By Scout Nelson
New research suggests that silage, a common fermented feed for livestock, has been overlooked as a significant source of nitrous oxide emissions. A team of scientists has conducted a study estimating the amount of nitrous oxide released from silage, indicating it could be one of the largest agricultural sources of this potent greenhouse gas in the United States.
The researchers at Kansas State University are raising awareness among federal regulators and the agricultural industry to address this pressing issue. “So that we can do something to minimize it,” said Jeongdae Im, an associate professor of civil engineering. “Luckily, we have a simple solution.”
Their findings suggest that silage may emit 30 times more nitrous oxide compared to traditional practices like burning corn stubble after harvest. However, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regularly includes field burning in its emissions reports, the contributions from silage are often overlooked.
The proposed solution involves using an inoculant to treat silage. According to the researchers, treating just one ton of silage would cost around 4 cents, which translates to an estimated $5 million to treat all silage produced in the U.S. each year. “It’s really, really exciting,” Im stated. “We can reduce 2% of (the U.S.) total nitrous oxide emissions.”
Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas, about 265 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. Its increase in the atmosphere poses significant environmental concerns, especially given that agriculture is a major contributor to these emissions.
The team carried out lab experiments to identify how much nitrous oxide is produced by silage. Silage is chopped plant material, commonly corn or alfalfa, that is fermented and stored.
They discovered that certain bacteria in silage produce nitrous oxide when stressed from a lack of carbon compounds. By developing a method to kill most of these bacteria and boost the carbon supply, they managed to prevent 99% of nitrous oxide emissions in their experiments.
Next steps include conducting larger-scale studies to verify these findings and assessing the safety of the treatment. Researchers aim to ensure that any ingredients used in the treatment do not pose risks to human health. Ultimately, there is hope that carbon markets or other incentives could encourage farmers to adopt this solution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from silage in the process.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-karen-massier
Categories: Kansas, General