Summary
This multi-site UK field trial compared nitrogen use efficiency and nitrous oxide emissions across five grasslands treated with different nitrogen fertiliser types (urea, ammonium nitrate [AN], and calcium ammonium nitrate [CAN]), with and without the urease inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD). The findings demonstrate that urea-based fertilisers, particularly when combined with DCD, substantially reduce N₂O emissions compared to conventional mineral fertilisers, whilst revealing clear relationships between total nitrogen input and nitrogen balance metrics.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK grassland management and fertiliser policy, as they derive from five UK field sites and reflect practical UK farming conditions. The results support recommendations for fertiliser selection and urease inhibitor use to simultaneously improve nitrogen efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from British pastoral systems.
Key measures
Nitrous oxide emissions; nitrogen use efficiency; nitrogen offtake; nitrogen excess; emission factors; yield-scaled emissions
Outcomes reported
The study measured nitrogen use efficiency and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions across five UK fertilised grasslands under different nitrogen fertiliser treatments and management practices. It quantified the relationships between total nitrogen input, nitrogen offtake, excess nitrogen, cumulative emissions, and yield-scaled emissions.
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