Optimizing Sustainability in Malting Barley: A Practical Approach to Nitrogen Management for Enhanced Environmental, Agronomic, and Economic Benefits

Petros Vahamidis (), Angeliki Stefopoulou and Vassilis Kotoulas
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Petros Vahamidis: Directorate of Plant Production Protection, Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food, 150 Syngrou Avenue, 176 71 Kallithea, Greece
Angeliki Stefopoulou: Financial Audit Committee, General Accounting Office, Hellenic Ministry of Economy and Finance, 57 Panepistimiou Avenue, 105 64 Athens, Greece
Vassilis Kotoulas: Athenian Brewery S.A, 102 Kifissos Avenue, 102 10 Athens, Greece

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-24

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) fertilisers used in barley production serve as the primary contributors to total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Consequently, to lower the carbon footprint (CF) and GHG emissions, it is imperative to either reduce N fertiliser rates or enhance grain yield and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). To address this challenge, we combined two strategies related to N: (1) a 34% reduction in the total N rate compared to the control (total N rate 108–110 kg N ha −1 ), and (2) testing two types of N fertilisers for topdressing against the control (common sulfur urea). These types included (a) a mixture comprising controlled-release fertiliser (CRF) combined with ammonium sulfate nitrate fertiliser in a 40:60 ratio (CRF + Nitro) and (b) ammonium sulfate nitrate (Nitro). Experiments were conducted in two distinct areas of Greece specialising in cereal production, aiming to unveil the effects of these strategies on all sustainability aspects of malting barley production. The results showed that although a 34% reduction in N rate did not result in yield penalties or a decrease in grain size, it did have a negative impact on grain protein content (GPC). CRF + Nitro not only reduced CF by approximately 30% compared to the control but also increased N agronomic efficiency by 51.5% and net profit by 7.1%. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the maximum achievable reduction in total GHG emissions and CF, by excluding N fertilisation from the crop system, ranged from 68.5% to 74.3% for GHG emissions and 53.8% to 67.1% for CF.

Keywords: malting barley; carbon footprint; nitrogen fertilisation; grain yield; economic analysis; controlled release fertilisers (CRFs); nitrogen use efficiency; grain protein content (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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