ENHANCED efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilisers (EEFs) will play a crucial role in the use of N in agriculture over the coming decades according to an American-based scientist.
Speaking at the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) conference in Melbourne this week, Cliff Snyder said EEFs would help the industry cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions such as ammonia and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and the leaching of nitrate into the soil and water.
Dr Snyder, who works with the INI in the southern state of Arkansas, said the industry was also looking to improve crop uptake of N.
“Less losses, more efficacy, that is what people are after.”
He forecast that EEFs, such as fertilisers with polymer coatings or with the addition of urease to slow the release would be frontline tools in achieving this aim.
“There has been some talk from the fertiliser industry that there is too much focus on these lower volume, more expensive products, but societal expectations are that we manage emissions appropriately and EEFs will play a role in this.”
Dr Snyder said nitrogen-based fertilisers would continue to be the major source of N for crops across the world into the foreseeable future.
He said he saw gains in efficacy coming from expanded use of EEFs using a set of principles he phrased the 4 R N management strategy.
“It is fairly simple: you need to have the right source, use the right rate, put it out at the right time and on the right place.”
Dr Snyder said he said exciting developments in combining 4RN tools with precision technologies and information systems.
“In particular if we can link up with improved weather models it may improve opportunities for refined N management in the future.”
Dr Snyder said while he felt the future of N application would feature an increased focus on EEFs, there needs to be more research on the trade-offs between certain traits.
“For instance, there is some evidence of N loss trade-offs with some EEFs, for example therisk of heightened volatilisation of ammonia when using some nitrification inhibitors which underscores the need for studies that simultaneously measure volatilization, leaching, and N2O emissions,” he said.
“Such studies could better inform and help ensure accurate parameters of existing and future N loss models.”