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Project

Evaluation of nitrification inhibitors as a climate protection measure


Involved Institutes BD Institute of Biodiversity

© Thünen-Institut/Andreas Pacholski
A fertilizer spreader distributes fertilizer in a field trial.

Site-differentiated evaluation and crediting of the use of nitrification inhibitors as a climate protection measure in crop production (NitriKlim)

Within the framework of the "Arable Farming Strategy 2035", the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is funding the joint project "Site-differentiated assessment and crediting of the use of nitrification inhibitors as a climate protection measure in plant cultivation (NitriKlim)".

The focus of the NitriKlim R&D project is the site-specific assessment of the environmental and yield benefits of using nitrification inhibitors in nitrogen fertilisation. 

 

Background and Objective

Nitrification inhibitors are proposed as a robust and scalable GHG reduction measure for crop production. However, whether this is an efficient, practical and environmentally sound measure to reduce fertiliser-induced N2O emissions under conditions of Central Europe is controversially discussed by science, policy and practice. On the one hand, there is the potential to significantly reduce both direct and indirect N2O emissions by inhibiting nitrate formation and thus improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilisation. On the other hand, scientifically robust and site-differentiated results are lacking that reliably assess NI effects taking several points in consideration: i) the site-differentiated annual N2O emissions and nitrate leaching, ii) the ecological long-term efficacy of the inhibitors and their influence on other environmentally and climate-impacting emissions (e.g. ammonia emissions), and (iii) the overall evaluation as a climate protection measure, taking into account climate protection effects, ecological risks, and economic and crop production effects.
The aim of the interdisciplinary joint project is the site-differentiated evaluation of the use of nitrification inhibitors in combination with nitrogen fertilisers as a climate protection measure.

 

Target Group

  • Politics
  • Administration
  • Science
  • Consulting
  • Agricultural practice

Approach

The collaborative project comprises both a Germany-wide network of seven coordinated field sites and laboratory experiments at four research institutes, analysing the effects of nitrification inhibitors on soil nitrogen dynamics, direct N2O emission, nitrate leaching as well as nitrogen efficiency and yield level and quality. Furthermore, integrated studies on effects of nitrification inhibitors on the soil microbiome involved in the biogeochemical transformation of soil nitrogen (target and non-target organisms), translocation of inhibitors, interaction with other environmental and climate-impacting emissions (ammonia, methane) as well as the economic assessment of nitrification inhibitors as a climate protection measure are included. Additional focal points are the modelling and regionalisation of the effects of nitrification inhibitors, the quantification of their possible climate protection effects in Germany's greenhouse gas emissions inventory, their comprehensive assessment as a potential climate protection measure and the transfer of knowledge into practice.

Data and Methods

  • annual and three-year randomised field trials
  • annual N2O field measurements with static bonnets, NH3 measurement on slurry plots
  • yield measurement
  • Modelling of N2O emissions, nitrate leaching and yield formation
  • laboratory incubation experiments with standard protocols
  • Analysis of soil microbiome
  • Active substance discharge in laboratory column experiments

Links and Downloads

https://www.nitriklim.de/

Involved external Thünen-Partners

Funding Body

  • Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)
    (national, öffentlich)

Duration

10.2022 - 9.2026

More Information

Project funding number: 2822ABS015
Project status: ongoing

Publications

  1. 0

    Herrmann A, Verma S, Techow A, Kluß C, Dittert K, Quakernack R, Pacholski AS, Kage H, Taube F (2023) Assessing nitrous oxide emissions and productivity of cropping systems for biogas production using digestate and mineral fertilisation in a coastal marsh site. Front Environ Sci 11:1231767, DOI:10.3389/fenvs.2023.1231767

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn067373.pdf

  2. 1

    Ni K, Vietinghoff M, Pacholski AS (2023) Targeting yield and reducing nitrous oxide emission by use of single and double inhibitor treated urea during winter wheat season in Northern Germany. Agric Ecosyst Environ 347:108391, DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2023.108391

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn066013.pdf

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