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http://sciencealert.com.au/news/20141906-25703.html
The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers has helped to feed millions of people - but its also disrupted the nitrogen cycle, and resulted in unhealthy waterways.
Now a researcher at the University of Waikato in New Zealand may have come up with a way to release the nitrogen trapped in our soil back into the atmosphere, and close the cycle.
To do this, Professor Louis Schipper and his team have studied the soil microorganisms that are supposed to naturally turn nitrogen into gas, and found that many of them arent doing their job because the soil doesnt have enough organic material in it to feed them.
The researchers are now working on ways to return this organic material into the soil, including the use of denitrification walls.
These walls are trenches filled with organic materials such as sawdust and wood chips, and they remove virtually all the nitrogen from water before it reaches waterways, testing shows.
The denitrification walls are now ready to be used publicly, and are already gaining traction in the U.S.
Professor Schipper is also looking into how the carbon content of soils on dairy farms can be boosted in order to help return nitrogen to the atmosphere.
Hes found that by planting crops such as chicory or plantain, instead of grass, the carbon content of soil can be greatly increased, and the nitrogen cycle can be completed.
Theres still more testing to be done on this project, but Professor Schipper hopes that his work might help reveal cost effective and efficient ways that farmers can undo the harmful effects of fertilisers - while still being able to feed our growing population.
Scientists may have found a way to close the broken nitrogen cycle
The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers has helped to feed millions of people - but its also disrupted the nitrogen cycle, and resulted in unhealthy waterways.
Now a researcher at the University of Waikato in New Zealand may have come up with a way to release the nitrogen trapped in our soil back into the atmosphere, and close the cycle.
To do this, Professor Louis Schipper and his team have studied the soil microorganisms that are supposed to naturally turn nitrogen into gas, and found that many of them arent doing their job because the soil doesnt have enough organic material in it to feed them.
The researchers are now working on ways to return this organic material into the soil, including the use of denitrification walls.
These walls are trenches filled with organic materials such as sawdust and wood chips, and they remove virtually all the nitrogen from water before it reaches waterways, testing shows.
The denitrification walls are now ready to be used publicly, and are already gaining traction in the U.S.
Professor Schipper is also looking into how the carbon content of soils on dairy farms can be boosted in order to help return nitrogen to the atmosphere.
Hes found that by planting crops such as chicory or plantain, instead of grass, the carbon content of soil can be greatly increased, and the nitrogen cycle can be completed.
Theres still more testing to be done on this project, but Professor Schipper hopes that his work might help reveal cost effective and efficient ways that farmers can undo the harmful effects of fertilisers - while still being able to feed our growing population.
