Reducing Nitrogen Losses with Liposome Technology
Nitrogen fertilizer is essential for crop production, but much of it is lost from agricultural soils through leaching and runoff, contributing to water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Our research explores an innovative solution: using lecithin-based liposomes—microscopic lipid bubbles similar to those in COVID-19 vaccines—to improve nitrogen retention in soils. In laboratory incubation experiments with Pennsylvania agricultural soil, we found that liposome applications reduced soil nitrate concentrations by 71-88%. The liposomes stimulated soil microbial activity, causing microbes to rapidly capture and temporarily store nitrogen in their biomass rather than allowing it to leach away. This approach leverages natural soil processes to lock up nitrogen where crops can access it, potentially reducing fertilizer losses and environmental impacts.
Building on these promising results, we are now conducting greenhouse experiments with corn to understand how liposome-delivered nitrogen affects crop growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Using nitrogen-15 isotope tracers, we are tracking the fate of liposome-encapsulated nitrogen through the soil-plant system to determine how much reaches the crop versus being retained in soil or lost to the environment. This work will help us understand the optimal timing and application strategies for using liposomes in real-world agricultural settings, as well as how quickly nitrogen captured by soil microbes becomes available to growing plants. Our ultimate goal is to develop a practical tool that helps farmers reduce nitrogen losses while maintaining or improving crop yields.
Representative Publications
'*Butkus, CR, Weitzman, JN, Mohammadzadeh, A, Dunn, PJ, Kaye, JP, Gilbertson, LM, Little, SR, Elliott, EM. 2025. A Lecithin Liposome Stimulates Soil Microbial Respiration and Nitrate Immobilization. ACS Agricultural Science & Technology Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1021/acsagscitech.5c00587
*Dunn PJ, Mohammadzadeh A, Pamuru S, *Butkus CR, **Weitzman JN, Tian Q, Yonet-Tanyeri N, Dalton LE, Elliott EM, Little SR, Gilbertson LM. 2025. A Liposomal Carrier to Reduce Leachate of Ionic Nutrient Loads in Agriculture Soils. Environ. Sci. Technol.https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c14370 Published June 3, 2025
Funding from the National Science Foundation under grant number #2133423 to Leanne Gilbertson (now Duke), Emily Elliott, and Steve Little (Pitt, Swanson School of Engineering).