diff --git a/docs/release_notes/index.rst b/docs/release_notes/index.rst
index 50970a85..e8d08dd0 100644
--- a/docs/release_notes/index.rst
+++ b/docs/release_notes/index.rst
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Version updates
 .. toctree::
     :maxdepth: 1
 
+    version_0.20_updates
     version_0.19_updates
     version_0.18_updates
     version_0.17_updates
diff --git a/docs/release_notes/version_0.20_update.rst b/docs/release_notes/version_0.20_update.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cae0ce90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/release_notes/version_0.20_update.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Version 0.20 Updates
+/////////////////////////
+
+
+Version 0.20.0
+===============
+
+Changes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
+Previously, when using the :ref:`data-sources-mars` source via the standalone MARS client the ``MARS_AUTO_SPLIT_BY_DATES="1"`` environment variable was set to enable splitting of MARS requests by date when needed. However, this approach has been removed and now users must set this environment variable themselves when needed. This change was made to give users more control over the behavior of MARS requests and to avoid potential issues with unintended splitting of requests. (:pr:`974`)
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/sources/mars.py b/src/earthkit/data/sources/mars.py
index d90e4739..a90710a6 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/sources/mars.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/sources/mars.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ def execute(self, request, target, log=None):
 
             subprocess.run(
                 [self.command(), filename],
-                env=dict(os.environ, MARS_AUTO_SPLIT_BY_DATES="1"),
                 check=True,
                 **log,
             )