Helping farmers around the world apply more accurate amounts of nitrogen-based fertilizers can help fight climate change. In a new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at Michigan State University provide an improved forecast of the contribution of nitrogen fertilizers to greenhouse gas emissions from two agricultural fields.

The study uses data from around the world to show that emissions of nitrous oxide, a stove gas produced not only after the addition of nitrogen, increase faster than expected when fertilizer taxes exceed labor needs.

Nitrogen-based fertilizers stimulate greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging soil microbes to produce more nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas, behind only carbon dioxide and methane, and also destroys stratospheric ozone. Agriculture accounts for about 80% of global man-made nitrous oxide emissions, which have increased substantially in recent years, mainly due to increased use of nitrogen fertilizers.

"Our specific motivation is to learn where to better target agricultural efforts to slow global warming," said Phil Robertson, director of the Long-Term Ecological Research Program at MSU's Kellogg Biological Station and lead author of the paper. "Agriculture accounts for 8 to 14 percent of all greenhouse gas production globally. We're showing how farmers can help reduce this number by applying nitrogen fertilizers with more accurately.

Source: Agrolink