WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
In one field treatment, mineral nitrogen above 40 kg/ha did not significantly improve quinoa grain yield, while modeled warming potential per hectare and kilogram of output rose. Organic amendment treatments likewise showed diminishing yield gains.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Agronomic optimization must compare marginal yield against the full cost of inputs rather than assume more fertilizer always helps.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Lifecycle burdens used emissions factors and site-specific agronomy; these are not direct farm greenhouse-gas flux measurements or universal rate guidance.
SOURCE
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems — Taaime et al. (30 Oct 2026)
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