Project:

Flemish agriculture faces the historic challenge of remaining economically viable while at the same time reducing its share of nitrogen (N) emissions, mainly in the form of NH₃, into the environment. NH₃ emissions from fields account for one-third of total NH₃ emissions from Flemish agriculture, but have remained largely overlooked by policy and research. As a result, farmers lack validated mitigation measures to reduce emissions. Measures (urease inhibitors, manure acidification, N fractionation, organic farming, alternative soil cultivation, etc.) must not only be efficient and economically feasible, but also need to have limited negative side effects (NO₃ leaching, acidification, N₂O emissions). The VLAIO project A-MOVE aims now to estimate the (reduction of) NH₃ emissions when applying such potential mitigation measures. In addition, the project aims to have these efforts recognized by integrating this knowledge (and emission factors) into decision-making and policy support tools. Firstly, insights are gained from new dedicated field experiments set up in collaboration with partners ILVO, INAGRO, and Hooibeekhoeve. In addition, A-MOVE will elucidate the importance of manure quality in laboratory and microplot trials and will test specific measures for innovative agricultural systems such as conservation agriculture and organic farming in farmers’ fields.

Projectteam: 

UGent vakgroep Omgeving (S. Sleutel & S. De Neve); ILVO Plant (P. Maenhout & A. Françoys); Hooibeekhoeve (G. Van de Ven & E. Truyers); INAGRO (T. Van De Sande)