Abstract

The development of agricultural mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is urgent in the context of climate change - land use interactions. In this study the DNDC biogeochemical model was used to study nitrous oxide (N(2)O) emissions from grazed grasslands in southern Ireland. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the DNDC model using a two year (2008-2009) data set of chamber measured N(2)O fluxes at eight grassland sites and (2) to investigate the impact of different management scenarios on N(2)O emissions including changes in i) inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates ii) slurry application rates; and iii) animal density (livestock unit per hectare LU ha(-1)). The comparison of modeled daily DNDC fluxes (using a combination of measured and default soil parameters) and measured fluxes resulted in an r (coefficient correlation) = 0.48. To improve the model performance, the fluxes for 2008 were used in a calibration exercise during which the soil properties were optimized to obtain the best fit of N(2)O fluxes. This resulted in an improved model performance, with an r = 0.62. In a validation exercise using 2009 data, we used the model parameters set (e.g. soils) from the calibration exercise and this resulted in a model performance with an r = 0.57. The annual N(2)O fluxes (measured and modeled) were appreciably higher than those estimated using the IPCC emissions factor of 1.25%. In scenario analysis, the modeled N(2)O fluxes only increased/decreased on average +/-6% and +/-7% following a 50% increase/decrease of inorganic N and slurry N applications respectively. These modeled scenario % changes are much lower than the IPCC emission factor % changes of a 50% increase in N(2)O emissions for a 50% increase in nitrogen applied. An absolute change scenario (+/-50 kg) in inorganic N and slurry N resulted in greater change in N(2)O fluxes (+/-9% inorganic N and +/-17% slurry N) as compared to the relative change scenario (above). Furthermore, DNDC N(2)O flux estimates were not sensitive to changes in animal density (LU ha(-1)). The latter is a scenario limitation in the current model version. This study suggests that the calibration of soil parameters for Irish conditions is necessary for optimum simulation with DNDC and highlights the potential of management strategies for reducing N(2)O emissions from grazed grasslands. It further highlights the difference between DNDC and IPCC estimates that require further research. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

DNDC; Calibration; Validation; N input; Slurry application; Livestock unit

Published in

Atmospheric Environment
2011, Volume: 45, number: 33, pages: 6029-6039
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Peichl, Matthias

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University College Cork

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts


UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.07.046

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/57743