Med. Weter. 82 (7), 309-317, 2026
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| EWA JAKIMIUK |
| Livestock production within the context of the global nitrogen cycle – an overview of processes, impacts, and mitigation options related to sustainable agriculture and European Union policies |
| The global nitrogen cycle has been significantly disrupted due to anthropogenic activities. The growing demand for food and energy contributes to the increased production of reactive nitrogen through chemical synthesis (the Haber-Bosch process). Negative consequences of intensified agricultural production include the impact of nitrogen compounds on the natural environment and human health. Due to the cascading and cumulative effects of reactive nitrogen compounds, it is essential to understand the processes of nitrogen transformation processes during agricultural production and their influence on the global nitrogen cycle. Agricultural production is inseparably linked with the surrounding ecosystem. While intensification of agricultural production improves profitability, it also leads to greater generation of by-products (manure, slurry) and greenhouse gas emissions. Modern agriculture faces new challenges, including the protection of the natural environment, climate change mitigation, and adaptation to changing environmental and climatic conditions. The agricultural sector, due to international agreements and national legal regulations, is obligated to take action to reduce the excessive and uncontrolled dispersion of biogenic compounds into soil and water. Nutritional strategies applied in livestock production are one of the key elements of environmental protection measures, due to their immediate applicability, positive effects on economic efficiency, and real potential to reduce the dispersion of reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment. The aim of this paper is to present the key aspects linking livestock production with the nitrogen cycle. Rational nitrogen management requires an understanding of the processes nitrogen compounds undergo in the biosphere to effectively manage and mitigate their negative environmental impacts, and to enhance effective collaboration between the scientific community, veterinarians, animal scientists, and agricultural producers. |
| Key words: global nitrogen cycle, reactive nitrogen compounds, livestock production, greenhouse gas emissions |