The grass helps reduce greenhouse gases

A group of scientists from both Japanese and Colombian agricultural research institutes has developed a new brachiaria grass capable of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated by chemical fertilizers.

Researchers from the Japan International Center for Agricultural Science Research and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture Colombia have found brachiaria grass , native to Africa and grown in Latin America. The roots of this grass secrete substances that prevent the components of chemical fertilizers from converting into greenhouse gases.

Brachiaria grass.(Photo: FAO)

Most of the widely used nitrogen fertilizers after being applied to the soil are converted into nitric acid - the latter becomes nitrous oxide, which has a 300-fold higher greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. In addition, nitric acid is easily absorbed through the soil, causing groundwater pollution, destroying the ecosystems of oceans and rivers. Brachiaria grass root secretions work to block microbial activity, thereby dramatically reducing the amount of nitrous oxide gas released by chemical fertilizers.

In addition to drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this grass is also a more nutritious food source than current grasses in cattle farming. Researchers have started growing the above grass in South America.

According to Guntur Subarao of the Japan International Agricultural Science Research Center, the development of this new grass will be an important technology to increase agricultural production in the context of increasing world population.