The introduction of the new method still requires further research. However, the first tests were promising.
Norwegian researchers have developed a new bacterium that converts the greenhouse gas produced in agriculture into harmless nitrogen.
– We grew a few carefully selected nitrous oxide-consuming bacteria in the digested biomass until there were billions of bacteria per milliliter. Later, we fertilized the soil with rotted substances, a microbiologist who participated in the study Elisabeth Gautefall Hiis tells For the Swedish public broadcasting company SVT.
Already the first tests were extremely promising. The tests revealed that the bacteria reduced the amount of greenhouse gases by up to 95 percent immediately after fertilization.
However, further research is still needed so that the method could be used more widely in agriculture.
A significant cause of climate change
Nitrous oxide, produced mainly in agriculture, is the world’s third most common greenhouse gas. Its warming effect is almost 300 times stronger than, for example, carbon dioxide emissions caused by energy production and fuels.
Nitrous oxide remains in the atmosphere for about 110 years and weakens the earth’s ozone layer, which in turn protects the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Nitrous oxide emissions accelerate the progress of human-caused climate change. The substance known as happy gas has also been found to be the most significant ozone layer debilitating agent.
The report of the Norwegian research group has also been published in the academic earlier In the journal Nature.