Nitrogen is a key input into vegetable production. Applying high levels of nitrogen, either as fertiliser, compost or amendments is necessary to achieve high yields, but it can also result in nitrous oxide gas being released into the atmosphere.
Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas and is responsible for the majority of emissions from the Australian vegetable industry after CO2, associated with electricity production for cooling and pumping. This fact sheet provides useful information on the loss of plant available nitrogen, reducing nitrous oxide emissions, nitrogen management (the 4 R’s) and keeping informed through soil testing.
