Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different nitrogen sources (urea, compost, and digestate) on N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> emissions and the forage production of Piatã grass in tropical pastures, with the aim of identifying the fertilization prac...

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Main Authors: Sirio Douglas da Silva dos Reis, Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior, Michely Tomazi, Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico, Stéfane de Sousa Cunha, Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Grasses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/4/2/26
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author Sirio Douglas da Silva dos Reis
Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior
Michely Tomazi
Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico
Stéfane de Sousa Cunha
Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral
author_facet Sirio Douglas da Silva dos Reis
Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior
Michely Tomazi
Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico
Stéfane de Sousa Cunha
Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral
author_sort Sirio Douglas da Silva dos Reis
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different nitrogen sources (urea, compost, and digestate) on N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> emissions and the forage production of Piatã grass in tropical pastures, with the aim of identifying the fertilization practices that can balance productivity with environmental mitigation. The experiment included 10 forage cuts over a period of 14 months, from January 2017 to February 2018. The CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were monitored using closed chambers and analyzed by gas chromatography. The forage production was assessed by weighing and drying the material. The emission intensity was calculated based on the global warming potential of the gases. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and compared by Tukey’s test (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Fertilizer application increased the N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, with the highest flux (79.56 mg N-N<sub>2</sub>O/m<sup>2</sup>/day) observed for the digestate treatment (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The N<sub>2</sub>O consumption was the most significant for the control treatment (−5.90 mg N-N<sub>2</sub>O/m<sup>2</sup>/day) in July. The CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation was prevalent across all the treatments, with the highest oxidation for the urea treatment (−49.80 µg C-CH<sub>4</sub>/m<sup>2</sup>/day) two days after fertilization. The dry matter production (DMP) was the highest with urea during the summer (16.9 t/ha; <i>p</i> < 0.01). The emission intensity values were 243.41 kg CO<sub>2</sub>eq/t DM for urea, 103.44 kg CO<sub>2</sub>eq/t DM for digestate, and 27.35 kg CO<sub>2</sub>eq/t DM for compost (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The compost application stimulated CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation. In conclusion, compost can be considered an important alternative for fertilizing pasture areas, both from a productive and environmental perspective.
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spelling doaj-art-ce546d602a8e4dc9a39b91832005f1732025-08-20T02:21:10ZengMDPI AGGrasses2813-34632025-06-01422610.3390/grasses4020026Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral FertilizationSirio Douglas da Silva dos Reis0Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior1Michely Tomazi2Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico3Stéfane de Sousa Cunha4Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral5College of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilEMBRAPA Agropecuária Oeste, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilThe objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different nitrogen sources (urea, compost, and digestate) on N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> emissions and the forage production of Piatã grass in tropical pastures, with the aim of identifying the fertilization practices that can balance productivity with environmental mitigation. The experiment included 10 forage cuts over a period of 14 months, from January 2017 to February 2018. The CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were monitored using closed chambers and analyzed by gas chromatography. The forage production was assessed by weighing and drying the material. The emission intensity was calculated based on the global warming potential of the gases. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and compared by Tukey’s test (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Fertilizer application increased the N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, with the highest flux (79.56 mg N-N<sub>2</sub>O/m<sup>2</sup>/day) observed for the digestate treatment (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The N<sub>2</sub>O consumption was the most significant for the control treatment (−5.90 mg N-N<sub>2</sub>O/m<sup>2</sup>/day) in July. The CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation was prevalent across all the treatments, with the highest oxidation for the urea treatment (−49.80 µg C-CH<sub>4</sub>/m<sup>2</sup>/day) two days after fertilization. The dry matter production (DMP) was the highest with urea during the summer (16.9 t/ha; <i>p</i> < 0.01). The emission intensity values were 243.41 kg CO<sub>2</sub>eq/t DM for urea, 103.44 kg CO<sub>2</sub>eq/t DM for digestate, and 27.35 kg CO<sub>2</sub>eq/t DM for compost (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The compost application stimulated CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation. In conclusion, compost can be considered an important alternative for fertilizing pasture areas, both from a productive and environmental perspective.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/4/2/26<i>Urochloa brizantha</i>CH<sub>4</sub> oxidationenvironmentN<sub>2</sub>O mitigation
spellingShingle Sirio Douglas da Silva dos Reis
Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior
Michely Tomazi
Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico
Stéfane de Sousa Cunha
Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral
Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization
Grasses
<i>Urochloa brizantha</i>
CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation
environment
N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation
title Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization
title_full Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization
title_fullStr Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization
title_short Feasibility of Organic Fertilization for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compared to Mineral Fertilization
title_sort feasibility of organic fertilization for reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to mineral fertilization
topic <i>Urochloa brizantha</i>
CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation
environment
N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/4/2/26
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AT michelytomazi feasibilityoforganicfertilizationforreducinggreenhousegasemissionscomparedtomineralfertilization
AT anacarolinaamorimorrico feasibilityoforganicfertilizationforreducinggreenhousegasemissionscomparedtomineralfertilization
AT stefanedesousacunha feasibilityoforganicfertilizationforreducinggreenhousegasemissionscomparedtomineralfertilization
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