Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrous oxide emissions from five UK fertilised grasslands

L. M. Cardenas, A. Bhogal, David R. Chadwick, Karen McGeough, T. H. Misselbrook, Robert M. Rees, R. E. Thorman, Catherine J. Watson, J. R. Williams, Keith A. Smith, S. Calvet

The Science of The Total Environment · 2019

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Summary

This multi-site field study evaluated nitrogen use efficiency and N₂O emissions from five UK grasslands under different fertilisation regimes. The research found that urea-based fertilisers, particularly when combined with the nitrification inhibitor DCD (dicyandiamide), reduced N₂O emissions compared to ammonium nitrate (AN) or calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN). Total nitrogen input was correlated with nitrogen offtake and excess, whilst cumulative emissions and emission factors were related to yield-scaled emissions.

UK applicability

These findings are directly applicable to UK grassland management and policy, as they reflect actual UK field conditions across multiple sites and fertiliser products in use. The results support evidence-based fertiliser selection to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions whilst maintaining productivity.

Key measures

Nitrogen use efficiency, nitrous oxide emissions, emission factors (EF), nitrogen offtake, nitrogen excess, yield-scaled emissions

Outcomes reported

The study measured nitrogen use efficiency and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions across five fertilised grasslands in the United Kingdom, and assessed how different nitrogen fertiliser types and additives affected both emissions and nutrient offtake.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United Kingdom
System type
Pasture-based livestock
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.082
Catalogue ID
MGmoqkp16a-gdsfli

Topic tags

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