In conventional agriculture, fertiliser is routinely over-applied, which leads to emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas with a warming effect 298 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide. Nutrient management aligns source, dosage, timing and placement, so that crops take up a larger share of the fertiliser. The reduction potential is 0.025 to 0.173 Mton CO₂-eq in 2030.
The appeal of this solution lies in its simplicity: no new technologies are needed, only a more precise application of existing means. Gelderland uses a great deal of fertiliser and has a large supply of animal manure from livestock farming, and nutrient management can be applied on roughly 225,000 hectares. The result is better soil quality with less water pollution and biodiversity loss, while a smaller livestock herd directly lowers the volume of manure. Source: Climate Action Recap Gelderland (agriculture and land use sector analysis), New Economy.