Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilisers in the grains industry: an opportunity to reduce GHG Emissions and increase NUE
Tender ID: 536362
Tender Details
Tender Description
This investment will explore the role of Enhanced Efficiency Fertiliser (EEF) technologies to maximise Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and optimise crop production whilst minimising environmental impacts (e.g., Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) emissions of N2O) within the Australian grains industry. There is increasing pressure from markets, consumers and government to reduce GHG footprints across industries, including agriculture.
EEFs encompass a range of technologies that use chemical (e.g., inhibitors) or physical (e.g., controlled release) approaches to regulate the release of Nitrogen (N) and therefore availability to plants, with the aim of reducing the risk of N loss through improved synchronisation of fertiliser N supply and crop N demand. These technologies have been commercially available for more than 20 years, but relatively few investigations have quantified their benefits in terms of reducing N losses whilst maintaining and/or improving crop responses and subsequent return on investment (ROI). Higher cost (relative to standard fertiliser N products) and uncertainty of how EEFs behave and perform in the field are key reasons for the low adoption. Key knowledge gaps remain (e.g., EEF effectiveness and interplay between factors such as soil type and climate leading to variable responses) and there is a need for further Research & Development to demonstrate the effectiveness of these alternative fertiliser technologies within the grains industry and provide growers with clear recommendations.
This investment will generate data on the environmental, agronomic and economic performance of EEFs under field conditions in key soils and climates representative of the Australian grains industry. The N release dynamics in soil, crop N uptake and N losses will be quantified using 15N-labelled fertiliser for the spectrum of commercially available EEF technologies relative to standard fertiliser N products. The research findings will form the basis of published recommendations that will enable growers to make informed N fertiliser decisions that result in costs effective environmental and agronomic outcomes.
Collaboration between research organisations and commercial companies is encouraged and co-investment from partners is highly valued.
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
