Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels

• Published in: Environmental research letters Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 64007 - 64014
• Main Authors: Ruan, Leilei, Bhardwaj, Ajay K, Hamilton, Stephen K, Robertson, G Philip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.06.2016
• Subjects: 09 BIOMASS FUELS; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Emission measurements; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Ethanol; Fertilization; Fertilizers; Greenhouse gases; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; IPCC emission factor; Leaching; life cycle analysis; Methane; methane (CH; methane (CH4); methane (CH4) oxidation; nitrate leaching; Nitrates; Nitrogen; nitrogen fertilizer; Nitrous oxide; nitrous oxide (N; nitrous oxide (N2O); Organic carbon; oxidation; Panicum virgatum; Soils; switchgrass

Cellulosic biofuels are intended to improve future energy and climate security. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is commonly recommended to stimulate yields but can increase losses of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) and other forms of reactive N, including nitrate. We measured soil N2O emissions and n...