How new hybrid nitrogen fertilisers feed soils and crops

About the project

Fertiliser nitrogen often does not reach crops when they need it, and much of it is lost as the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. This project studies novel hybrid nitrogen fertiliser formulations and how leftover nitrogen and nitrogen stored in dead microbial biomass help match soil nitrogen supply to plant uptake. Will also test whether these fertilisers help soils store carbon, reduce carbon loss and cut nitrous oxide emissions. Experiments run from the laboratory to glasshouse and field trials, using greenhouse gas measurements, 13C and 15N stable isotope tracing, biogeochemical assays, microbial metagenomics and microbiology. Will work across UQ in Brisbane and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries in Toowoomba, gaining training in isotopic and molecular methods.