Identifying N fertilizer management strategies to reduce ammonia volatilization: Towards a site-specific approach

M Mencaroni; N Dal Ferro; J Furlanetto; M Longo; B Lazzaro; L Sartori; B B Grant; W N Smith; F Morari

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111445

Identifying N fertilizer management strategies to reduce ammonia volatilization: Towards a site-specific approach

J Environ Manage. 2021 Jan 1:277:111445. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111445. Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Authors

M Mencaroni¹, N Dal Ferro², J Furlanetto¹, M Longo¹, B Lazzaro³, L Sartori⁴, B B Grant⁵, W N Smith⁵, F Morari¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, Agripolis, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
² Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, Agripolis, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (Padova), Italy. Electronic address: nicola.dalferro@unipd.it.
³ Regione Del Veneto, Direzione Agroambiente, Caccia e Pesca, U.O. Agroambiente, Via Torino 110, Mestre (VE), Italy.
⁴ Department of Landscape and Agro-Forestry Systems, Agripolis, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università, 16, 35020, Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
⁵ Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada.

PMID: 33070018
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111445

Abstract

Concerns about ammonia (NH₃) losses from nitrogen (N) mineral fertilizers have forced policymakers to set emission reduction commitments across Europe. Although best available techniques (BATs) have been recommended, large uncertainties still exist due to poorly targeted site-specific approaches that might compromise their effectiveness. Here we proposed and tested a conceptual framework designed to identify most effective BATs that reduce NH₃ at the site-specific level. The study was conducted in the Veneto region, northeast Italy. After the mapping of NH₃ emission potential areas, BATs and business-as-usual N fertilization scenarios were assessed using a modified version of the DNDC agroecosystem model and compared with urea broadcast distribution under different pedo-climatic conditions. The most promising practices were further tested in a field experiment using a wind tunnel combined with a FTIR gas analyzer. Results showed that closed-slot injection reduced NH₃ emissions with any type of mineral or organic fertilizers. Injected application, with ammonium nitrate or organic fertilizers, reduced NH₃ loss in maize by 75% and 96%, respectively, and in winter wheat by 87% and 98%, compared to surface broadcast. Injection was the most promising technology to support, being already available to farmers. However, some increase in nitrate leaching was observed, mostly in case of winter wheat (+24% for AN injection; +89% for organic fertilizers). By contrast, urea incorporation with hoeing, the most common technique used by farmers in spring crops, did not show satisfactory results, because the partial burial of urea caused strong NH₃ emissions that were even higher compared to surface broadcast. Recommended NH₃ reduction techniques should be tailored to local pedo-climatic and management conditions, and evaluated, in a holistic approach, considering all N fluxes in the environment.

Keywords: Best available techniques; Fertilizer incorporation; Fertilizer injection; Mineral fertilizers; Stakeholder involvement.

MeSH terms

Agriculture
Ammonia* / analysis
Europe
Fertilizers* / analysis
Italy
Nitrogen
Soil
Volatilization

Substances

Fertilizers
Soil
Ammonia
Nitrogen