Hyped. N2O is a fraction of other RFs (0.18 w/m2 from 1750-2000 per Hansen 2005) and the proposed expansion a) is admittedly (!) a monoculture (!) strategy and b) only affects a fraction of the agriculture N2O.
--- Fred Zimmerman Geoengineering IT! Bringing together the worlds of geoengineering and information technology GE NewsFilter: http://geoengineeringIT.net:8080 On Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 8:09 AM, Andrew Lockley <andrew.lock...@gmail.com>wrote: > Poster's note : whether this is geoengineering or not is a moot point. I > guess it could be used as such. > > http://www.theguardian.com/p/3tzhg/tf > > 'Super grass' could vastly reduce agriculture emissions, say scientists > > Brachiaria grasses inhibit the release of nitrous oxide, which has a more > powerful warming effect than carbon dioxide or methane > > Brachiaria grass has been shown to inhibit nitrification, helping to > reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. > > Jonathan Watts in Rio de Janeiro > > Scientists will call for a major push this week to reduce the amount of > greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through the use of a modified > tropical grass. > > Brachiaria grasses have been found to inhibit the release of nitrous > oxide, which has a more powerful warming effect than carbon dioxide or > methane, leading them to be called a super grass.The authors of several new > papers on this grass, which is already used in pastures across much of > Latin America, say enhanced strains, wider usage and improved management > will provide the most effective means of tackling climate change through > agriculture, which accounts for about a third of all greenhouse gases. > > Nitrous oxide – largely from livestock production – makes up 38% of > agriculture emissions, but this share could be substantially reduced, they > say. > > "On a conservative estimate, we assume that at least half of the gases can > be saved in livestock production in tropical environments," said Michael > Peters, of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture. "I think this > is the best strategy you can have in agriculture to mitigate greenhouse gas > emissions." > > The papers, which will be presented at an International Grasslands > Congress in Sydney this week, claim that additional benefits will also > include higher productivity, less need for fertiliser, lower levels of > nitrate pollution in waterways and considerable carbon capture.Brachiaria > grasses originated in Africa, but have been most extensively used for > grazing in Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua and parts of Australia and > south-east Asia.During the past decade, scientists have discovered the > chemicals that enable the plant to bind nitrogen into the soil, thus making > it more productive and less "leaky". > > They are now breeding different strains of brachiaria to maximise these > nitrogen-inhibiting properties and encouraging wider use of the grass in > pastures and in rotation with crops such as soy and corn. > > Although the authors hope it can be used in an additional 100m hectares, > the brachiaria is not a solution for all countries as it does not grow well > in temperate climes.There are potential downsides. The extra productivity > could provide an additional economic incentive for the clearance of forests > and – as with all monocultures – the proposed expansion of brachiaria > pastureland poses a challenge to biodiversity.But the scientists say the > benefits outweigh the risks."There will be positive impacts on the economy > and at the same time benefits for the environment," Peters said. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "geoengineering" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
