Emissions reduction activities in the Agronomic Footprint target area can achieve emissions reduction in the following ways:

• Reducing the amount of fertiliser applied (F) resulting from variable rate technologies.
• Reducing the amount of lime applied (L) resulting from variable rate technologies.
• Adjusting the emissions factor (EF) associated with nitrification inhibitor fertilisers.

You will need data on the amount and type of fertiliser or lime applied for both a ‘business-as-usual’ state (GHG_BAU) and for the planned loan supported activity (GHG_activity).

These two estimates should then be applied to the Avoided Emissions Equations (AEE) to estimate the emissions benefit (kg CO₂-e) from the activity.

Variable Rate Fertiliser

To estimate potential avoided emissions resulting from a VR-fertiliser activity you will need the following data for both the BAU and emissions reduction activity scenarios:

The same simple calculation is used for the baseline scenario and for the activity scenario. The only change to the equation is the amount of fertiliser used.

GHG_BAU = F_b * N * EF * GWP

GHG_activity = F_a * N * EF * GWP

These calculations provide a simple estimate of annual GHG emissions and should then be applied to the AEE to account for the anticipated GHG benefit. They do not account for indirect emissions (e.g. volatilisation, leaching).