scholarly journals Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Methane Uptake from Organic and Conventionally Managed Arable Crop Rotations on Farms in Northwest Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Biernat ◽  
Friedhelm Taube ◽  
Ralf Loges ◽  
Christof Kluß ◽  
Thorsten Reinsch
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Beech Forest ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Northwest Germany

Land-use extensification by shifting from conventional to organic arable farming is often discussed as a measure for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural land. Doubts about the benefits arise when emissions are calculated per product unit, particularly where high yields are possible under conventional management. Among the non-CO2 GHG emissions, nitrous oxide (N2O) is the main contributor from arable land and is controlled by soil type, environmental conditions and management. In order to investigate how land-use change from conventional to organic farming would perform under highly productive site conditions in northwest Germany, and how this would affect the important greenhouse gases N2O and methane (CH4), an on-farm field research was conducted over two experimental years. Two site-specific organic crop rotations, (i) with 25% legumes (grass + clover - winter wheat – winter rye – oats) and (ii) with 40% legumes (grass + clover – winter wheat – winter rye – spring field peas – winter rye), were compared with (iii) a conventional arable rotation (winter oilseed rape – winter wheat – winter wheat – sugar beet – winter wheat) and two reference systems, (iv) extensive grassland and (v) a beech forest), which were chosen as the baseline. The results showed that organic farming had lower N2O emissions of 0.7 N2O–N ha−1 year−1 than the conventional rotation, with 2.1 kg N2O–N ha−1 year−1 (p < 0.05), but higher emissions than the extensive grassland (0.3 kg N2O ha−1 year−1) and beech forest (0.4 kg N2O ha−1 year−1). CH4 emissions were a negligible part of total GHG emissions (as CO2 equivalents) in the two arable systems, and considerable uptake of CH4 from the forest soils showed this was a GHG sink in the first experimental year. Organic systems produced up to 40% lower crop yields, but the emissions per product unit in rotation (iii) was not superior to (ii) during the two experimental years. Thus, arable organic farming showed the ability to produce agricultural commodities with low N2O emissions per unit area, and no differences in product-related emissions compared with conventional farming. Conventional and organic systems both showed potential for further mitigation of N2O emissions by controlling the field level nitrogen surplus to a minimum, and by the optimized timing of the removal of the grass–clover ley phase.

scholarly journals ESTIMATION OF NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS FROM AGRICULTURAL SOILS IN VOIVODESHIPS IN POLAND

2020 ◽  
Vol XXII (4) ◽  
pp. 94-104
Author(s):  
Anna Jędrejek
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Regional Differentiation ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Winter Rape ◽  
Winter Triticale

The purpose of this study was to estimate nitrogen oxide emissions from soils used for agricultural purposes by voivodships. Compared N2O emissions were estimated according to the recommended IPCC (tier 1) method with simulated emissions using the DNDC (tier 3) model. Analyses were done for crop rotation (winter rape, winter wheat, winter wheat, winter triticale) in four cropping systems. Moreover, simulated N2O emissions from winter rape and winter triticale cultivation showed lower emissions and constituted 1475% and 13-76% of IPCC estimated emissions, respectively. The use of the model also enabled the determination of factors, which have an impact on nitrous oxide emissions and define its regional differentiation. The analysis showed that with increasing initial soil organic content, emissions of N2O rise and decrease with increasing precipitation or carbon sequestration. Considering the requirements for reduction GHG emissions, improving the methodology used in estimating nitrous oxide emissions is of significant practical value.

Targeted technologies for nitrous oxide abatement from animal agriculture

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. M. de Klein ◽  
R. J. Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitors ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Animal Agriculture ◽  
Management Interventions

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions account for ~10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with most of these emissions (~90%) deriving from agricultural practices. Animal agriculture potentially contributes up to 50% of total agricultural N2O emissions. In intensive animal agriculture, high N2O emission rates generally coincide with anaerobic soil conditions and high soil NO3–, primarily from animal urine patches. This paper provides an overview of animal, feed-based and soil or management abatement technologies for ruminant animal agriculture targeted at reducing the size of the soil NO3– pool or improving soil aeration. Direct measurements of N2O emissions from potential animal and feed-based intervention technologies are scarce. However, studies have shown that they have the potential to reduce urinary N excretion by 3–60% and thus reduce associated N2O emissions. Research on the effect of soil and water management interventions is generally further advanced and N2O reduction potentials of up to 90% have been measured in some instances. Of the currently available technologies, nitrification inhibitors, managing animal diets and fertiliser management show the best potential for reducing emissions in the short-term. However, strategies should always be evaluated in a whole-system context, to ensure that reductions in one part of the system do not stimulate higher emissions elsewhere. Current technologies reviewed here could deliver up to 50% reduction from an animal housing system, but only up to 15% from a grazing-based system. However, given that enteric methane emissions form the majority of emissions from grazing systems, a 15% abatement of N2O is likely to translate to a 2–4% decrease in total GHG emissions at a farm scale. Clearly, further research is needed to develop technologies for improving N cycling and reducing N2O emissions from grazing-based animal production systems.

Experimental warming-driven soil drying reduced N2O emissions from fertilized crop rotations of winter wheat–soybean/fallow, 2009–2014

2016 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liting Liu ◽  
Chunsheng Hu ◽  
Peipei Yang ◽  
Zhaoqiang Ju ◽  
Jørgen E. Olesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Soil Drying ◽  
Experimental Warming

scholarly journals Nitrous oxide, ammonia and methane from Australian meat chicken houses measured under commercial operating conditions and with mitigation strategies applied

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1404 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Wiedemann ◽  
F. A. Phillips ◽  
T. A. Naylor ◽  
E. J. McGahan ◽  
O. B. Keane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Litter Depth ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Equivalents ◽  
The Impact

Greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions are important environmental impacts from meat chicken houses. This study measured ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) in two trials from paired, commercial meat chicken houses using standard (control) and mitigation strategies. In Trial 1, emissions from houses with standard litter depth of 47 mm (LD47) or increased litter depth of 67 mm (LD67) were compared. When standardised to a 42-day-old bird, emissions were 11.9 g NH3/bird, 0.30 g N2O/bird and 0.16 g CH4/bird from the LD47 and 11.7 g NH3/bird, 0.69 g N2O/bird and 0.12 g CH4/bird from the LD67. Emissions per kilogram of manure N were 0.14 and 0.11 for NH3-N, 0.003 and 0.005 N2O-N and CH4 conversion factors were 0.08% and 0.05%. Total direct and indirect GHG emissions reported in carbon dioxide equivalents were found to be higher in LD67 in response to the elevated direct N2O emissions. Trial 2 compared the impact of reduced crude protein (CP19.8) and a standard diet (CP21.3) developed using least-cost ration formulation, on emissions. Emissions per bird for the CP19.8 diet were 7.7 g NH3/bird, 0.39 g N2O/bird and 0.14 g CH4/bird, while emissions from birds fed the CP21.3 diet were 10.6 g NH3/bird, 0.42 g N2O/bird and 0.19 g CH4/bird. Significant differences were observed only in the NH3 results, where emissions were reduced by 27% for the low-CP diet. Because of the low emission levels, total mitigation potential from indirect GHG emissions was relatively small in Trial 2, corresponding to 11 t carbon dioxide equivalents/year per million birds.

scholarly journals Greenhouse gas emissions from fen soils used for forage production in northern Germany

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Poyda ◽  
Thorsten Reinsch ◽  
Christof Kluß ◽  
Ralf Loges ◽  
Friedhelm Taube
Keyword(s):  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Climatic Impact ◽  
Northern Germany ◽  
Northwest Germany ◽  
Ch4 And N2o

Abstract. A large share of peatlands in northwest Germany is drained for agricultural purposes, thereby emitting high amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG). In order to quantify the climatic impact of fen soils in dairy farming systems of northern Germany, GHG exchange and forage yield were determined on four experimental sites which differed in terms of management and drainage intensity: a) rewetted and unutilized grassland (UG), b) intensive and 'wet' grassland (GW), c) intensive and 'moist' grassland (GM) and d) arable forage cropping (AR). Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 and fluxes of CH4 and N2O were measured using closed manual chambers. CH4 fluxes were significantly affected by groundwater level (GWL) and soil temperature, whereas N2O fluxes showed a significant relation to the amount of nitrate in top soil. Annual balances of all three gases, as well as the global warming potential (GWP), were significantly correlated to mean annual GWL. Two-year mean GWP, combined from C2-C-equivalents of NEE, CH4 and N2O emissions, as well as C input (slurry) and C output (harvest), was 3.8, 11.7, 17.7 and 17.3 Mg CO2-C-eq ha−1 a−1 for sites UG, GW, GM and AR, respectively (standard error (SE) 2.8, 1.2, 1.8, 2.6). Yield related emissions for the three agricultural sites were 201, 248 and 269 kg CO2-C-eq (GJ net energy lactation (NEL))−1 for sites GW, GM and AR, respectively (SE 17, 9, 19). The carbon footprint of agricultural commodities grown on fen soils depended on long-term drainage intensity rather than type of management, but management and climate strongly influenced interannual on-site variability. However, arable forage production revealed a high uncertainty of yield and therefore was an unsuitable land use option. Lowest yield related GHG emissions were achieved by a three-cut system of productive grassland swards in combination with a high GWL (long-term mean ≤ 20 cm below the surface).

Contribution of nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment to carbon accounting

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Winter ◽  
P. Pearce ◽  
K. Colquhoun
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Carbon Accounting ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
N2o Emissions

This paper describes research that investigated the contribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from wastewater treatment to the greenhouse gas emissions of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The research provided several months of robust data from a large-scale WWTP serving a population equivalent of 284,000. N2O emissions were monitored online at the ventilation system of a covered activated sludge (AS) plant, therefore capturing the complete off-gas stream. This methodology eliminated errors incurred through sampling of small percentages of emission areas and allowed representative continuous measurements. Nitrogen load and dissolved oxygen (DO) were also monitored. To address seasonal variation, data were recorded in two extensive phases. In addition, three separate 24-hour surveys were conducted. Emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O associated with treatment were calculated using the UK Water Industry Research carbon accounting workbook. This study measured N2O emissions from the AS process (nitrification and denitrification) equivalent to 17.5% of the annual GHG emissions (tonnes CO2e) from processes at the WWTP. The emissions were within the range of published N2O emissions. The diurnal profiles confirmed literature findings of a trend of increased N2O emissions when the DO decreased. The DO in the high rate zone of the aeration lanes should be kept above 1 mg l−1 to avoid favourable conditions for N2O emissions during nitrification.

scholarly journals The Effects of System Changes in Grazed Dairy Farmlet Trials on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony van der Weerden ◽  
Pierre Beukes ◽  
Cecile de Klein ◽  
Kathryn Hutchinson ◽  
Lydia Farrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Current System ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
System Changes ◽  
Emissions Intensity

An important challenge facing the New Zealand (NZ) dairy industry is development of production systems that can maintain or increase production and profitability, while reducing impacts on receiving environments including water and air. Using research ‘farmlets’ in Waikato, Canterbury, and Otago (32–200 animals per herd), we assessed if system changes aimed at reducing nitrate leaching can also reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (methane and nitrous oxide) and emissions intensity (kg GHG per unit of product) by comparing current and potential ‘improved’ dairy systems. Annual average GHG emissions for each system were estimated for three or four years using calculations based on the New Zealand Agricultural Inventory Methodology, but included key farmlet-specific emission factors determined from regional experiments. Total annual GHG footprints ranged between 10,800 kg and 20,600 kg CO2e/ha, with emissions strongly related to the amount of feed eaten. Methane (CH4) represented 75% to 84% of the total GHG footprint across all modelled systems, with enteric CH4 from lactating cows grazing pasture being the major source. Excreta deposition onto paddocks was the largest source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, representing 7–12% of the total GHG footprint for all systems. When total emissions were represented on an intensity basis, ‘improved’ systems are predicted to generally result in lower emissions intensity. The ‘improved’ systems had lower GHG footprints than the ‘current’ system, except for one of the ‘improved’ systems in Canterbury, which had a higher stocking rate. The lower feed supplies and associated lower stocking rates of the ‘improved’ systems were the key drivers of lower total GHG emissions in all three regions. ‘Improved’ systems designed to reduced N leaching generally also reduced GHG emissions.

scholarly journals Nitrous oxide emission from highland winter wheat field after long-term fertilization

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 4539-4563 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. R. Wei ◽  
M. D. Hao ◽  
X. H. Xue ◽  
P. Shi ◽  
A. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N2o Flux ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Wheat Field ◽  
N2o Fluxes ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas. N2O emissions from soils vary with fertilization and cropping practices. The response of N2O emission to fertilization of agricultural soils plays an important role in global N2O emission. The objective of this study was to assess the seasonal pattern of N2O fluxes and the annual N2O emissions from a rain-fed winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) field in the Loess Plateau of China. A static flux chamber method was used to measure soil N2O fluxes from 2006 to 2008. The study included 5 treatments with 3 replications in a randomized complete block design. Prior to initiating N2O measurements the treatments had received the same fertilization for 22 years. The fertilizer treatments were unfertilized control (CK), manure (M), nitrogen (N), nitrogen + phosphorus (NP), and nitrogen + phosphorus + manure (NPM). Soil N2O fluxes in the highland winter wheat field were highly variable temporally and thus were fertilization dependent. The highest fluxes occurred in the warmer and wetter seasons. Relative to CK, M slightly increased N2O flux while N, NP and NPM treatments significantly increased N2O fluxes. The fertilizer induced increase in N2O flux occurred mainly in the first 30 days after fertilization. The increases were smaller in the relatively warm and dry year than in the cold and wet year. Combining phosphorous and/or manure with mineral N fertilizer partly offset the nitrogen fertilizer induced increase in N2O flux. N2O fluxes at the seedling stage were mainly controlled by nitrogen fertilization, while fluxes at other plant growth stages were influenced by plant and environmental conditions. The cumulative N2O emissions were always higher in the fertilized treatments than in the non-fertilized treatment (CK). Mineral and manure nitrogen fertilizer enhanced N2O emissions in wetter years compared to dryer years. Phosphorous fertilizer offset 0.78 and 1.98 kg N2O ha−1 increases, while manure + phosphorous offset 0.67 and 1.64 kg N2O ha−1 increases by N fertilizer for the two observation years. Our results suggested that the contribution of single N fertilizer on N2O emission was larger than that of NP and NPM and that manure and phosphorous had important roles in offsetting mineral N fertilizer induced N2O emissions. Relative to agricultural production and N2O emission, manure fertilization (M) should be recommended while single N fertilization (N) should be avoided for the highland winter wheat due to the higher biomass and grain yield and less N2O flux and annual emission in M than in N.

Methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions from an Australian piggery with short and long hydraulic retention-time effluent storage

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. McGahan ◽  
F. A. Phillips ◽  
S. G. Wiedemann ◽  
T. A. Naylor ◽  
B. Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
High Emission ◽  
Reduce Emissions

In the Australian pork industry, manure is the main source of greenhouse gases (GHG). In conventional production systems, effluent from sheds is transferred into open anaerobic ponds where the effluent is typically stored for many months, with the potential of generating large quantities of GHG. The present study measured methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emissions from a conventional anaerobic effluent pond (control), a short hydraulic retention-time tank (short HRT, mitigation) and from the animal housing for a flushing piggery in south-eastern Queensland, over two 30-day trials during summer and winter. Emissions were compared to determine the potential for a short HRT to reduce emissions. Average CH4 emissions from the pond were 452 ± 37 g per animal unit (AU; 1 AU = 500 kg liveweight) per day, during the winter trial and 789 ± 29 g/AU.day during the summer trial. Average NH3 emissions were 73 ± 8 g/AU.day during the winter trial and 313 ± 18 g/AU.day during the summer trial. High emission factors during summer will be temperature driven and influenced by the residual volatile solids and nitrogen (N) deposited in the pond during winter. Average NH3 emissions from the piggery shed were 0.707 ± 0.050 g/AU.day and CH4 emissions were 0.344 ± 0.116 g/AU.day. The N2O concentrations from both the pond and shed were close to, or below, the detection limits. Total emissions from the short HRT during the winter and summer trials, respectively, were as follows: CH4 10.65 ± 0.616 mg/AU.day and 4108 ± 473 mg/AU.day; NH3-N 1.15 ± 0.07 mg/AU.day and 29.8 ± 2.57 mg/AU.day; N2O-N 0.001 ± 0.00052 mg/AU.day and 5.9 ± 0.321 mg/AU.day. On the basis of a conservative analysis of CH4 emissions relative to the inflow of volatile solids, and NH3 and N2O emissions as a fraction of the excreted N, GHG emissions were found to be 79% lower from the short-HRT system. This system provides a potential mitigation option to reduce GHG emissions from conventional pork production in Australia.

scholarly journals Long-term crop rotation effects on winter and spring cereals productivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Marija Butkevičienė ◽  
Ingė Auželienė ◽  
Vaclovas Bogužas
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Row Crops ◽  
Productivity Indicators

A long-term field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the VDU Agriculture Academy (formerly Aleksandras Stulginskis University), Institute of Agroecosystems crop rotation collection (equipped in 1967), during 2015–2017. The soil of the Experimental site is moderately fine textured Calc(ar)i-Endohypogleyic Luvisol. The research was carried out on winter rye (Secale cereale L.) ‘Matador’, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ‘Skagen’ and 71 spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ‘Orphelija’, which were sown in 8 different crop rotations after different preceding crops and rye monoculture. The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of long-term crop rotation combinations on testing crops yield and productivity indicators. In many cases, rye productivity indicators were lower during 50-year monocropping. The best productivity indicators were obtained by growing rye in them in grass and fallow crop sequences, and for winter wheat in fallow with vetch–oat mixture for fodder and after manure application. In rye these indicators were more dependent on the precipitation amount and the amount of the sum of temperature during the period of generative organ formation. Among these indicators and the number of productive stems, a statistically strong and medium strength correlation interaction was identified: r = 0.83, P ≤ 0.01; r = 0.90, P ≤ 0.05; r = 0.58, P ≤ 0.05; r = 0.85, P ≤ 0.01; and winter weat r = 0.87, P ≤ 0.01; r = 0.89, P ≤ 0.01. The highest winter wheat productivity was established in crop rotation after perennial grasses and leguminous crops. Crop yield in monoculture decreases, but the optimal amount of mineral fertilizers saves lower but stable yields. Spring barley is less dependent on preceding crop, so it can be grown after winter cereals. However, they are more productive when sown after row crops and in crop rotations where one of the rotation members is fertilized with organic fertilizers.

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