FoRST backs Lincoln University researchers

FoRST backs Lincoln University researchers to reduce nitrate leaching from
grazed pasture soils

Lincoln University´s commitment to the agricultural industry´s battle to reduce
nitrate leaching and the associated problems of water contamination and
greenhouse gas emissions has received a Government funding boost of
$5.5 million from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Announced on 18 July, the FoRST contract, one of six awarded to Lincoln
University in 2007 to a total value of $16.2 million, supports the
internationally recognised soil and environmental research of Professor
Keith Cameron and Professor Hong Di.

In the past 10 years the scientists have developed a successful nitrification
inhibitor technology that also delivers a production benefit.

Now, with FoRST funding, the two Lincoln University scientists, along with
AgResearch, Dexcel and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will be able to
improve the scientific understanding of soil biology/chemistry as a platform
for increased control over nitrogen cycling in soil.

They are hoping to control the ammonia oxidation rate and reduce nitrate
leaching by 50 percent from major dairy pasture soils across New Zealand.

New Zealand´s dairy industry contributes 20 percent of the country´s total
export earnings and is targeting a 35 percent increase in milk production by
2015. The industry has also targeted a 50 percent reduction in nitrate
leaching from its dairy pastures by the same date.

New nitrogen management tools will be delivered to end-users through the
research team´s strong connections with the dairy and fertiliser industries
and regional councils.

The leaders of the Lincoln University research Professor Cameron and
Professor Di describe today´s announcement as exciting because the
FoRST funding will enable them to improve fundamental understanding of
nitrification processes in soil.

They say that this will help to achieve the environmental goals of the dairy
and fertiliser industries.

End

© Scoop Media