A large amount of nitrogen applied to crops is wasted and is one of the contributors to climate change, an irrigation conference heard recently.
Associate Professor of soil science in the School of Agriculture and Food, the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Dr Helen Suter, was one of the speakers at the Irrigation Farmers Network conference at Moama.
Dr Suter said nitrogen fertilisers have been used for a long time, but a low percentage of the nitrogen is ending up in the crop and being utilised by the crop.
About 50 per cent of the nitrogen being applied is lost.
“We are concerned about, as well as the inefficiencies, that it has a huge environmental impact, a lot of which we can’t see,” Dr Suter said.
She pointed out that nitrogen oxide is an ozone-depleting gas, contributing to climate change.
Led by the University of Melbourne, the ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers is developing the next generation of ‘smart’ fertilisers that will support sustainable agricultural intensification, farm profitability, and the health of soils and the environment.
The hub’s research is intended to lead to benefits beyond the farmers who will be able to achieve greater yields with the new fertilisers.
These ‘smart’ fertilisers are expected to produce improved outcomes for the environment by reducing the amount of nitrogen lost into the soil from fertilisers, which pollute waterways and contribute to global warming.
In this collaboration, the University of Melbourne has partnered with La Trobe University, Incitec Pivot Fertilisers and Elders Rural services, and involves representatives of other key agricultural businesses and development corporations.