Inhibiting nitrous oxide emissions
Dr Selai Letica from AgResearch at Invermay is concerned about the nitrous oxide emissions that contribute to greenhouse gases.
Testing for nitrous oxide
Dr Selai Letica collects an air sample to test for the presence of nitrous oxide released to the atmosphere from the area within the experimental enclosure.
Nitrous oxide
Greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere to make the Earth a pleasant place to live. Scientists are concerned that too many greenhouse gases may warm the atmosphere too much and cause global warming – upsetting the delicate balance of nature by changing the ecosystem needs for many organisms.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the fourth largest contributor to global warming. On a molecular basis, it has a global warming potential 23 times greater than methane gas, the third largest contributor, and 310 times greater than carbon dioxide, the second largest contributor after water vapour. Natural and managed soils (agricultural) are the largest sources of atmospheric N2O.
The release of nitrous oxide (N2O)
The release of N2O occurs during the nitrogen cycle. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) enters the soil-plant system via legume fixation. This fixed N may then be released into soil through plant death and decay or by recycling via grazing animals. Through a process that involves other soil bacteria, this fixed N may be converted from ammonium to various other nitrogen compounds (such as nitrate), some of which are highly mobile and susceptible to loss to the environment. This conversion of ammonium to nitrate is the process of nitrification. Nitrate that is not taken up by plants or lost to leaching may undergo the process of denitrification in which bacteria using these compounds reduce them back to N2. It is during these microbial processes – nitrification and, particularly, denitrification – that N2O is released as a byproduct.
In agricultural settings, nitrogen levels in soil can be high because of poorly timed or excessive applications of fertilisers or effluent. Animal urine patches are also ‘hot spots’ containing relatively high levels of ammonium – or nitrate forms of nitrogen. High nitrogen levels can lead to the release of more N2O.
Selai’s research
The focus of Selai’s research is to reduce N2O emissions.
Nitrous oxide
Dr Selai Letica explains some of the causes of nitrous oxide emissions in agricultural soils and why it is important to limit them.
Points of interest:
Nitrous oxide (N2O) occurs naturally in the environment, but human activities increase its concentration in the atmosphere.
One unit of N2O is equivalent to 310 units of CO2, making nitrous oxide a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2.
Selai suggests a two-pronged approach to reducing N2O emissions:
Slowing down or inhibiting the natural production of nitrogen compounds (where N2O is a byproduct). Selai’s focus is on inhibiting the denitrification process of the nitrogen cycle.
Making the nitrogen cycle so efficient that there is little release of the byproduct N2O. N2O is only released when compounds are not fully converted to the next stage.
Nitrification inhibitors to slow down nitrous oxide emissions
One aspect of her research involves interfering with the nitrogen cycle to stop or slow down the production of nitrogen compounds that can lead to emissions of potentially harmful N2O.
Nitrification inhibitors
Dr Ross Monaghan from AgResearch at Invermay in Otago explains his work in managing the risk of nitrogen loss to water systems through the use of nitrification inhibitors. Nitrification inhibitors prevent part of the process of the nitrogen cycle from occurring – limiting the production of nitrates that can be lost to the environment.
Jargon alert
In the nitrogen cycle, gaseous nitrogen enters the soil-plant system via fixation. In this process, N2 is converted to ammonium. Through some other steps, ammonium is converted to nitrate. Nitrate is mobile and gets into waterways through run-offNitrogen inhibitors are chemicals that prevent the oxidation from ammonium to nitrate taking place, limiting nitrate loss.
Point of interest
DCD-based nitrification inhibitors were voluntarily withdrawn from the market in early 2013 after traces were found during routine milk testing. Because DCD is not considered to be a food safety risk, there is no international standard for allowable amounts found in food products. Without this standard, some countries use a default limit of zero. DCD traces in milk are seen as a trade risk rather than a health risk. Ongoing research led by AgResearch scientists has identified a new inhibitor that shows similar efficacy to DCD, but without the same risks. The new inhibitor is undergoing longer-term field trials.
This is through the use of nitrification inhibitors (such as DCD – dicyandiamide). These are chemicals that are applied to soils to slow the microbial conversion of ammonium to nitrate during the nitrification stage of the cycle. As a result, there is less leaching because ammonium adheres (sticks) to the soil, and there is little denitrification because of the lack of conversion to nitrate. With fewer conversions from ammonium to nitrate (nitrification) and then from nitrate back to N2 (denitrification), N2O emissions are reduced.
Denitrification process
Dr Selai Letica explains the process of denitrification. This is the phase of the nitrogen cycle where nitrate is converted back to atmospheric gaseous nitrogen (N2).
Jargon alert: Dinitrogen is the scientific name for atmospheric gaseous nitrogen, also known as N2
Selai’s research investigates how nitrogen inhibitors work on different farms. The warmer the soil, the faster the inhibitor will break down and therefore needs to be applied more frequently. The inhibitor chemicals are also mobile, so high rainfall might result in high losses from the soil. Inhibitors therefore work better in colder, drier climates. Other factors being investigated for their effects on these inhibitors include nitrogen levels in the soil and levels of compaction of the soil under different stock types (dairy or beef cows or sheep).
The use of DCD – dicyandiamide was voluntarily suspended in 2013 when very small traces of residue were unexpectedly detected in milk. Although the residue posed no food safety risk, the Ministry for Primary Industries notes that international dairy customers expect New Zealand products to be residue-free. Ongoing research led by AgResearch scientists has identified a new inhibitor that shows similar efficacy to DCD, but without the same risks. The inhibitor is undergoing longer-term field trials.
Other farming strategies to reduce nitrous oxide
Several management practices can be implemented to limit N2O emissions.
Reducing stock time on paddocks. This can be done using stand-offs – a pad where cows, for example, can stand for periods of time. The pad collects the faeces and urine (containing nitrogen) so that it does not go onto the paddocks in a concentrated form.
Keeping stock (and fertiliser) off saturated soil. Saturated soils are conducive to the denitrification process. This is because bacteria don’t have access to oxygen for growth and reproduction so they use nitrate instead. In the process, N2O is released. Avoiding the addition of nitrogen compounds (such as urine and fertiliser) reduces these emissions. Well drained paddocks also help limit denitrification and therefore N2O emissions.
Avoid compacting soil. Compacted soil contributes to anoxia (a lack of oxygen). Compacted soils occur when numbers of animals in one area are too high. If the soil is wet through rain or irrigation, the anoxia problem is compounded. The denitrification process is reduced by keeping stock off susceptible areas.
Farmers can use tools such as the online Overseer® Nutrient Budgeting tool to calculate the nutrient needs of their farm. This helps farmers determine fertiliser needs and possible risk for greenhouse gas emissions.
Nature of science
Developments in science can often have benefits beyond the original intention. Nitrification inhibitors were developed to limit the production of excess nitrate that might get into waterways. Selai is finding that these inhibitors also have the benefit of minimising the amounts of nitrous oxide produced as a byproduct of denitrification.
Related content
Plantain as an added feed source may be helpful in reducing nitrogen losses to groundwater and surface water and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from soil.
Useful link
DCD use was voluntarily suspended in January 2013. DCD does not present a food safety concern, but residues found in milk may present a trade issue. Find out more in this news story.
The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre is funding research to identify novel nitrification inhibitors suitable for New Zealand’s soil types, environments and food safety regulations.
