Objective

Increasing climate variability raises yield variability and thus makes it more difficult to apply N fertiliser in line with demand. As a result, the risk of unused N increases. KlimaN investigates how the possible increase in unfavourable weather patterns under climate change affects N use and develops strategies for N fertilisation and fertilisation policy adapted to climate change.

Methodology

• Analysis of German farm data on yields and N-fertilisation with special consideration of extreme weather conditions
• Simulation of different N fertilisation strategies and other adaptation strategies such as variety selection under the conditions of climate change for relevant production regions in Germany until the end of the century using process-based agroecosystem models
• Evaluation of different N fertilisation strategies taking into account farm risk management and quality-relevant late N fertilisation (especially for wheat) in early summer and analysis of options to adapt fertilisation policy to climate change

Climate effect under consideration

Reduction of N₂O emissions by reducing nitrogen surpluses on agricultural land