US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or relevant agricultural regulatory body announcements

Researchers Find Tiny Organism Can Reduce Farm Nitrous Oxide Emissions

May 30, 2024, 01:32 PM

Researchers have discovered that a tiny organism has the potential to significantly reduce persistent nitrous oxide emissions from farm fields. Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, is emitted by microorganisms thriving in agricultural soils. Scientists have long sought methods to mitigate these emissions. Recent studies indicate that nitrogen-hungry bacteria, when added to farm soil, can curb these greenhouse-gas emissions. These microbes initiate the nitrogen cycle by 'sieving' ions on their surface, thus unlocking their potential to reduce farmland N2O emissions. A study published in Nature suggests that fertilizers with increased concentrations of nitrous oxide-consuming bacteria could be an effective solution.