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Better nitrogen management could cut farming’s carbon footprint
New research from Rothamsted has identified the potential for improved nitrogen management to reduce energy-related carbon emissions from farms across England, but also points to the opportunity for technologies such as green ammonia to contribute more.
New research from Rothamsted has identified the potential for improved nitrogen management to reduce energy-related carbon emissions from farms across England, but also points to the opportunity for technologies such as green ammonia to contribute more.
The research has provided a national-scale assessment of the direct and indirect energy use associated with different types of farms across England, highlighting the important contribution of fertiliser production and application to indirect use.
The study, undertaken as part of the NICCEE (Global Nitrogen Innovation Center for Clean Energy and Environment) Global Centre programme, and published in Food and Energy Security, found that implementing improved nitrogen management practices could reduce energy-related CO₂-equivalent impacts by 8.8–13.0%, depending on the type of farm.
The research also found that fertiliser production is a major contributor to farm energy use footprints. For farms without livestock, embedded emissions associated with fertilisers accounted for 39–47% of energy-related impacts.
Reducing the footprint of fertiliser
Nitrogen fertiliser is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity, but producing and using it requires significant energy.
The researchers modelled current energy use across representative farm types, including cereal, dairy, mixed, general cropping and lowland grazing livestock farms. They then modelled a scenario in which a range of existing best-practice nitrogen management measures were implemented. This scenario reduced the indirect energy use associated with fertilisers by 16–40%.
Dr Y. Zhang, lead author and researcher at Rothamsted Research, said:
“Our findings highlight the importance of looking beyond the fuel used directly on farms when considering agriculture’s energy and carbon footprint. Fertiliser production represents a substantial source of embedded (indirect) energy use, particularly for arable farming.”
The research estimated average annual energy-related CO₂-equivalent impacts ranging from 401 kg per hectare for lowland grazing livestock farms to 1,002 kg per hectare for dairy farms.
Supporting lower-carbon agriculture
The study also simulated that improved nitrogen management could deliver wider environmental benefits, including reductions in eutrophication and acidification impacts.
Professor Adie Collins, Science Director at Rothamsted Research, said:
“Improving nitrogen management is an important opportunity to reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint while maintaining productive farming systems. However, our results point to the opportunity to impact more on the carbon footprints by tackling the embedded or indirect energy use. Here, for example, there is potential for green ammonia to make a difference, but the opportunities and risks for such production in the context of the need for consistent renewable energy sources, requires strategic exploration. Understanding the trade-offs and wider benefits of different approaches is essential to developing practical, evidence-based solutions that support more sustainable and resilient agriculture and the systems science applied by Rothamsted Research is ideal for ensuring balanced appraisals of system outcomes.”
The research reported here is currently being extended to explore strategic opportunities for green ammonia production on UK farms, as well as application of life cycle analysis (LCA) of different fertilisers. The work to date already provides evidence that could help inform strategies for reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint while maintaining productive farming systems.
Publication
Contacts
Prof. Adie Collins
Science Director
Dr Yusheng Zhang
Hydrologist
ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking
discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern
agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with
economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research,
interdisciplinary teams and multiple partnerships.
Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world:
The Long-Term Experiments,
Rothamsted Insect Survey and the
North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and
international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).
ABOUT BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid
from the UK government.
BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant,
dynamic and inclusive community which delivers ground-breaking discoveries and develops bio-based solutions that contribute to tackling global challenges,
such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we not only play a pivotal role in fostering connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system
to flourish – we also have a responsibility to enable the creation of a research culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged.
BBSRC proudly forges interdisciplinary collaborations where excellent bioscience has a fundamental role. We pioneer approaches that enhance the equality, diversity,
and inclusion of talent by investing in people, infrastructure, technologies, and partnerships on a global scale.
ABOUT LAT
The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.