In his youth, Andreas Pacholski developed a passion for organic farming: as a school pupil, he worked on one of the first organic farms in North Rhine-Westphalia and was also involved in environmental groups. Choosing his degree subject after leaving school was therefore not a difficult decision: alongside a second degree in philosophy, he opted for geoecology at the Technical University of Braunschweig, where he also completed his PhD.
During his doctoral research, he developed a simple method for measuring ammonia in agriculture. “These emissions remain a cause close to my heart to this day,” says Pacholski. They are emitted when mineral and organic nitrogen fertilisers are applied. When used in excess, nitrogen fertilizers harm not only water bodies and biodiversity, but also the climate. This is because unused quantities are converted in the soil into nitrous oxide, which is significantly more harmful to the climate per molecule than carbon dioxide. The latter, in turn, is also released during the conventional production of fertilisers – and in large quantities, as the manufacturing process consumes a great deal of fossil fuels, particularly natural gas.
The measurement method that Pacholski developed during his PhD is now well established in Germany – and he himself heads the Ammonia Emissions in Agriculture research group at the Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture. He is fascinated by this “intersection of productivity, human health, environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions”, says the researcher.
At the EiLT Landscape Laboratory, he now intends to investigate how emissions can be reduced, both during the production of fertilisers and when they are applied to fields. At the same time, however, the aim is to increase the productivity of these areas – a relevant objective. This is because experience from organic farming – where the use of mineral fertilisers is generally prohibited – shows that, for key crops such as wheat or rapeseed, yields can be up to 50 per cent lower than in conventional farming. Such figures are critical in terms of land use and the food security of the growing global population.
On the trial plots in Trenthorst, Pacholski therefore also intends to investigate whether lower, ecologically sound applications of mineral nitrogen fertiliser are sufficient to significantly reduce the yield gap. In doing so, he is relying on so-called green fertilisers: these are produced using renewable energy and are therefore significantly more climate-friendly than conventional products. They also utilise recycled nutrients, such as those from livestock manure or the digestate from biogas plants.
Scientifically, the use of such novel fertilisers has hardly been studied at all. Pacholski now aims to close this knowledge gap through his research in Trenthorst. And he could also bring about significant changes to the way organic farms operate. This is because his findings are set to inform potential new sustainability regulations for organic farming.
Contact details:
Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture
Bundesallee 65
38116 Braunschweig
Phone: +49 531 2570 1070
E-Mail: andreas.pacholski@thuenen.de