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In a stinky Science development, researchers have discovered that using alternative types of fertilizers can cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, at least in one part of the US.

Nitrogen fetilizers are often necessary to yielding sufficient crops, but their use leads to the release of nitrous oxide, a major atmosphere enemy. Fertilizer use is one reason an estimated seventy-eight percent of America’s nitrous oxide emissions come from agriculture. But scientists have compared those emissions with newly developed fertilizers formulated with “controlled release” polymer-coated pellets (and other inhibitors), and in a two-year length of time, they found that those pellets cut the nitrous oxide emissions almost in half. Big win for the ozone! They are currently investigating whether these alternatives would offer similar benefits worldwide.

Learn more about what alternative fertilizers can do for climate change.

There’s a lot more to agriculture than a bad farmer’s tan.