Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the use of urease inhibitors: A farm level analysis

Abstract

Ireland’s ambitious plan to expand primary agricultural production and its commitment to reduce its non-ETS GHG emissions by 20% compared with 2005 emission levels constitute a considerable challenge for Irish farmers. Nitrous oxide emissions produced as a result of the application of artificial fertiliser accounts for 16% of Ireland’s agricultural GHG emissions (Teagasc, 2017a). The use of urea combined with NBPT has the potential to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture when compared with conventional fertilisers. This paper presents a farm level model which maximizes farm gross margin subject to constraints on production factors (labour, land etc.) as well as agronomic constraints (stocking rate, fertilisers, feed, etc.). The aim of this paper is to compare the farm gross margin of two dairy farm types under a base scenario with the results of five other scenarios which consider varying levels of emissions reduction targets and the potential of urea combined with NBPT as an abatement technology. Results inferred that there is a potential for urea combined with NBPT to offset nitrous oxide emissions from fertiliser application and hence contribute to Ireland’s GHG reduction target.