2007 © Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Pakistan. All Rights Reserved.

Prof. Dr. Mansoor Akbar Kundi, Vice Chancellor, Dr. M. Zaman, S. Scientist, Summit Quinphos LTD. NZ. and Dr. M. Jamil speaking at the Seminar “Mitigation of GHGs and Losses/Efficient use of N” at Gomal University, DIKhan.

SEMINAR

ON

MITIGATION OF GREEN HOUSE GASES (GHGs), FERTILIZER USE EFFICIENCY / NITROGEN LOSSES IN SOIL

 

SPEAKER:  DR. MOHAMMAD ZAMAN. SENIOR SCIENTIST, SUMMIT QUINPHOS, NEWZEALAND

CHIEF GUEST: PROF. DR. MANSOOR AKBAR KUNDI, VICE CHANCELLOR, GOMAL UNIVERSITY, DIKHAN.

ORGANIZER:

Dr. M. Jamil Khan, Chairman,

Dept. of Soil & Environmental Sciences,

Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, DIKhan, NWFP, Pakistan.

  Ph: 0966 750425-8 Ext: 3068 Fax 0966 750255 Cell # 0300 5792248

E-mail: shahmir3rd@yahoo.com, jamil@gu.edu.pk

PROCEEDINGS

Dr. Mohammad Jamil Khan, Organizer/Chairman Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, DIKhan, Pakistan, welcomed the Guests and audience. He then introduced the speaker Dr. Mohammad Zaman, Senior Scientist, Summit Quinphos, LTD New Zealand whose research areas are nitrogen losses, efficient use, improving crop production, mitigation of green house gases and enhancement of crop production.

In this seminar Dr. Muhammad Zaman, focused on mitigation of green house gases especially Nitrous Oxide (N2O) which is 320 times more hazardous and active than any other green house gas. Regarding the brief statistics of animals he told that New Zealand has 5.3 million dairy cows, 4.4 million beef cows, 40 million sheep and 14 million deer which graze all around the year in the pastures.

He pointed out that green house gases like CO2 (produced by burning...), CH4 (ruminant and soil) and N2O (microbial processes like nitrification and denitrification) all contribute to global warming. His focus was on the mitigation of N2O. N2O is mainly emitted from the urine of ruminants; therefore, there is a need to find methods which will reduce its emission from urine. Dr. Mohammad Zaman told that 60-90% of nitrogen ingested in the form of feed by ruminant is not utilized efficiently and is a major source of water pollution in the form of nitrate leaching. Urine is also the major source of Nitrogen. Nitrous being a nasty one among GHGs has a long life (may remain for 140 years) increases at the rate of 0.3% annually due to agricultural activities and is also found to deplete the ozone layer.

He stated the harmful effects of nitrate (NO3) leaching which results in algal bloom and kidney failure in human as a result of intake of NO3 often in drinking water. Blue baby disease in children is also caused by NO3 intake in drinking water.

Mitigation of Nitrous oxide

Dr. Zaman pointed out that 60% of nitrous oxide (N2O) can be brought by the application of inhibitors (Research on the use of N inhibitors started in 2003). For this purpose he conducted experiments on different inhibitors to see their effects on the reduction of nitrous oxide emission. It is to be noted that inhibitors improve the bioavailability of Nitrogen.

During the research they used the following treatments;

Urine only (control)

Urine + DCD (Dicynodiamide)

Urine + Agrotain

Urine + DI  (Double inhibitors)

They observed that Urine applied with double inhibitors was more effective in decreasing nitrates leaching, N2O production, NH3 volatilization, eventually losses of nitrogen and increased pasture production. The result of urine applied with dicynodiamide (DCD) also gave encouraging results as for as reduction in N2O and NO3 leaching is concerned but resulted in NH3 (ammonia) emission, which in turn is N loss (the unwanted activity).

Dr. Zaman also elaborated that ammonia conversion in to plants available form needs less energy than the conversion of nitrates in to plant available form. He further stated that holding of N in urea or ammonia form is beneficial as it is quickly and efficiently converted in to plant proteins. According to him less than 25% of nitrogen is available by applying organic manure to the plant in a year.

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency

He simply stated that as urea is widely used and 46% of world nitrogen comes from urea, therefore there is a product being prepared by coating urea with Agrotain (N inhibitor) named sustain, which improves nitrogen use efficiency. The product contains 46% nitrogen. He emphasized the use of urea in fine particle suspension through a truck designed for this purpose, which probably increase NUE.

Dr. Zaman also elaborated about the ‘Cytozyme’ which is used for increasing productivity/ crops yield by using the product named ‘Crop+’.  Crop+ is a bio stimulant, obtained from plant extract which increases crop yield and quality by reducing abiotic and biotic stress. Crop+ increases chlorophyll content, nutrient level and fruit growth like the reported 14% yield increase in rice, 18% in banana and 25% in tomato.

He further explained the Green House Gases emission and their impact on the environment. Later he took questions from the audience and replied them all in detail. Dr. Zaman also declared that he is offering his services free of cost for the betterment of his countrymen and welcomed any further collaboration/co-operation with any Department or Faculty, Teachers, researchers and students as well.

At the end Prof. Dr. Mansoor Akbar Kundi, the Vice Chancellor, Gomal University thanked Dr. M. Zaman and Dr. M. Jamil Khan for delivering and arranging such an informative seminar and wished such activities should take place in future. Prof. Dr. Himayat Ullah, acting Dean, Faculty of Agriculture gave vote of thanks.