Managing the rate of N synthetic fertilizer for reducing N2O emission from agricultural sector

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the most powerful greenhouse gasses (GHGs), and agriculture activities contribute to it significantly. A primary anthropogenic source of atmospheric N2O is agricultural fertilized soils. Managing N (nitrogen) fertilizers contribute lower agricultural N2O emission. The objective of this study was to estimate N2O emissions from N synthetic fertilizer used in Indonesia and its mitigation through managing the rate of N synthetic fertilizer. We compiled activity data for one year to calculate the emission and mitigation of N2O from synthetic N used in Indonesia. Data were collected from the Data and Information (Pusdatin) of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), and the Association of Indonesian Fertilizer Producers (APPI). Estimates of direct and indirect N2O emissions from managed soil were conducted based on Tier 1 and using equation 11.1 of the 2006 IPCC Guideline. Direct and indirect N2O emissions from N synthetic used fertilizer during 2020 were 7,567 and 1,190 Gg CO2-e year−1, respectively. Application of recommendation rate of N synthetic fertilizer from rice fields resulted in 239 and 60 Gg CO2-e year−1 for direct and indirect N2O emissions, respectively. The mitigating direct and indirect N2O emissions from rice fields by managing the rate of N synthetic fertilizer were about 1,619 and 559 Gg CO2-e year−1, respectively. Recommendation rate of N synthetic fertilizer is important to increase nitrogen use efficiency in crop production and reduce N2O emissions.