Funded through Round 9: Biological GHG Management in 2015, This project investigated the use of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers (EEF) to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and improve yield in spring wheat across the Canadian Prairies. The results of this work help not only Alberta producers, but those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well, where additional testing took place.
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are a source of nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. To help address the problem, this project involved testing enhanced efficiency fertilizers designed to reduce emissions and optimize nutrient availability to plants while minimizing environmental losses. The researchers do this by incorporating various technologies and additives that improve nutrient uptake, reduce nutrient losses through volatilization, leaching, and denitrification, and enhance nutrient use efficiency. The study also compared the effects of fall and spring application of conventional and EEF fertilizers on nitrous oxide emissions and yield.
Completed in 2019, this project found that the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers, such as eNtrench and SuperU, resulted in a reduction of nitrous oxide emissions by 53 per cent and 49 per cent respectively compared to conventional urea. These reductions were observed across nine years of trial with significant source effects, meaning these fertilizers could significantly reduce GHGs in Western Canada.
Considering Site Factors When Implementing Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer Products
The researchers found that environmental factors, such as soil and weather conditions, significantly influence the effectiveness of fertilizer timing and EEF products. Sites with higher precipitation, fall soil moisture, and snow cover were more likely to have greater nitrous oxide emissions from fall-applied fertilizers due to conditions conducive to thaw emissions from denitrification. The timing of fertilizer application, specifically fall versus spring application, also showed a significant impact on both nitrous oxide emissions and crop yield. Fall application of nitrogen fertilizers generally resulted in higher nitrous oxide emissions and lower crop yield compared to spring application. This highlights the importance of considering site-specific factors when implementing nutrient management practices. Additionally, the project emphasized the importance of effective communication and outreach to farmers and stakeholders. Disseminating research findings through factsheets, presentations and public tours helped raise awareness about the benefits of using enhanced efficiency fertilizers and encouraged their adoption in agricultural practices.
What’s next? While this study showed positive results, the researchers emphasized the need for further research and studies to better understand the conditions under which EEF can effectively reduce nitrous oxide emissions in crop production. This will help determine if lower application rates can still effectively reduce emissions while maintaining yield. EEF have had most market penetration of these innovative fertilizers, and producers are beginning to use them for malt barley and other high value crops.