Fertilizer Management and Air Emissions

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Fertilizer Management and Air Emissions
Symposium 20 February 2008 Delta Hotel, Ottawa

• Tom Bruulsema, PhD
• Director, Northeast Region
• International Plant Nutrition Institute

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IPNI Mission

• to develop and promote scientific information
  about responsibleplant nutrient management for
  the benefit of the human family.

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New Publication
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Agricultures Share of GHG Emissions
lt 8 in Canada lt 10 in USA not increasing
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GHG Emissions
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Estimates of N2O emissions from cropland in 1995
(IFA/FAO, 2001)
1estimated using IPCC Tier 1 emission coefficient
of 1
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Range of N2O Emission Among N Sources can Vary
Greatly

• Report 1 (Stehfest Bouwman, 2006)
• 0 to 46 of applied N
• Report 2 (Granli Bockman, 1994)
• 0 to 7 of applied N
• Report 3 (Eichner, 1990)
• 0 to 7 of applied N

• Report 1
• Median among N sources ranged from
  0.26 to 1.56 kg of N/ha

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N Rates Above Agronomic Optimum Can Increase Risk
of N2O Emission
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Manufacture and Transport
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Global Warming Potential of Crop Production
Robertson et al. (2000) Adviento-Borbe et al.
(2007)
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BMP Effectiveness Source
Snyder, 2008. Practical Fertilizer Nitrogen BMPs
to Limit N Losses which Contribute to Global
Warming. IPNI, Norcross, GA.
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BMP Effectiveness Rate Timing
Snyder, 2008. Practical Fertilizer Nitrogen BMPs
to Limit N Losses which Contribute to Global
Warming. IPNI, Norcross, GA.
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BMP Effectiveness Placement
Snyder, 2008. Practical Fertilizer Nitrogen BMPs
to Limit N Losses which Contribute to Global
Warming. IPNI, Norcross, GA.
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Average corn yields (1989-1993) and soil organic
matter levels for a Brookston clay loam soil
under different management practices since 1959.
Management N-P2O5-K2O Yield SOM
(lb/A) bu/A Continuous corn 115-70-30 104 3.6 C
ontinuous corn 0-0-0 13 3.1 Rotation
corn 115-70-30 145 4.4 Rotation corn 0-0-0 65 3.3
Woodslee, Ontario, Gregorich Drury, 1996
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Rothamsted Research, 2006
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Best Yields
Rothamsted Research, 2006
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The Myth of N Fertilization for Soil C
Sequestration(Khan, Mulvaney, Ellsworth and
Boast. 2007. J Environ Qual. 361821-1832.)

• Fertilizing at N rates higher than optimum for
  yield is unlikely to increase soil C
• Many long-term studies show soil C is higher with
  optimal compared to zero N

Adapted from Paustian et al., 1992
Schulten and Schnitzer,1997
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Global Framework For Fertilizer BMPs
ECONOMIC
SOCIAL
ECOLOGICAL
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Application of Principles to Management

• Large number of scientific principles, applied to
  complex systems
• Involvement of qualified advisers and agronomists
• Need for agronomic research and education
• BMP guides that
• Reference original data in peer-reviewed
  publications
• Specify benefits to PPSE in clear language
• Define performance indicators
• Reflect continuing practical input

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• Grow more on less land, preserving natural
  ecosystems
• Grow more with less impact minimize losses
• Apply principles of ecology to increase cropping
  system productivity

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New Hybrids prolong N Uptake
Tollenaar, et al., 1997
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