The Bremner Factor for Elucidation of Nitrous Oxide Evoluation from Soils.

It is well established that agricultural emissions of nitrous oxide are an important source of atmospheric green house gas loading implicated in global climate change.   The atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide has increased by 17% since the 1800’s and continues to increase at an exponential rate since 1940 corresponding to a period of rapid growth in nitrogen fertilizer use.  The global warming potential for nitrous oxide is approximately 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide.  Research from Jack Bremner’s laboratory played an early and seminal role in elucidating mechanisms and sources of nitrous oxide associated with agricultural use of nitrogen fertilizers.  Alfred Blackmer, another of Jack’s students, played a key role in developing methodology and approaches needed for this line of research.  Among their major contributions was the elucidation of the role of nitrification in nitrous oxide emissions associated with use of ammonium and ammonium yielding fertilizers.   Previously denitrification had been considered to be the primary source of nitrous oxide from agriculture.  Jack Bremner’s prolific publication record on this topic methodically documents the factors affecting nitrous oxide emissions associated with nitrogen fertilizer use.  It clearly establishes his broad shoulders upon which we now stand as researchers continue to assess and mitigate agriculture’s role in anthropogenic global climate change.