand has been undergoing a rapid expansion in dairy farming, driven by commodity prices. New Zealand’s dairy exports, although small on a global scale of production, comprise 30-40% of internationally traded dairy products and are a major component of our gross domestic product (roughly 3%). Dairy farming is an intensive form … Read More

Working towards water standards - The Dismal Science

Bill Kaye-Blake • Nov 04, 2012 •

Various colleagues and I have been trying for years to get research funded on the preferences of New Zealanders regarding the environment. Bits and pieces of work get done — notably, the public perception work by Huey, Cullen, and Kerr from Lincoln University (here’s a summary conference paper (pdf)). We have grander ambitions, though. We want [...] … Read More

Our emissions profile at a glance - Griffin's Gadgets

Peter Griffin • Dec 05, 2009 •

The Press and the Dominion Post have already run their pre-Copenhagen features, today it was the turn of the New Zealand Herald. One feature of today’s coverage was a Herald graphic developed by seasoned Herald designers Richard Dale and Andrew Louis, which breaks down the emissions profile of New Zealand. I have the original MfE chart the graphic … Read More