Optimal plant nitrogen uptake leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions

In Indiana, Purdue University scientists found that corn management processes contributing to optimal levels of plant nitrogen uptake could result in fewer nitrous oxide emissions, a very potent greenhouse gas.

“Previous internationally accepted estimates were that for every pound of nitrogen fertilizer applied in grain crop production, there is a loss of 1 percent as nitrous oxide to the atmosphere,” said Tony Vyn, Purdue professor of agronomy. “We found that when it comes to North American corn production, nitrous oxide emissions are more of a function of two things — nitrogen balance and nitrogen recovery efficiency — than simply nitrogen rate alone. Moderate N rates cause less concern for nitrous oxide emissions, but when high rates of nitrogen fertilizer exceed optimal plant nitrogen requirements, then we will get higher nitrous oxide emissions.”

Published in Frontiers in Plant Science, the research revealed a strong relationship between actual nitrogen recovery and nitrous oxide emissions.