A new study led from the University of 蓝莓视频 discovered greenhouse gas production is significantly less when biobased residues like compost replaces widely used nitrogen fertilizer during spring freeze-thaw events in cold temperate regions.
鈥淚n cold temperate regions like Canada, spring freeze-thaw events contribute significantly to greenhouse gas production which further exacerbates climate change,鈥� said study lead Emmanuel Badewa, a PhD student from 蓝莓视频鈥檚 School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS).听
鈥淭he premise of our study is that biobased residues, which are generated as the natural by-product of our lives and economy, have the potential to reduce global warming thanks to our highly variable spring freeze-thaw cycle鈥攊n Canada and across the temperate world.鈥�
The research team from 蓝莓视频 and McGill University collected greenhouse gases鈥攃arbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide鈥攄uring the spring from a pilot study at Elora, Ontario research station. The site was selected due to its three transient spring freeze-thaw phases鈥攚aterlogged, wet, and dry.听
鈥淭here is incentive for farmers in cold temperate regions that rely solely on nitrogen fertilizer for crop production to adopt biobased residues from food waste, biosolids from sewage sludges, digestate from plant materials,鈥� said Maren Oelbermann, a co-author from 蓝莓视频. 鈥淎lso, the value of biobased residues is better than ever for farmers now that there are severe fertilizer shortages globally.鈥澨�
The study offers proof that climate change mitigation can be achieved through carbon sequestration and soil improvement with the knock-on effect of creating jobs in the agricultural sector.听
鈥淎s Canada takes steps toward a zero-waste future and aims to improve the circular bioeconomy, there is opportunity to utilize recycled organic waste from landfills as a sustainable alternative for farmers to boost their produce,鈥� Badewa said.
The study,听听authored by 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Emmanuel Badewa, Maren Oelbermann and Fereidoun Rezanezhad with McGill University researchers Chun Yeung and Joann Whalen, was recently published in the journal of Frontiers in Environmental Science.
