A TWEAK to Reduce Watershed Impact
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When it comes to growing potatoes, small changes to farming practices can lead to big impacts. Dr. Judith Nyiraneza, a soil scientist on Prince Edward Island, has found a way to help farmers make their potato production more sustainable. Her research shows that farmers can cut nitrogen fertilizer use by 25% without sacrificing potato yield. Even better, these changes, along with the right choice of crop rotation, can help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
Crop rotations can boost yields by improving soil health and reducing pests and diseases. Of the various rotations that Dr. Nyiraneza tested, the ‘soybean – brown mustard – potato’ rotation consistently produced lower levels of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These findings highlight how the choice of rotation can influence a farm’s environmental footprint like reducing greenhouse gas emissions or preventing unused nitrogen from entering groundwater. Dr. Nyiraneza’s team is now evaluating how the same rotations impact soil health.
But the most impressive discovery came when Dr. Nyiraneza’s team started reducing nitrogen fertilizers. Using less nitrogen reduced nitrous oxide emissions dramatically. Dr. Nyiraneza and her team tested the performance of two types of nitrogen fertilizer. One was traditional fertilizer and the second an enhanced efficiency fertilizer which is designed to provide nitrogen to plants as they need it over time.
At one field site, switching to an enhanced efficiency fertilizer and reducing nitrogen by 25% slashed emissions by up to six times and provided the same or better yields compared to standard fertilizer at the recommended rate.
By applying just enough nitrogen to meet potato crops' needs and choosing certain crop rotations, producers could see cost savings while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
“We want farmers to know that small tweaks can go a long way. You don’t have to overhaul your operation to see meaningful results.”
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