Participation of the agriculture of the Republic of Macedonia in the greenhouse gas emissions (CH4, N2O)

During 2000 and 2001, using the JPCC methodology (Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories), under the management of ICEI-MANU, there were carried out inventories of CH4 and N2 emissions from agricultural activities in Republic of Macedonia. The average yearly emissions of CH4 from domestic livestock enteric fermentation and manure management from the nine years period (1990-98) were 34.89 kt/yr, ranging between 31.31 kt in 1998 and 36.33 kt in 1994. CH4 yearly emissions from rice fields osculated between 0.447 kt in 1990 and 0.063 kt in 1995 (average 0.27 kt/yr) with those amounts agriculture participates with 22% in the total emissions of this gas in the Republic of Macedonia. According to the National Strategy of the Development of Agriculture of the Republic of Macedonia, by 2020 the potential yearly amount of emissions of CH4 may reach 41.68 kt/yr. Total annual emissions of N2O (from nitrogen excretion from animal waste management systems and from agricultural soils) is on average 3.55 kt/yr (between 2.84 kt in 1998 and 3.95 kt in 1990), participating with cca 68% in the total annual emissions of N2O in the Republic of Macedonia. If the development project is realized, by 2000 the emissions will increase to 3.95 kt/yr. Expressed in CO2 equivalent (1 kt CH4 = 21 kt CO2; 1 kt N2O = 310 kt CO2) there are the following average yearly amounts of emissions of CO2: CH4 = 738.36 CO2 kt/yr (between 662.13 kt in 1998 and 766.29 kt in 1990); N2O on average = 1091.2 kt/yr CO2 (1224.5 kt in 1990 and 880.4 in 1990). Total average CO2-eq was 1829.56 kt/yr. Agriculture, with those amounts of average CO2-eq emissions, is participating with cca 6.8% in the total yearly emissions of CO2. (Original)