Excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers causes sharp greenhouse gas emissions increase: Study

The excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers for rice farming results in a sharp increase in the emission of nitrous oxide, the major greenhouse gas contributor, according to study by the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services.

By doubling the use of nitrogenous fertilizers from the standard fertilizing amount of 9 kilograms of nitrogen per 10 hectares for trial rice cultivation, the generation of nitrous oxides increased by 104 percent to 2,382 gram per hectare (g/ha).

The standard fertilizing amount is 1,167 g/ha.

While It is well-known that the excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers for dry-field farming increases nitrous oxide generation, it was the first time scientists confirmed that nitrous oxide increases if nitrogenous fertilizers are used excessively for rice farming.

The agricultural sector accounts for 62.8 percent of South Korea’s total nitrous oxide generation.

Nitrous oxides that flow into the atmosphere remain there for 120 years with their global warming effect being 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide.