About
Nitrogen (N) is indispensable for plant growth, yet current agricultural systems exhibit low nitrogen use efficiency, with only 30–50% of applied fertilizer being assimilated by crops. The remaining fraction is lost to the environment, leaching into groundwater or volatilizing as nitrous oxide (N₂O), a highly potent and long-lived greenhouse gas. Such losses compromise soil functionality, degrade water quality, and contribute to climate forcing, highlighting the urgent need for smarter and more effective nitrogen management across Europe.
NitroScope unites scientists, land managers, industry, and policy makers to enhance the monitoring and management of nitrogen flows. Using advanced sensing technologies across +100 sites in at least 10 European pedo-climatic regions, the project will generate high-resolution, real-time datasets on nitrate dynamics and N₂O emissions. These data streams will be integrated into a centralized cloud-based platform designed to compute region-specific emission factors and provide decision-support tools aimed at optimizing nitrogen use efficiency.
Healthier soils start with understanding how nitrogen moves
A key objective of NitroScope is to translate scientific evidence into actionable practices. The project will evaluate targeted mitigation measures, such as variable-rate fertilization and improved residue management and the integration of two farm-management software add-ons enabling land managers to actively engage in monitoring and reducing nitrogen losses. The results will support more accurate nitrogen budgets and develop EU-level scenarios for resilient, climate-smart agricultural systems.
NitroScope contributes to the EU Soil Mission and aligns with the objectives of the Soil Deal for Europe, fostering pathways toward improved soil health, cleaner water and air, and a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural future.