Smart Net-Zero

February 25, 2023 | Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems |

Introduction: In sugarcane farming, excessive nitrogen fertilizer use, combined with warm climates and high crop residue retention, leads to significant emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas. However, the overall losses of nitrogen in the form of N₂ and N₂O remain unclear. In Bundaberg, Australia, a research team from Queensland University of Technology examined the impact of removing sugarcane trash and using a nitrification inhibitor on N₂ and N₂O emissions. 

Key findings: Under standard practices of retaining cane trash and applying nitrogen fertilizer, substantial emissions of N₂ and N₂O were observed. However, removing cane trash reduced N₂ emissions by 34% and N2O emissions by 51%. The use of DMPP further decreased emissions, with a 35% reduction in N₂ and a staggering 98% reduction in N₂O emissions. Importantly, the use of DMPP also significantly lowered the proportion of emissions released as N₂O, making it a promising strategy to minimize greenhouse gas emissions (Read more).

Figure | Average daily N₂ and N₂O fluxes for for the different treatments a, b and c with the corresponding product ratio N₂O/(N₂ + N2O) (d), soil water filled pore space (WFPS) 0-10 cm depht, (e) and daily precipitation (f).