A two-week training course on nitrogen management and greenhouse gas emissions under the Regional Project RAS5068, "Developing Effective Practices for Combating Desertification (ARASIA)," was held at the Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL) in Seibersdorf, Austria from 4 to 15 May, with the support of the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The training was attended by 15 soil scientists, agronomists, and specialists from the ARASIA States Parties (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and United Arab Emirates).
The course included theoretical and practical sessions on the use and application of isotopic techniques including the 15N technique for developing effective soil and fertilizer management, and cropping practices to address issues of low fertilizer use efficiency and biological N fixation. The course additionally covered the measurement and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, including nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4) and carbon di oxide (CO2). A test at the end of the training activity provided the organizers with the opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the training course.
Positive feedback was obtained from all participants, many of whom considered the training course as a fruitful opportunity to improve their technical capacity in nitrogen management in agricultural production systems and to build a regional network to address the problem regionally.
