--- title: Auburn University-Led Research Shows That Biochemical Technology Can Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions Associated with Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications description: An Auburn University study shows that SoilBuilder reduces nitrous oxide emissions associated with nitrogen fertilizer applications. image: https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2913165/UAN%20application.jpg --- [![Logo](https://blog.agricen.com/hubfs/Agricen_logo_300px.png) ](https://blog.agricen.com/) ## June 10, 2013 # Auburn University-Led Research Shows That Biochemical Technology Can Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions Associated with Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications [Tweet ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Auburn%20University-Led%20Research%20Shows%20That%20Biochemical%20Technology%20Can%20Reduce%20Nitrous%20Oxide%20Emissions%20Associated%20with%20Nitrogen%20Fertilizer%20Applications%0Ahttps://blog.agricen.com/blog/auburn-university-led-research-shows-that-biochemical-technology-can-reduce-nitrous-oxide-emissions-associated-with-nitrogen-fertilizer-applications) [Share ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.agricen.com/blog/auburn-university-led-research-shows-that-biochemical-technology-can-reduce-nitrous-oxide-emissions-associated-with-nitrogen-fertilizer-applications&title=Auburn%20University-Led%20Research%20Shows%20That%20Biochemical%20Technology%20Can%20Reduce%20Nitrous%20Oxide%20Emissions%20Associated%20with%20Nitrogen%20Fertilizer%20Applications&summary=&source=) [Like ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.agricen.com/blog/auburn-university-led-research-shows-that-biochemical-technology-can-reduce-nitrous-oxide-emissions-associated-with-nitrogen-fertilizer-applications) ![UAN application.jpg](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/2913165/hubfs/UAN%20application.jpg?width=300&name=UAN%20application.jpg "UAN application.jpg")A study published in the *Journal of Environmental Quality* showed that [SoilBuilder](https://www.agricen.com/products/soilbuilder), a biologically derived biochemical product, reduces nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with nitrogen fertilizer applications.* *The study was led by researchers at [Auburn University](http://www.auburn.edu/), in collaboration with [USDA-ARS](https://www.ars.usda.gov/) and Agricen Sciences, and investigated how microbial-based treatments affect nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils. It is one of the first studies to evaluate the use of microbial-based inoculants for the purpose of reducing nitrous oxide emissions from soil combined with common agricultural nitrogen fertilizers.  The treatments investigated were [SoilBuilder](https://www.agricen.com/products/soilbuilder), a metabolite extract of SoilBuilder (SoilBuilder filtered - containing no microbial cells), and a mixture of four strains of plant growth-promoting *Bacillus* species. Experiments included two different N fertilizer treatments (urea and UAN 32%) and an unfertilized control. Nitrous oxide emissions were determined from soil incubations and analyzed with gas chromatography. In soils fertilized with UAN, SoilBuilder reduced cumulative nitrous oxide emissions by 80% and its metabolite extract reduced emissions by 44% after 29 days of incubation. In the unfertilized treatment, SoilBuilder’s metabolite extract significantly reduced cumulative emissions of nitrous oxide by 92%. Microbial-based treatments did not reduce nitrous oxide emissions associated with urea application. Overall, the researchers concluded that microbial-based treatments can reduce nitrous oxide emissions associated with nitrogen fertilizer application, and that this response varies with the type of treatment and fertilizer. **Citation:** Calvo P, Watts DB, Ames RN, Kloepper JW, Torbert HA. [Microbial-Based Inoculants Impact Nitrous Oxide Emissions from an Incubated Soil Medium Containing Urea Fertilizers](https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/jeq/articles/42/3/704). *J Environ Qual*. 2013. doi: 10.2134/jeq2012.0300. #### Listen to the Blog Post Auburn University-Led Research Shows That Biochemical Technology Can Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions Associated with Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications 2:02 ### Topics: [Sustainability](https://blog.agricen.com/blog/topic/sustainability#blog-listing) ,  [SoilBuilder](https://blog.agricen.com/blog/topic/soilbuilder#blog-listing) ,  [Ag Biologicals/Biostimulants](https://blog.agricen.com/blog/topic/ag-biologicals-biostimulants#blog-listing) ### Subscribe to Email Updates [ Watch Agricen’s Featured Videos ](https://blog.agricen.com/blog/auburn-university-led-research-shows-that-biochemical-technology-can-reduce-nitrous-oxide-emissions-associated-with-nitrogen-fertilizer-applications#!) ![Blog-videos-thumb](https://blog.agricen.com/hubfs/Blog-videos-thumb.jpg) ### Sign Up for Agricen’s Blog to stay up to date on the latest news. 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