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Reducing nitrate leaching by up to 50%: pathways to low-N dairy systems

  • Patiki, Waimarie Lincoln University Campus Lincoln New Zealand (map)

Join us for the next event in Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University’s Excellence Series—an ongoing celebration of academic leadership and applied research that contributes to a thriving, sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand. These events highlight the work of leading scholars whose research is shaping both national and global conversations.

The global agricultural sector faces the challenge of increasing food production while minimizing environmental impact. A significant aspect of this challenge revolves around the sustainable use of nitrogen, a vital nutrient for plant growth, but one that can lead to environmental degradation through water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions when managed inefficiently. The collaborative Low N Systems research programme investigates how combining various mitigation options can help farmers to significantly improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce nitrogen losses, while maintaining a viable farm business. The DairyNZ-led programme has an ambitious goal to demonstrate the feasibility of reducing nitrate leaching losses by over 40% compared with current best practices. 

In this talk, Lincoln University Assoc. Prof. Racheal Bryant will describe the collaborative research and practices that are being implemented to reduce N losses at Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm under the Low N programme. She will present preliminary results which reveal substantial reductions in nitrate leaching are possible and discuss how they are achieving these outcomes while minimising trade-offs to profitability and obtaining co-benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This event offers an important opportunity to explore how innovative, evidence-based approaches can help farming systems adapt, reduce environmental impacts and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Tuesday 14 October

4.00pm-5.30pm

Pātiki, Waimarie Building, Lincoln University

Timings

4.00 pm - Networking

4.15 pm  - Welcome & introduction from LU Vice-Chancellor

4.20 pm - Presentation from Speaker

4.50 pm - Summary

5.00 pm - Networking and questions over drinks and nibbles

5.30pm - Event Ends

About Our Speaker

Associate Professor Racheal Bryant

My research focuses on dairy production systems and nutritional strategies for reducing the impact of dairying on the environment. My research topics include nutritional management of lactating dairy cows and young stock, grazing behaviour, pasture agronomy including the impact of technologies such as endophytes, N fertilisers and gibberellic acid. Much of my research involves finding commercial tools to solve practical problems. To do this, I work closely with farmers and industry professionals through organisations such as the South Island Dairy Event, South Island Dairying Development Centre farm focus days, and DairyNZ farm discussion groups. My research demonstrates how commercial technology can be adopted and modified to measure outcomes and improve analysis and explanation of science outcomes.

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