Background and Objective

Soil properties can exhibit significant small-scale heterogeneity. Subarea-specific nitrogen fertilizing adapts nitrogen additions for this and for the resulting small-scale variations of plant nitrogen demand. The project studies how much greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated using this approach.

Target Group

The project is geared towards agricultural praxis and consulting

Approach

The Technical University of Munich has established a field experiment with sub-area specific N fertilization. The Thünen Institute provides equipment and its strong expertise for greenhouse gas flux measurements and analyses to the joint project.

Results

Comparison of nitrous oxide emissions during winter from different succeeding crops after rapeseed  (winter wheat with conventional or reduced tillage, winter barley, mustard, ryegras) did not show any reduction compared to conventional winter wheat at the study site.

Comparing different N fertilizers showed that urea stabilized with a nitrification inhibitor could reduce nitrous oxide emissions from rapeseed cultivation at the study site by up to 50 % compared to non-stabilized urea or ammonium sulphate nitrate. Similar results were obtained for soil nitrate content. However, oil yields were equal between fertilizer treatments.

Links and Downloads

Homepage of the project partner

www.wzw.tum.de/oekolandbau/index.php

Segment about the project on Bayern 2 radio

www.br.de/radio/bayern2/wissen/iq-wissenschaft-und-forschung/lachgas-wie-kann-rapsanbau-nachhaltiger-werden-100.html