Can we reduce nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture without reducing crop yields?
That is the central question as we harvest winter wheat in SmartField Supersite B.
But harvesting in SmartField is very different from a standard field harvest. Using a specialised small plot combine, we harvest according to a detailed plan across trial plots.
To understand the full effect, we do more than just weigh the yield. A representative sample from each plot is sent directly to our laboratory for analysis of water and nitrogen content. Straw yields are also measured, allowing us to calculate total nitrogen uptake in the crop.
– Our goal is to identify concrete fertilization strategies, field practices and technologies that lower N₂O emissions in real-world farming without impacting yields or increasing nitrogen leaching, Michael Erlang-Nielsen, Team Manager at Danish Technological Institute, explains.
The harvest data forms a vital piece of the overall dataset continuously gathered year-round from SmartField’s two supersites and mobile system.
Read more about SmartField and the field measurement infrastructure here.
