Climate change mitigation and adaptation: R&D for the future grains industry Ash Wallace, DEPI Horsham
Jan 03, 2016
Climate change mitigation and adaptation:
R&D for the future grains industry
Ash Wallace, DEPI Horsham
Mitigating N2O emissions
• Why N2O? Greenhouse impact & nitrogen is an important input
• Researching & communicating mitigation options for N2O loss from broadacre cropping – altered fertiliser rates, timing, products
• N2O monitored using static chambers
• Looking for ways the minimise emissions and improve productivity
Where are we working?
n2o.net.au
What are we finding?
-1
0
1
2
3
4
50N50N
N2O
flux
(g N
/ha/
day)
Taylors Lake (medium rainfall) 2013 raw data
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 40
10
20
30
Rain
fall
(mm
)
What are we finding?Tarrington (HRZ) 2012/13 raw data
0
100
200
300
400
0N 85N topdressed
N2
O fl
ux
(g N
/ha
/da
y)
01-Jun 01-Jul 01-Aug 01-Sep 01-Oct 01-Nov 01-Dec 01-Jan 01-Feb 01-Mar 01-Apr0
10
20
30
40
Ra
infa
ll (m
m)
What does this actually mean?
• N2O: the tap is dripping in terms of productivity
• Mitigation options are still being verified
• Currently little incentive to manage
• Communicating this work is difficult
• A risk management approach
•Elevated atmospheric CO2 around growing crops to measure
» Yield» Grain quality» Nitrogen use» Pests and diseases
Interactions with variety
Future wheat varieties: AGFACE
CO2 response depends on variety• CO2 acts as a fertiliser for crop growth and yield, but
The response depends on variety, season and other limiting factors e.g. water
CO2 response depends on variety• CO2 acts as a fertiliser for crop growth and yield, but
The response depends on variety, season and other limiting factors e.g. water
Wheat cultivar % increase
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Drysdale 20 32
Gladius 22
H45 26 23 35
Hartog 0 14
Janz 19 31 29 9 16 30
Silverstar 37 14 34 25
Yitpi 18 20 35 44 3 19
Mean 18 25 26 24 21 26
CO2 response depends on variety• CO2 acts as a fertiliser for crop growth and yield, but
The response depends on variety, season and other limiting factors e.g. water
Wheat cultivar % increase
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Drysdale 20 32
Gladius 22
H45 26 23 35
Hartog 0 14
Janz 19 31 29 9 16 30
Silverstar 37 14 34 25
Yitpi 18 20 35 44 3 19
Mean 18 25 26 24 21 26
Grain Quality - Protein
• Decreased protein in cereals – not pulses• Higher yields with same N supply• Possibly also changing N use efficiency• Numbers change from year to year (reductions of up to 8%)
Modelling the climate effect
IPCC A1Fi scenario, CSIRO CCAM Mark 3, present-day long-season cv.
eCO2 = yield increaseseCO2 + increased temperature + reduced rainfall = yield increases and decreases
Next steps
Thankyou
Farmer collaborators and colleagues who make it happen