scholarly journals The significance of nitrous oxide emission from biofuel crops on arable land: a Swedish perspective

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 6743-6774
Author(s):  
Å. Kasimir Klemedtsson ◽  
K. A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. The current regulations governing biofuel production in the European Union require that they have to mitigate climate change, by producing >35 % less greenhouse gases (GHG) than fossil fuels. There is a risk that this may not be achievable, since land use for crop production inevitably emits the strong GHG nitrous oxide (N2O), due to nitrogen fertilisation and cycling in the environment. We conclude that efficient agricultural crop production resulting in a good harvest and low N2O emission can fulfill the EU standard, and is possible under certain conditions for the Swedish agricultural and refinery production systems. However, in years having low crop yields total GHG emissions can be even higher than those released by burning of fossil fuels. In general, the N2O emission size in Sweden and northern Europe is such that there is a >50 % chance that the 35 % saving requirement will not be met. Thus ecosystem N2O emissions have to be convincingly assessed. Here we compare Swedish emission data with values estimated by means of statistical models and by a global, top-down, procedure; the measurements and the predictions often show higher values that would fail to meet the EU standard and thus prevent biofuel production development.

scholarly journals The significance of nitrous oxide emission due to cropping of grain for biofuel production: a Swedish perspective

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 3581-3591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Å. Kasimir Klemedtsson ◽  
K. A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. The current regulations governing production of biofuels in the European Union require that they have to mitigate climate change, by producing >35% less greenhouse gases (GHG) than fossil fuels. There is a risk that this may not be achievable, since land use for crop production inevitably emits the potent GHG nitrous oxide (N2O), due to nitrogen fertilisation and cycling in the environment. We analyse first-generation biofuel production on agricultural land and conclude that efficient agricultural crop production resulting in a good harvest and low N2O emission can fulfil the EU standard, and is possible under certain conditions for the Swedish agricultural and bioethanol production systems. However, in years having low crop yields, and where cropping is on organic soils, total GHG emissions per unit of fuel produced can be even higher than those released by burning of fossil fuels. In general, the N2O emission size in Sweden and elsewhere in northern Europe is such that there is a >50% chance that the 35% saving requirement will not be met. Thus ecosystem N2O emissions have to be convincingly assessed. Here we compare Swedish emission data with values estimated by means of statistical models and by a global, top-down, approach; the measurements and the predictions often show higher values that would fail to meet the EU standard and thus prevent biofuel production development.

scholarly journals N<sub>2</sub>O release from agro-biofuel production negates global warming reduction by replacing fossil fuels

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 11191-11205 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Crutzen ◽  
A. R. Mosier ◽  
K. A. Smith ◽  
W. Winiwarter
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The relationship, on a global basis, between the amount of N fixed by chemical, biological or atmospheric processes entering the terrestrial biosphere, and the total emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), has been re-examined, using known global atmospheric removal rates and concentration growth of N2O as a proxy for overall emissions. The relationship, in both the pre-industrial period and in recent times, after taking into account the large-scale changes in synthetic N fertiliser production and deforestation, is consistent, showing an overall conversion factor of 3–5%. This factor is covered only in part by the ~1% of "direct" emissions from agricultural crop lands estimated by IPCC (2006), or the "indirect" emissions cited therein. This means that the extra N2O entering the atmosphere as a result of using N to produce crops for biofuels will also be correspondingly greater than that estimated just on the basis of IPCC (2006). When the extra N2O emission from biofuel production is calculated in "CO2-equivalent" global warming terms, and compared with the quasi-cooling effect of "saving" emissions of fossil fuel derived CO2, the outcome is that the production of commonly used biofuels, such as biodiesel from rapeseed and bioethanol from corn (maize), can contribute as much or more to global warming by N2O emissions than cooling by fossil fuel savings. Crops with less N demand, such as grasses and woody coppice species have more favourable climate impacts. This analysis only considers the conversion of biomass to biofuel. It does not take into account the use of fossil fuel on the farms and for fertilizer and pesticide production, but it also neglects the production of useful co-products. Both factors partially compensate each other. This needs to be analyzed in a full life cycle assessment.

Does 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate or N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide reduce nitrous oxide emissions from a rain-fed cropping system?

Soil Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangdi D. Li ◽  
Graeme D. Schwenke ◽  
Richard C. Hayes ◽  
Hongtao Xing ◽  
Adam J. Lowrie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Urease Inhibitors ◽  
Eastern Australia

Nitrification and urease inhibitors have been used to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and increase nitrogen use efficiency in many agricultural systems. However, their agronomic benefits, such as the improvement of grain yield, is uncertain. A two-year field experiment was conducted to (1) investigate whether the use of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) or N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) can reduce N2O emissions and increase grain yield and (2) explore the financial benefit of using DMPP or NBPT in a rain-fed cropping system in south-eastern Australia. The experiment was conducted at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2012 and canola (Brassica napus L.) in 2013. Results showed that urea coated with DMPP reduced the cumulative N2O emission by 34% for a wheat crop in 2012 (P < 0.05) and by 62% for a canola crop in 2013 (P < 0.05) compared with normal urea, but urea coated NBPT had no effect on N2O emission for the wheat crop in 2012. Neither nitrification nor urease inhibitors increased crop yields because the low rainfall experienced led to little potential for gross N loss through denitrification, leaching or volatilisation pathways. In such dry years, only government or other financial incentives for N2O mitigation would make the use of DMPP with applied N economically viable.

scholarly journals N<sub>2</sub>O release from agro-biofuel production negates global warming reduction by replacing fossil fuels

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Crutzen ◽  
A. R. Mosier ◽  
K. A. Smith ◽  
W. Winiwarter
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Conversion Factor ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Crop

Abstract. The relationship, on a global basis, between the amount of N fixed by chemical, biological or atmospheric processes entering the terrestrial biosphere, and the total emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), has been re-examined, using known global atmospheric removal rates and concentration growth of N2O as a proxy for overall emissions. For both the pre-industrial period and in recent times, after taking into account the large-scale changes in synthetic N fertiliser production, we find an overall conversion factor of 3–5% from newly fixed N to N2O-N. We assume the same factor to be valid for biofuel production systems. It is covered only in part by the default conversion factor for "direct" emissions from agricultural crop lands (1%) estimated by IPCC (2006), and the default factors for the "indirect" emissions (following volatilization/deposition and leaching/runoff of N: 0.35–0.45%) cited therein. However, as we show in the paper, when additional emissions included in the IPCC methodology, e.g. those from livestock production, are included, the total may not be inconsistent with that given by our "top-down" method. When the extra N2O emission from biofuel production is calculated in "CO2-equivalent" global warming terms, and compared with the quasi-cooling effect of "saving" emissions of fossil fuel derived CO2, the outcome is that the production of commonly used biofuels, such as biodiesel from rapeseed and bioethanol from corn (maize), depending on N fertilizer uptake efficiency by the plants, can contribute as much or more to global warming by N2O emissions than cooling by fossil fuel savings. Crops with less N demand, such as grasses and woody coppice species, have more favourable climate impacts. This analysis only considers the conversion of biomass to biofuel. It does not take into account the use of fossil fuel on the farms and for fertilizer and pesticide production, but it also neglects the production of useful co-products. Both factors partially compensate each other. This needs to be analyzed in a full life cycle assessment.

scholarly journals Introducing a Marine Biorefinery System for the Integrated Production of Biofuels, High-Value-Chemicals, and Co-Products: A Path Forward to a Sustainable Future

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1841
Author(s):  
Abdelrahman Saleh Zaky
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Marine Yeasts ◽  
Marine Microorganisms ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Marine Biomass

Biofuels have many environmental and practical benefits as a transportation fuel. They are among the best alternatives to fossil fuels- thanks to their capacity for negative carbon emissions, which is vital for archiving the global ambition of a net-zero economy. However, conventional biofuel production takes place on inland sites and relies on freshwater and edible crops (or land suitable for edible crop production), which has led to the food versus fuel debate. It also suffers technical and economical barriers owing to the energy balance and the cost of production compared with fossil fuels. Establishing a coastal integrated marine biorefinery (CIMB) system for the simultaneous production of biofuels, high-value chemicals, and other co-products could be the ultimate solution. The proposed system is based on coastal sites and relies entirely on marine resources including seawater, marine biomass (seaweed), and marine microorganisms (marine yeasts and marine microalgae). The system does not require the use of arable land and freshwater in any part of the production chain and should be linked to offshore renewable energy sources to increase its economic feasibility and environmental value. This article aims to introduce the CIMB system as a potential vehicle for addressing the global warming issue and speeding the global effort on climate change mitigation as well as supporting the world’s water, food and energy security. I hope these perspectives serve to draw attention into research funding for this approach.

scholarly journals Introducing a Marine Biorefinery System for the Integrated Production of Biofuels, High-Value-Chemicals and Co-products: A Path Forward to a Sustainable Future

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelrahman Saleh Zaky
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Marine Yeasts ◽  
Marine Microorganisms ◽  
Transportation Fuel ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Marine Biomass

Biofuels have many environmental and practical benefits as a transportation fuel. They are among the best alternatives to fossil fuels due to their capacity for negative carbon emissions, which is vital for archiving the global ambition of a Net-Zero Economy. However, conventional biofuel production takes place on inland sites and relies on freshwater and edible crops (or land suitable for edible crop production), which has led to the food vs fuel debate. It also suffers technical and economical barriers due to the energy balance and the cost of production compared to fossil fuels. Establishing a coastal integrated marine biorefinery (CIMB) system for the simultaneous production of biofuels, high-value chemicals, and other co-products could be the ultimate solution. The proposed system is based on coastal sites and relies on marine resources including seawater, marine biomass (seaweed) and marine microorganisms (marine yeasts and marine microalgae). The system will not require the use of arable land and freshwater in any part of the production chain and will be linked to offshore renewable energy sources to increase its economic and environmental value. This article aims to introduce the CIMB system as a potential vehicle for addressing global warming and speeding the global effort on climate change mitigation as well as increasing global water, food and energy security. I hope this perspective may serve to draw attention into research funding for this approach.

Application of Remote Sensing in Agriculture

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Piekarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Remote Sensing Methods

AbstractWith increasing intensity of agricultural crop production increases the need to obtain information about environmental conditions in which this production takes place. Remote sensing methods, including satellite images, airborne photographs and ground-based spectral measurements can greatly simplify the monitoring of crop development and decision-making to optimize inputs on agricultural production and reduce its harmful effects on the environment. One of the earliest uses of remote sensing in agriculture is crop identification and their acreage estimation. Satellite data acquired for this purpose are necessary to ensure food security and the proper functioning of agricultural markets at national and global scales. Due to strong relationship between plant bio-physical parameters and the amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected (in certain ranges of the spectrum) from plants and then registered by sensors it is possible to predict crop yields. Other applications of remote sensing are intensively developed in the framework of so-called precision agriculture, in small spatial scales including individual fields. Data from ground-based measurements as well as from airborne or satellite images are used to develop yield and soil maps which can be used to determine the doses of irrigation and fertilization and to take decisions on the use of pesticides.

scholarly journals Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Pineapple Cultivation on a Tropical Peat Soil

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4928
Author(s):  
Alicia Vanessa Jeffary ◽  
Osumanu Haruna Ahmed ◽  
Roland Kueh Jui Heng ◽  
Liza Nuriati Lim Kim Choo ◽  
Latifah Omar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Peat Soil ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Natural State ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Peat Soils

Farming systems on peat soils are novel, considering the complexities of these organic soil. Since peat soils effectively capture greenhouse gases in their natural state, cultivating peat soils with annual or perennial crops such as pineapples necessitates the monitoring of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, especially from cultivated peat lands, due to a lack of data on N2O emissions. An on-farm experiment was carried out to determine the movement of N2O in pineapple production on peat soil. Additionally, the experiment was carried out to determine if the peat soil temperature and the N2O emissions were related. The chamber method was used to capture the N2O fluxes daily (for dry and wet seasons) after which gas chromatography was used to determine N2O followed by expressing the emission of this gas in t ha−1 yr−1. The movement of N2O horizontally (832 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the dry period was higher than in the wet period (599 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) because of C and N substrate in the peat soil, in addition to the fertilizer used in fertilizing the pineapple plants. The vertical movement of N2O (44 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) was higher in the dry season relative to N2O emission (38 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the wet season because of nitrification and denitrification of N fertilizer. The peat soil temperature did not affect the direction (horizontal and vertical) of the N2O emission, suggesting that these factors are not related. Therefore, it can be concluded that N2O movement in peat soils under pineapple cultivation on peat lands occurs horizontally and vertically, regardless of season, and there is a need to ensure minimum tilling of the cultivated peat soils to prevent them from being an N2O source instead of an N2O sink.

scholarly journals The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N2O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Schwenke ◽  
B. M. Haigh
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The Impact

Summer crop production on slow-draining Vertosols in a sub-tropical climate has the potential for large emissions of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) from denitrification of applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser. While it is well established that applying N fertiliser will increase N2O emissions above background levels, previous research in temperate climates has shown that increasing N fertiliser rates can increase N2O emissions linearly, exponentially or not at all. Little such data exists for summer cropping in sub-tropical regions. In four field experiments at two locations across two summers, we assessed the impact of increasing N fertiliser rate on both soil N2O emissions and crop yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Vertosols of sub-tropical Australia. Rates of N fertiliser, applied as urea at sowing, included a nil application, an optimum N rate and a double-optimum rate. Daily N2O fluxes ranged from –3.8 to 2734g N2O-Nha–1day–1 and cumulative N2O emissions ranged from 96 to 6659g N2O-Nha–1 during crop growth. Emissions of N2O increased with increased N fertiliser rates at all experimental sites, but the rate of N loss was five times greater in wetter-than-average seasons than in drier conditions. For two of the four experiments, periods of intense rainfall resulted in N2O emission factors (EF, percent of applied N emitted) in the range of 1.2–3.2%. In contrast, the EFs for the two drier experiments were 0.41–0.56% with no effect of N fertiliser rate. Additional 15N mini-plots aimed to determine whether N fertiliser rate affected total N lost from the soil–plant system between sowing and harvest. Total 15N unaccounted was in the range of 28–45% of applied N and was presumed to be emitted as N2O+N2. At the drier site, the ratio of N2 (estimated by difference)to N2O (measured) lost was a constant 43%, whereas the ratio declined from 29% to 12% with increased N fertiliser rate for the wetter experiment. Choosing an N fertiliser rate aimed at optimum crop production mitigates potentially high environmental (N2O) and agronomic (N2+N2O) gaseous N losses from over-application, particularly in seasons with high intensity rainfall occurring soon after fertiliser application.

scholarly journals Emission factors for estimating fertiliser-induced nitrous oxide emissions from clay soils in Australia’s irrigated cotton industry

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Grace ◽  
Iurii Shcherbak ◽  
Ben Macdonald ◽  
Clemens Scheer ◽  
David Rowlings
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Exponential Model ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Tier 2 ◽  
Cotton Industry ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Inventories ◽  
N Rates

As a significant user of nitrogen (N) fertilisers, the Australian cotton industry is a major source of soil-derived nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. A country-specific (Tier 2) fertiliser-induced emission factor (EF) can be used in national greenhouse gas inventories or in the development of N2O emissions offset methodologies provided the EFs are evidence based. A meta-analysis was performed using eight individual N2O emission studies from Australian cotton studies to estimate EFs. Annual N2O emissions from cotton grown on Vertosols ranged from 0.59kgNha–1 in a 0N control to 1.94kgNha–1 in a treatment receiving 270kgNha–1. Seasonal N2O estimates ranged from 0.51kgNha–1 in a 0N control to 10.64kgNha–1 in response to the addition of 320kgNha–1. A two-component (linear+exponential) statistical model, namely EF (%)=0.29+0.007(e0.037N – 1)/N, capped at 300kgNha–1 describes the N2O emissions from lower N rates better than an exponential model and aligns with an EF of 0.55% using a traditional linear regression model.

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