Target-N2O · Targeting N2O emission hot-spots in dairy pastures for mitigation action: microbes, stable isotope methods and modelling
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-11-01 → 2021-10-31
- EU contribution
- €276,107
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Targeting N2O emission hot-spots in dairy pastures for mitigation action: microbes, stable isotope methods and modelling
Areas of dairy farm pastures with high stocking densities have been identified as hot-spots of emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O). This is due to enhanced excretal deposition and pugging/poaching of the soil leading to edaphic conditions which can stimulate soil N2O emissions. As such, mitigation strategies which target such farm areas have been suggested (e.g. application of nitrification inhibitors), but there is limited information on the efficacy of such technologies directly applied to these hot spot areas. Specific objectives are to 1) establish factors influencing N2O emissions and DMPP performance in soils with a history of high livestock impact; (2) determine if the microbial N-cycling community is functionally distinct in areas of soil with a history of high livestock impact compared to standard areas of pasture; (3) determine spatially appropriate N turnover rate constants and urine patch N2O emission factors, with and without DMPP, in hot-spot feature soils, and (4) model paddock and farm-scale implications and conduct cost-benefit analysis of a targeted DMPP mitigation strategy. The conclusions of the action include: - emissions from areas impacted highly by livestock are generally higher than when applied to standard areas of pasture - temperature, inhibitor application rate and degree of vegetative cover are important for determining the efficacy of nitrification inhibitors in reducing N2O emissions - the microbial community composition changes more rapidly in response to urine application in areas highly impacted by livestock compared to when applied within a standard area of pasture - DMPP reduced emissions by 49% from urine applied to standard pasture in a temperate dairy farm, but only by 24% in a gateway on the same farm, indicating a lower efficacy in soils highly impacted by livestock - options to reduce N2O emissions from areas impacted by livestock must not rely on inhibitors alone - farmers should consider additional options such as pads to capture nutrients deposited to these areas and attempting to maintain vegetative cover in these areas
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Nitrogen (N) limits primary productivity in most terrestrial ecosystems, which has led to increased use of N fertilisers within farming systems. The amount of reactive N in global circulation has more than doubled; this has global significance as the N can cascade through different chemical forms in land, air and water, leading to a range of human health and environmental impacts. In order to achieve sustainable food production systems of the future, there is a need to improve knowledge on the best management of farm N, especially under increased demand for food production under a burgeoning human population. The Target-N2O project will deliver a high quality training-through research project aiming to improve N use efficiency and reduce emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas, N2O, from intensive dairy farms. The project will combine multi-disciplinary techniques in a novel way, including molecular ecology, stable isotope methods and whole-farm system modelling to determine the cost-benefits of an N loss mitigation strategy. The strategy would be to apply nitrification inhibitors to pasture areas which have been identified as farm-scale N2O emission hot-spots (e.g. areas of pasture around gateways, livestock shelter areas and camping areas). Such areas receive regular inputs of nutrients including labile N (through urine events) and carbon sources (via dung), which fuel microbial processes leading to enhanced and spatially variable GHG emissions. Evidence of the effectiveness of nitrification inhibitors to reduce N losses from these areas are lacking. The results of the action will have cross-sectoral impact (scientists, dairy and fertiliser industries and policy makers). The project will deliver decision support tools for farmers utilising such a mitigation strategy and will impact policy by improving national GHG inventories, establishing the effectiveness of cost-effective mitigation strategies.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- BANGOR UNIVERSITY · BangorCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
- UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE · MelbourneAustralia
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union