Green ammonia: the rebirth of ammonia synthesis for more sustainable nitrogen fertilizer production

• Grant number: 24/04294-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Otto
• Grantee: Bruno Maia Abdo Rahmen Cassim
• Supervisor: Jozefien Degryse
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Adelaide, Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/07574-1 - Addition of micronutrientes in urea to reduce ammonia volatilization losses and increase corn (Zea mays L.) yield, BP.DR

Abstract

The use of ammonia (NH3) as a fertilizer is limited. Generally, ammonia is injected to a depth of between 15 and 20 cm to minimize volatilization losses. However, the advent of green ammonia as an alternative to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from the Haber-Bosch process will likely lead to smaller-scale decentralized ammonia production, for example, on-farm production and a wider use of NH3 as fertilizer. However, more shallow injection may be preferred for practical reasons and with regards to nitrogen (N) availability to crops, which may increase volatilization of NH3. Our objective is to study the use of green ammonia in combination with phosphoric acid and trace elements to increase the agronomic efficiency of superficial ammonia injection, contributing to the advancement of more sustainable production of nitrogen fertilizers. The study will be conducted in three stages: i) Soil incubation experiment - phosphoric acid in combination with NH3, ii) Soil incubation experiment - addition of microelements to NH3 and iii) Pot experiment with wheat to compare the N volatilization and availability of N, phosphor and microelements in the fluid applications with that of granular applications. This project will be undertaken under the supervision of Senior Researcher Fien Degryse, from Fertiliser Technology Research Centre - University of Adelaide, in a sandwich doctorate period for 9 months to be undertaken in Adelaide, SAus. In addition to the advancement in green ammonia, peer review publications will be generated in the period, as well as an important period of training in a world-recognized Institution with leader research on this topic about fertilizers.