Estimating nitrous oxide emissions from a dairy farm using a mechanistic, whole farm model and segregated emission factors for New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Vogeler ◽  
Pierre Beukes ◽  
Alvaro Romera ◽  
Rogerio Cichota

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture are generally estimated using default IPCC emission factors (EFs) despite the large variation in measured EFs. We used a classification and regression tree (CART) analysis to segregate measured EFs from direct emissions from urine patches and fertiliser and effluent applications, based on temporal and site-specific factors. These segregated EFs were linked to simulations from the DairyNZ Whole Farm Model to obtain N2O emissions for a typical pasture-based dairy farm in New Zealand. The N2O emissions from urine patches, dung pads, and fertiliser and effluent application, as well as from indirect sources, were aggregated to obtain total N2O emissions for the farm-scale. The results, based on segregated EFs, were compared with those obtained using New Zealand-specific EFs. On-farm N2O emissions based on these segregated EFs were 5% lower than those based on New Zealand-specific EFs. Improved farm management by avoiding grazing, effluent, and N fertiliser application during periods of high risk for N2O emissions, or by the use of mitigation technologies such as nitrification inhibitors, could reduce annual farm scale N2O emissions.

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coby J. Hoogendoorn ◽  
Cecile A. M. de Klein ◽  
Alison J. Rutherford ◽  
Selai Letica ◽  
Brian P. Devantier

Urine deposited by grazing animals represents the largest source of N2O emissions in New Zealand. Sheep-grazed hill pastures are an important component of New Zealand pastoral land, but information on N2O emissions from these areas is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing rates of fertiliser nitrogen and of a nitrification inhibitor on N2O emissions from urine patches. The study was carried out in grazed paddock-scale trials at the Ballantrae and Invermay Research Stations, New Zealand. The fertiliser N treatments were 0, 100, 300 and 750 (500 for Invermay) kg N/ha.year. Nitrous oxide measurements were conducted in the spring of 2005 and 2006, following applications of synthetic sheep urine with or without dicyandiamide (DCD) in these four N treatments. In both years and at both sites, N2O emissions increased with N fertiliser application rate in both urine and non-urine affected areas. The addition of DCD to the synthetic urine reduced N2O emissions from the urine affected areas during the measurement period by 60–80% at Ballantrae and by 40% at Invermay. The N2O emission factors for the artificial sheep urine (expressed as N2O-N lost as % of N applied) ranged from 0.01 to 1.06%, with the higher values generally found in the high N fertiliser treatments. The N2O emission factors were generally less than or similar to those from sheep urine applied to flat land pasture.


2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Smith ◽  
C. A. M. de Klein ◽  
R. M. Monaghan ◽  
W. D. Catto

A study was conducted in Southland, New Zealand to: (i) measure nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3–-N) leaching losses from a cattle-grazed, winter forage crop; and (ii) quantify the effect of dicyandiamide (DCD) in reducing these losses. Drainage losses were measured for 12 months (December 2005–November 2006) from a December-sown kale crop using 12 hydrologically isolated drainage plots at the Woodlands Research Station. N2O emissions were measured for 6 months (June–November) following simulated grazing of the crop in mid-June. N2O emissions from the bare ground following grazing of the crop amounted to 3.6 kg nitrogen (N)/ha for the winter–spring period. This figure is higher than that measured for pasture on the same soil type over a similar period. DCD application significantly reduced N2O emissions for the whole crop area by 25% over this period and reduced the N2O emission factor for urine by 54%. DCD application increased the length of time mineral N (0–10 cm soil depth) was maintained in the ammonium form and significantly reduced soil NO3–-N levels for 6 weeks following the simulated grazing. Annual NO3–-N losses in drainage under this winter forage crop were relatively high at 79 kg N/ha.year, with the majority of this (67%) being lost over the wet summer months (December–January rainfall 434 mm or 200% of normal) during crop growth. The application of DCD following the grazing resulted in a 47% decrease in NO3–-N leached over the winter–spring period (26 kg N/ha v. 14 kg N/ha) with this equating to a 29% decrease over the full 12-month measurement period. This study suggested that winter forage crops are major contributors to N losses from livestock farming systems in Southland and that DCD application following the grazing of such crops by cattle can significantly reduce N2O emissions and leaching N losses.


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile A. M. de Klein ◽  
Louise Barton ◽  
Robert R. Sherlock ◽  
Zheng Li ◽  
Roger P. Littlejohn

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change methodology estimates that over 50% of total nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in New Zealand derive from animal excreta-N deposited during grazing. The emission factor for excreta-N as used by this methodology has an important impact on New Zealand's total N2O inventory. The objectives of this study were to refine the N2O emission factor for urine by simultaneously measuring N2O emissions from 5 pastoral soils of different drainage class, in 3 different regions in New Zealand following a single application of urine; plus test various aspects of the soil cover method for determining emission factors. Cow urine and synthetic urine was applied to pastoral soils in autumn 2000 and N2O emissions were measured using closed flux chambers at regular intervals for 4–18 months following application. The N2O emission factors for cow urine estimated for the first 4 months after urine application varied greatly depending on rainfall and soil drainage class, and ranged from 0.3 to 2.5% of the urine-N applied, suggesting that adopting a single emission factor for New Zealand may be inappropriate. The largest emission factor was found in a poorly drained soil, and the lowest emission factor was found in a well-drained stony soil. Ongoing measurements on one of the soils resulted in an increase in emission factors as the N2O emissions had not reached background levels 4 months after urine application. To characterise urine-induced N2O emissions, we recommend measurements continue until N2O emissions from urine-amended soil return to background levels. Furthermore, we recommend using real animal urine rather than synthetic urine in studies when determining the N2O emission factor for urine.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Ward ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
J. W. Hollier

Nitrous oxide (N2O) from excreta deposited by grazing ruminants is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Experiments to measure N2O emissions from dairy cow dung, urine and pond sludge applied to pasture, and the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin in reducing these emissions, were conducted in south-western Victoria, Australia. In Experiment 1, emissions from urine, with and without nitrapyrin, and from dung were measured. Treatments applied in September 2013 resulted in cumulative emissions (245 days) of 0.60, 5.35, 4.15 and 1.02 kg N2O-nitrogen (N)/ha for the nil, urine (1000 kg N/ha), urine (1000 kg N/ha) + nitrapyrin (1 kg active ingredients/ha), and dung (448 kg N/ha) treatments, respectively, giving emission factors of 0.47% and 0.09% for urine and dung respectively. Nitrapyrin reduced N2O emissions from urine for 35 days, with an overall reduction in emissions of 25%. In Experiment 2, sludge, with and without nitrapyrin, was applied in May 2014, and dung was applied in May, August, November 2014 and January 2015. Cumulative emissions (350 days) were 0.19, 0.49, 0.31 and 0.39 kg N2O-N/ha for the nil, sludge (308 kg N/ha), sludge (308 kg N/ha) + nitrapyrin (1 kg active ingredients/ha), and dung (total 604 kg N/ha) treatments, respectively, giving emission factors of 0.10% and 0.03% for sludge and dung. Nitrapyrin reduced N2O emissions from sludge for 60 days, with an overall reduction in emissions of 59%. A third experiment on two soil types compared emissions from urine and dung, with and without nitrapyrin, applied in different seasons of the year. Emissions were highly seasonal and strongly related to soil water status. Emission factors (90 days) ranged from 0.02% to 0.19% for urine and 0.01% to 0.12% for dung. Nitrapyrin reduced emissions from urine by 0–35% and had little effect on emissions from dung. Overall, the experiments found that nitrapyrin was an effective tool in reducing emissions from urine, dung and sludge applied to pasture, but the magnitude varied across the year, with nitrapyrin being most effective when soils had >70% water-filled pore space when major emissions occurred.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
J. Luo ◽  
Y. Shi ◽  
S. Lindsey ◽  
D. Houlbrooke ◽  
...  

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 533 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Riches ◽  
S. W. Mattner ◽  
R. Davies ◽  
I. J. Porter

Intensive vegetable production in southern Australia is characterised by high inputs of nitrogen (N) fertiliser, water, and occasionally animal manures, which creates the potential for high nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Three field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of the nitrification inhibitors 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), 3-methyl pyrazole plus 1H-1,2,4 triazole (3MP+TZ), and dicyandiamide (DCD) on N2O emissions and yields in broccoli (Brassica oleracea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) crops in southern Australia. The inhibitor treatments on fertilisers and poultry manure were compared with standard commercial practice for vegetable crops in this region, and N2O emissions were measured using manual chambers through to harvest. Daily fluxes ranged from 0.81gN2O-Nha–1day–1 for untreated soil to 11.65gN2O-Nha–1day–1 for manure treated soil. Extrapolation of these results translate to annual emissions of 0.30kgN2O-Nha–1year–1 to 4.24kgN2O-Nha–1year–1, respectively. Cumulative soil N2O fluxes from the manure treatments were ~4-fold greater than the standard inorganic fertiliser program for a given crop. Nitrous oxide direct emission factors were in the range 0.02–0.16% for inorganic fertilisers and from 0.19% to 0.43% for poultry manure. The greatest decrease in N2O emissions occurred when DMPP or a combination of 3MP+TZ were added to poultry manure (62% and 66% decrease, respectively). Decreases in N2O emissions from nitrification inhibitors were smaller and less consistent when used with inorganic fertilisers, but DMPP decreased emissions in two out of three trials, with a maximum decrease of 32% observed in the broccoli trial. DCD proved ineffective for mitigating N2O emissions in all trials.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
J. Luo ◽  
Y. Shi ◽  
Y. Li ◽  
Y. Ma ◽  
...  

Urine patches in grazed pastures have been identified as important sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. An increase in N2O emissions is possible where urine patches coincide with dung patches and farm dairy effluent (FDE) applications. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of dung additions and fresh FDE applications on N2O emissions from urine patches. A field experiment was conducted on a pasture site at the AgResearch’s Ruakura dairy farm in Hamilton, New Zealand. A closed soil chamber technique was used to measure the N2O emissions from a free-draining volcanic soil that received urine (492 kg N/ha, simulated urine patches), with or without dung (1146 kg N/ha) and fresh FDE (100 kg N/ha) and to compare these with controls receiving no urine. The addition of dung delayed the peak N2O fluxes from the urine patches by ~30 days. This could be due to temporary nitrogen (N) immobilisation during decomposition of carbon from the dung. However, over the whole measurement period (271 days), dung addition increased the N2O emission factor (EF, % of applied N emitted as N2O) for the urine from 1.02% to 2.09%. The application of fresh FDE increased the EF to 1.40%. The effluent- or dung-induced increases in N2O emissions from the urine patches were possibly caused both by the direct input of N from effluent or dung and through the indirect priming effect of addition of dung or effluent on the availability of N from urine patches for N2O production. We conclude that when EFs are used in calculations of N2O emissions from urine, consideration should be given to the likelihood of coincidence with dung or FDE applications.


Author(s):  
T.J. Van der Weerden ◽  
T.M. Styles

Wintering cows on forage crops leads to urine being excreted onto wet, compacted soils. This is likely to result in significant gaseous emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), which may be reduced through strategic applications of nitrification inhibitors. A study was established on a winter swede crop to (i) determine N2O emissions from compacted soil treated with cattle urine, and (ii) quantify the effectiveness of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), in reducing these emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from the urine + compacted soil were significantly greater (P < 0.001) than from compacted soil without urine, with 3.2% of the urine-N being lost as N2O. DCD application significantly reduced this loss (P < 0.05) to 0.8% of the applied urine-N. Expressed at a paddock scale, total N2O emissions from the winter-grazed swede crop were 7.9 kg N ha-1, which was reduced to 3.4 kg N ha-1 when DCD was applied. Keywords: urine, dicyandiamide, nitrification inhibitor, soil compaction, nitrous oxide.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bangliang Deng ◽  
Haifu Fang ◽  
Ningfei Jiang ◽  
Weixun Feng ◽  
Laicong Luo ◽  
...  

Research Highlights: Intensive nitrogen (N) application for agricultural purposes has substantially increased soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Agricultural soil has great potential in the reduction of N2O emissions, and applications of biochar and nitrification inhibitors may be useful for mitigating agricultural soil N2O emissions. Background and Objectives: Camellia oleifera Abel. is an important woody oil plant in China. However, intensive N input in C. oleifera silviculture has increased the risk of soil N2O emissions. As an important greenhouse gas, N2O is characterized by a global warming potential at a 100-year scale that is 265 times that of carbon dioxide. Thus, mitigation of soil N2O emissions, especially fertilized soils, will be crucial for reducing climate change. Materials and Methods: Here, we conducted an in situ study over 12 months to examine the effects of C. oleifera fruit shell-derived biochar and dicyandiamide (DCD) on soil N2O emissions from a C. oleifera field with intensive N application. Results: A three-fold increase of cumulative soil N2O emissions was observed following N application. Cumulative N2O emissions from the field with N fertilization were reduced by 36% and 44% with biochar and DCD, respectively. While N2O emissions were slightly deceased by biochar, the decrease was comparable to that by DCD. Conclusions: Results indicated that biochar may mitigate soil N2O emissions substantially and similarly to DCD under specific conditions. This result should be examined by prolonged and multi-site studies before it can be generalized to broader scales.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khadim Dawar ◽  
Shah Fahad ◽  
M. M. R. Jahangir ◽  
Iqbal Munir ◽  
Syed Sartaj Alam ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, we explored the role of biochar (BC) and/or urease inhibitor (UI) in mitigating ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) discharge from urea fertilized wheat cultivated fields in Pakistan (34.01°N, 71.71°E). The experiment included five treatments [control, urea (150 kg N ha−1), BC (10 Mg ha−1), urea + BC and urea + BC + UI (1 L ton−1)], which were all repeated four times and were carried out in a randomized complete block design. Urea supplementation along with BC and BC + UI reduced soil NH3 emissions by 27% and 69%, respectively, compared to sole urea application. Nitrous oxide emissions from urea fertilized plots were also reduced by 24% and 53% applying BC and BC + UI, respectively, compared to urea alone. Application of BC with urea improved the grain yield, shoot biomass, and total N uptake of wheat by 13%, 24%, and 12%, respectively, compared to urea alone. Moreover, UI further promoted biomass and grain yield, and N assimilation in wheat by 38%, 22% and 27%, respectively, over sole urea application. In conclusion, application of BC and/or UI can mitigate NH3 and N2O emissions from urea fertilized soil, improve N use efficiency (NUE) and overall crop productivity.


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