Emissions of N2O and NH3, and nitrogen leaching from direct seeded rice under different tillage practices in central China

Tillage practices affect the fate of fertilizer nitrogen (N) through influencing transformations of N, but few studies have examined N₂O and NH₃ emissions, and N leaching from different rice tillage systems. Thus the objective of this study was to assess N₂O emission, NH₃ volatilization and N leaching from direct seeded rice in conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) production systems in the subtropical region of China during the 2008 and 2009 rice growing seasons. Treatments were established following a split-plot design of a randomized complete block with tillage practices as the main plot and N fertilizer level as the sub-plot treatment, and there were four treatments: NT + no fertilizer (NT0), CT + no fertilizer (CT0), NT + compound fertilizer (NTC) and CT + compound fertilizer (CTC), respectively. Results showed that N fertilization significantly increased (p < 0.01) N₂O emissions, NH₃ volatilization and N leaching from rice fields in both years. In general, there was no significant difference in N₂O emissions and NH₃ volatilization between NT0 and CT0 in both years, while NTC had significantly higher (p < 0.05) N₂O emissions and NH₃ volatilization compared to CTC. Over the two rice growing seasons, NTC showed 32% and 47% higher N₂O emissions, and 29% and 52% higher NH₃ losses than CTC. Higher (p < 0.05) N₂O emissions from NTC than CTC were presumably due to higher soil organic C and greater denitrification. Total N and NO₃^? concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in CTC than NTC, but larger volumes of percolation water in NTC than CTC resulted in no significant difference in leakage of total N and NO₃^?. Hence, application of N fertilizer in combination with NT appeared to be ineffective in reducing N losses from N fertilizer in paddy fields.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from organic and conventional crop rotations in five European countries

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agriculture are currently estimated from N inputs using emission factors, and little is known about the importance of regional or management-related differences. This paper summarizes the results of a study in which N₂O emission rates were recorded on 15–26 occasions during a 12-month period in organic and conventional dairy crop rotations in five European countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, UK). A common methodology based on static chambers was used for N₂O flux measurements, and N₂O data were compiled together with information about N inputs (from fertilizers, N₂ fixation, atmospheric deposition and excretal returns), crop rotations and soil properties. Organic rotations received only manure as N fertilizer, while manure accounted for 0–100% of fertilizer N in conventional rotations. A linear regression model was used to examine effects of location, system and crop category on N₂O emissions, while a second model examined effects of soil properties. Nitrous oxide emissions were higher from conventional than from organic crop rotations except in Austria and, according to the statistical analysis, the differences between locations and crop categories were significant. Ammonium was significantly related to N₂O emissions, although this effect was dominated by observations from a grazing system. Despite the limited number of samplings, annual emissions were estimated by interpolation. Across the two systems and five locations there was a significant relationship between total N inputs and N₂O emissions at the crop rotation level which indicated that annually 1.6 ± 0.2% (mean ± standard error) of total N inputs were lost as N₂O, while there was a background emission of 1.4 ± 0.3 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Although this measurement program emphasized system effects at the expense of high temporal resolution, the results indicate that N input is a significant determinant for N₂O emissions from agricultural soils.     

Effects of irrigation,fertilization and crop straw management on nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emissions from a wheat–maize rotation field in northern China

One-year winter wheat–summer maize rotation is the most popular double cropping system in north-central China, and this highly productive system is an important source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions due to the high fertilizer N and irrigation water inputs. To sustain the high crop production and mitigate the detrimental impacts of N₂O and NO emissions, improved management practices are extensively applied. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the effects of an improved management practice of irrigation, fertilization and crop straw on grain yield and N₂O and NO emissions for a wheat–maize rotation field in northern China. Using automated and manual chamber measuring systems, we monitored N₂O and NO fluxes for the conventional (CT, 2007–2008), improved (IT, 2007–2008), straw-amended (WS, 2008–2009), straw-not-amended (NS, 2008–2009), and no N-fertilizer treatments (WS–NN, 2008–2009), respectively, for one rotation-year. The grain yields were determined for CT and IT for three rotation-years (2005–2008) and for WS, NS and WS–NN for one rotation-year (2008–2009). The improved management of irrigation and fertilization reduced the annual N fertilization rate and irrigation amount by 17% and 30%, respectively; increased the maize yield by 7–14%; and significantly decreased the N₂O and NO emissions by 7% (p < 0.05) and 29% (p < 0.01), respectively. The incorporation of wheat straw increased the cumulative N₂O and NO emissions in the following maize season by 58% (p < 0.01) and 13%, respectively, whereas the effects of maize straw application were not remarkable. The N₂O and NO emission factors of applied N were 2.32 ± 2.32% and 0.42 ± 1.69% for wheat straw and 0.67 ± 0.23% and 0.54 ± 0.15% for chemical N-fertilizers, respectively. Compared to conventional management practices using high application rates of irrigation water and chemical N-fertilizer as well as the field burning of crop straw, the improved management strategy presented here has obvious environmentally positive effects on grain yield and mitigation of N₂O and NO emissions.     

Effect of straw addition on nitrous oxide and methane emissions from stored farmyard manures

Stored solid manure heaps can be a significant source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions. The manure characteristics influence emissions and solid manure heaps can be managed to promote aerobic decomposition during storage. Increasing the carbon (C) content of the manure heap with high-C additives, such as straw, may provide the opportunity for N₂O and CH₄ emission reduction. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from conventionally produced farmyard manure (FYM) have been quantified, but there is little data on emissions from organically produced FYM. N₂O and CH₄ emissions were measured using a small-scale storage method from FYM collected from organic and conventional dairy units under a range of storage conditions with and without extra straw addition.The organic and the conventional FYM were similar in composition except for the higher C and dry matter content in the organic FYM and in the FYM with added straw. This resulted in mean total emissions of N₂O and CH₄ being lower from the organic (27 g N t⁻¹) than the conventional FYM (52 g N t⁻¹) and from the treatments with straw added (32 g N t⁻¹) than those without (47 g N t⁻¹). The initial C:N ratio and dry matter content of the stored FYM were the most important factors affecting N₂O and CH₄ emissions although the FYM temperature also affected CH₄ emissions. Adding high-C additives, such as straw could be a promising strategy for reducing GHG emissions because it influences the dry matter content, C:N ratio and aeration of the manure. The small-scale FYM storage method were shown to be a reliable and an easy method to quantify emissions under a range of environmental conditions and manure manipulations and so develop effective manure management practices to reduce GHG emissions.     

农田土壤N2O产生的关键微生物过程及减排措施

氧化亚氮(N2O)作为一种重要的温室气体,其全球排放总量仍然在持续上升.它不仅可以产生温室效应,还可以间接破坏臭氧层,使其在全球气候变化和生态环境变化研究中备受关注.土壤生态系统是大气中N2O的最重要排放源.本文详细论述了农田土壤中反硝化作用、硝化作用、硝化微生物的反硝化作用以及硝酸盐异化还原成铵作用等过程产生N2O的微生物学机制,并从土壤理化性质(土壤pH、氮素、有机质、土壤温度和湿度)和土壤生物等方面对农田土壤N2O排放的影响进行综述,在此基础上对农田土壤N2O的减排措施进行总结,并就今后农田土壤N2O排放的研究重点和方向进行了展望,为调控农田土壤温室气体排放、氮转化过程和提高氮素利用效率提供科学依据.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from a dung heap measured by chambers and plume methods

Dung heaps provide a large, spatial and temporal variable, source of the greenhouse gas N₂O. In this paper emission rates measured by static and flow through chamber methods, which enclose only a small area of the heap, were compared with Gaussian plume and tracer ratio methods, which measure the emissions from the entire dung heap. The dung heap was a 300 m³ heap, composed of material from nearby cattle sheds. From the flow through and static chambers it was estimated that the dung heap emitted 315 and 51 g N₂ON m⁻³ day⁻¹, respectively. The spatial variability between the chambers and chamber methods was large. Standard deviations of the mean fluxes were >75% of the average flux. The smaller emissions were measured on the slopes of the heap and the larger emissions on the ridge. The plume of N₂O was measured downwind of the dung heap by (1) tunable diode laser spectroscopy and calculation of the N₂O source strength of the heap using Gaussian plume theory and (2) tracer ratio method releasing SF₆ from the heap summit and capture in Tedlar bags downwind with subsequent analysis by gas chromatography. The Gaussian plume theory calculated an average N₂O source strength of 5.3 g N₂ON m⁻³ day⁻¹ (1.4–6.7 g N₂ON m⁻³ day⁻¹). The tracer ratio method calculated a slightly larger average emission rate of 14.4 g N₂ON m⁻³ day⁻¹ (7.4–38.6 g N₂ON m⁻³ day⁻¹). Both methods were successfully validated by point release of SF₆ and N₂O, which suggests that the micrometeorological methods provided a good estimate of the source strength of the heap, whereas the few chamber measurements overestimated its source strength.     

Biochar addition to agricultural soil increased CH4 uptake and water holding capacity – Results from a short-term pilot field study

Biochar addition to agricultural soil has been suggested to mitigate climate change through increased biogenic carbon storage and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We measured the fluxes of N₂O, CO₂, and CH₄ after adding 9 t ha^?1 biochar on an agricultural soil in Southern Finland in May 2009. We conducted these measurements twice a week for 1.5 months, between sowing and canopy closure, to capture the period of highest N₂O emissions, where the potential for mitigation would also be highest. Biochar addition increased CH₄ uptake (96% increase in the average cumulative CH₄ uptake), but no statistically significant differences were observed in the CO₂ and N₂O emissions between the biochar amended and control plots. Added biochar increased soil water holding capacity by 11%. Further studies are needed to clarify whether this may help balance fluctuations in water availability to plants in the future climate with more frequent drought periods.     

Disaggregated greenhouse gas emission inventories from agriculture via a coupled economic-ecosystem model

Estimates of regional greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems are needed to evaluate possible mitigation strategies with respect to environmental effectiveness and economic feasibility. Therefore, in this study, we used the GIS-coupled economic-ecosystem model EFEM–DNDC to assess disaggregated regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from typical livestock and crop production systems in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, Southwest Germany. EFEM is an economic farm production model based on linear programming of typical agricultural production systems and simulates all relevant farm management processes and GHG emissions. DNDC is a process-oriented ecosystem model that describes the complete biogeochemical C and N cycle of agricultural soils, including all trace gases.Direct soil emissions were mainly related to N₂O, whereas CH₄ uptake had marginal influence (net soil C uptake or release was not considered). The simulated N₂O emissions appeared to be highly correlated to N fertilizer application (R² = 0.79). The emission factor for Baden-Württemberg was 0.97% of the applied N after excluding background emissions.Analysis of the production systems showed that total GHG emissions from crop based production systems were considerably lower (2.6–3.4 Mg CO₂ eq ha⁻¹) than from livestock based systems (5.2–5.3 Mg CO₂ eq ha⁻¹). Average production system GHG emissions for Baden-Württemberg were 4.5 Mg CO₂ eq ha⁻¹. Of the total 38% were derived from N₂O (direct and indirect soil emissions, and manure storage), 40% were from CH₄ (enteric fermentation and manure storage), and 22% were from CO₂ (mainly fertilizer production, gasoline, heating, and additional feed). The stocking rate was highly correlated (R² = 0.85) to the total production system GHG emissions and appears to be a useful indicator of regional emission levels.     

Ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions following land application of high and low nitrogen pig manures to winter wheat at three growth stages

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) and ammonia (NH₃) emissions from surface applied high (HN) and low (LN) nitrogen pig manures were measured under field conditions. Manures were band-spread to a winter wheat crop at three growth stages—mid-tillering, stem elongation and flag leaf emergence. The N₂O flux rates were measured using the static chamber technique while NH₃ volatilisation was assessed using a micrometeorological mass balance technique with passive flux samplers. The N₂O emissions were episodic in nature with flux rates observed ranging from 2.8 to 31.5 g N₂O–N ha^?1 day^?1 (P < 0.001). Higher N₂O emissions generally occurred after rainfall events. Highest N₂O losses were observed from the HN treatment with LN manure use decreasing emissions by 18% (P < 0.03). The NH₃ volatilisation rates were highest within 1 h of manure application with 95% of emissions occurring within 24 h (P < 0.001). Cumulative N loss was highest at mid-tillering as low crop canopy cover and increased wind-speeds enhanced NH₃ loss (P < 0.001). Highest emissions were measured from the HN manure (P < 0.03). Total ammoniacal N loss ranged from 6 to 11%. Crop N uptake and grain yield were unaffected by application timing or manure type. Therefore, the use of LN manures decreased gaseous emissions of N₂O and NH₃ without any adverse effects on crop performance.     

Dairy farm CH4 and N2O emissions,from one square metre to the full farm scale

The greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems contribute significantly to the national budgets for most countries in Europe. Measurement techniques that can identify and quantify emissions are essential in order to improve the selection process of emission reduction options and to enable quantification of the effect of such options. Fast box emission measurements and mobile plume measurements were used to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from farm sites. The box measurement technique was used to evaluate emissions from farmyard manure and several other potential source areas within the farm. Significant (up to 250 g CH₄ m⁻² day⁻¹and 0.4 g N₂O m⁻² day⁻¹) emissions from ditches close to stables on the farm site were found.Plume emission measurements from individual manure storages were performed at three sites. For a manure storage with 1200 m³ dairy slurry in Wageningen emission factors of 11 ± 5 g CH₄ m⁻³ manure day⁻¹ and 14 ± 8 mg N₂O m⁻³ manure day⁻¹ were obtained in February 2002.Mobile plume measurements were carried out during 4 days at distances between 30 and 300 m downwind of 20 different farms. Total farm emissions levels ranged from 14 to 95 kg CH₄ day⁻¹ for these sites. Expressed as emission per animal the levels were 0.7 ± 0.4 kg CH₄ animal⁻¹ day⁻¹ for conventional farms. For three farms that used straw bedding for the animals1.4 ± 0.2 kg CH₄ animal⁻¹ day⁻¹ was obtained. These factors include both respired methane and emission from manure in the stable and the outside storages.For a subset of these farms the CH₄ emission was compared with monthly averaged model emission calculations using FarmGHG. This model calculates imports, exports and flows of all products through the internal chains on the farm using daily time steps. The fit of modelled versus measured data has a slope of 0.97 but r² = 0.27. Measurements and model emission estimates agree well on average, for large farms within 30%. For small farms the differences can be up to a factor of 3. CH₄ emissions during winter seem to be underestimated.     

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from an integrated rainfed rice–fish farming system of Eastern India

Integration of fish stocking with rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation promises an ecologically sound and environmentally viable management of flooded ecosystem. Rice agriculture contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases CH₄ and N₂O, but little is known on the effect of fish rearing in fields planted to rice on the emission of these two greenhouse gases. In a field study, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were measured from a sub-humid tropical rice field of Cuttack, eastern India, as affected by integrated rice–fish farming under rainfed lowland conditions. Three Indian major carps, Catla catla H., Labeo rohita H. and Cirrhinus mrigala H., and Puntius gonionotus B. were stocked in rice fields planted to two rice cultivars in a split-plot design with no fish and fish as the main treatments and two rice varieties as sub-treatments with three replicates each. Fish rearing increased CH₄ emission from field plots planted to both the rice cultivars with 112% increase in CH₄ emission in cv. Varshadhan and 74% in case of cv. Durga. On the contrary, fish stocking reduced N₂O emission from field plots planted to both the rice varieties. Movement of fish and associated bioturbation coupled with higher dissolved organic-C and CH₄ contents, and lower dissolved oxygen could be the reasons for release of larger quantities of CH₄ from rice + fish plots, while higher dissolved oxygen content might have influenced release of more N₂O from the rice alone treatment. The total greenhouse gas emission, expressed as CO₂ equivalent global warming potential (GWP), was considerably higher from rice + fish plots with CH₄ contributing a larger share (91%) as compared to rice alone plots (78–81%). On the contrary, N₂O had a comparatively lesser contribution with 19–22% share in rice alone plots that was further reduced to 9% in rice + fish plots. However, considering the profit-loss analysis based on the market price of the produce, rice–fish system provided a net profit of $453.36 ha^?1 over rice alone system in spite of higher carbon credit compliance of a rice–fish ecosystem due to larger cumulative GWP.     

Methane,nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions during storage and after application of dairy cattle slurry and influence of slurry treatment

Slurries are a significant source of CH₄, NH₃ and N₂O emissions to the atmosphere. The research project aimed at quantifying CH₄, NH₃ and N₂O emissions from liquid manure stores and after manure application under field conditions. The influence of the manure treatment options “no treatment”, “slurry separation”, “anaerobic digestion”, “slurry aeration” and “straw cover” on the emission level was investigated. Approximately 10 m³ of differently treated slurry were stored in pilot scale slurry tanks. Emissions were followed for c. 80 days. After the storage period, slurries were applied to permanent grassland. Greenhouse gas emissions from slurry were mainly caused by methane emissions during storage and by nitrous oxide emissions after field application of manures. Mitigation of GHG emissions can be achieved by a reduction in slurry dry matter and easily degradable organic matter content. Ammonia emissions mainly occurred after field application. Untreated slurry emitted 226.8 g NH₃ m⁻³ and 92.4 kg CO₂ eq. m⁻³ (storage and field application). Slurry separation (liquid fraction and composting of the solid fraction) resulted in NH₃ losses of 402.9 g m⁻³ and GHG losses of 58.5 kg CO₂ eq. m⁻³. Anaerobic digestion was a very effective means to reduce GHG emissions. 37.9 kg CO₂ eq. m⁻³ were lost. NH₃ emissions were similar to those from untreated slurry. Covering the slurry store with a layer of chopped straw instead of a wooden cover increased NH₃ emissions to 320.4 g m⁻³ and GHG emissions to 119.7 kg CO₂ eq. m⁻³. Slurry aeration nearly doubled NH₃ emissions compared to untreated slurry. GHG emissions were reduced to 53.3 kg CO₂ eq. m⁻³.     

Sources of nitrous and nitric oxides in paddy soils：Nitrification and denitrification

Rice-paddies are regarded as one of the main agricultural sources of N 2O and NO emissions. To date, however, specific N2O and NO production pathways are poorly understood in paddy soils. ^15N-tracing experiments were carded out to investigate the processes responsible for N2O and NO production in two paddy soils with substantially different soil properties. Laboratory incubation experiments were carried out under aerobic conditions at moisture contents corresponding to 60% of water holding capacity. The relative importance of nitrification and denitrification to the flux of NaO was quantified by periodically measuring and comparing the enrichments of the N2O, NH~-N and NO3-N pools. The results showed that both N2O and NO emission rates in an alkaline paddy soil with clayey texture were substantially higher than those in a neutral paddy soil with silty loamy texture. In accordance with most published results, the ammonium N pool was the main source of N2O emission across the soil profiles of the two paddy soils, being responsible for 59.7% to 97.7% of total N2O emissions. The NO3-N pool of N2O emission was relatively less important under the given aerobic conditions. The rates of N2O emission from nitrification （N2On） among different soil layers were significantly different, which could be attributed to both the differences in gross N nitrification rates and to the ratios of nitrified N emitted as NzO among soil layers. Furthermore, NO fluxes were positively correlated with the changes in gross nitrification rates and the ratios of NO/N2O in the two paddy soils were always greater than one （from 1.26 to 6.47）. We therefore deduce that, similar to N2O, nitrification was also the dominant source of NO in the tested paddy soils at water contents below 60% water holding capacity.     

Differences in nitrous oxide fluxes from red soil under different land uses in mid-subtropical China

Red soil may play an important role in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions due to its recent land use change pattern. To predict the land use change effect on N₂O emissions, we examined the relationship between soil N₂O flux and environmental determinants in four different types of land uses in subtropical red soil. During two years of study (January 2005-January 2007), biweekly N₂O fluxes were measured from 09:00 to 11:00 a.m. using static closed chamber method. Objectives were to estimate the seasonal and annual N₂O flux differences from land use change and, reveal the controlling factors of soil N₂O emission by studying the relationship of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water filled pore space (WFPS) and soil temperature with soil N₂O flux. Nitrous oxide fluxes were significantly higher in hot-humid season than in the cool-dry season. Significant differences in soil N₂O fluxes were observed among four land uses; 2.9, 1.9 and 1.7 times increased N₂O emissions were observed after conventional land use conversion from woodland to paddy, orchard and upland, respectively. The mean annual budgets of N₂O emission were 0.71-2.21 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from four land use types. The differences were partly attributed to increased fertilizer use in agriculture land uses. In all land uses, N₂O fluxes were positively related to soil temperature and DOC accounting for 22-48% and 30-46% of the seasonal N₂O flux variability, respectively. Nitrous oxide fluxes did significantly correlate with WFPS in orchard and upland only. Nitrous oxide fluxes responded positively to MBC in all land use types except orchard which had the lowest WFPS. We conclude that (1) land use conversion from woodland to agriculture land uses leads to increased soil N₂O fluxes, partly due increased fertilizer use, and (2) irrespective of land use, soil N₂O fluxes are under environmental controls, the main variables being soil temperature and DOC, both of which control the supply of nitrification and denitrification substrates.     

Restricted autumn grazing to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from dairy pastures in Southland,New Zealand

Animal excreta deposited on pasture during grazing represent the single largest source of N₂O emissions in New Zealand. These emissions are highest when pastures are grazed during the wet autumn/winter season. The strategic use of a feed pad on dairy farms could restrict the amount of excreta N returned to pasture during this time of year, and thus reduce N₂O emissions and other environmental losses. The effect of restricting autumn grazing to 3 h per day on N₂O emissions and NO₃ leaching losses was measured in a 3-year field study. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured weekly between April and September using a soil cover methodology. Nitrate leaching losses were measured from the NO₃ concentration of drainage water that was collected from the hydrologically isolated and artificially drained field plots. Restricted autumn grazing reduced both N₂O emissions and NO₃ leaching losses from grazed pasture by about 40%. The effect of this grazing regime on total on-farm N₂O emissions was estimated using the field measurements and the New Zealand IPCC inventory methodology. These calculations indicated that restricted autumn grazing could reduce direct and indirect on-farm N₂O emissions by 7–11%, and could thus be an effective tool for reducing N₂O emissions, while also reducing NO₃ leaching losses, and preventing soil and sward damage. The study further highlighted that the currently used IPCC inventory methodology cannot easily account for reductions in national N₂O emission following adoption of N₂O mitigation strategies. It also reinforced the need for assessing the impact of mitigation strategies at a whole farm level.     

流量分配对短程生物脱氮过程中N2O产生的影响

利用SBR反应器,通过在线pH曲线控制好氧-缺氧反应时间,成功实现了短程生物脱氮,并考察了分段进水条件下流量分配对SBR反应器运行性能及N2O产量的影响.结果表明,与原水分2次在不同阶段等量加入反应器的二段进水方式相比,原水分3次等量进入反应器的三段进水方式能够有效降低脱氮过程中外碳源投加量和氧化亚氮产量;氧化亚氮主要产生于硝化过程,反硝化过程能够将硝化阶段积累的N2O还原至N2.2次、3次等量进水条件下,生物短程脱氮过程中乙醇投加量分别为0.8和0.6 mL,N2O释放量分别为8.86和5.05 mg·L-1(以N计).硝化过程中NO-2-N的积累是导致系统N2O产生的主要原因.     

Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from European conventional and organic dairy farms

Agriculture is an important contributor to global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), in particular for methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Emissions from farms with a stock of ruminant animals are particularly high due to CH₄ emissions from enteric fermentation and manure handling, and due to the intensive nitrogen (N) cycle on such farms leading to direct and indirect N₂O emissions. The whole-farm model, FarmGHG, was designed to quantify the flows of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) on dairy farms. The aim of the model was to allow quantification of effects of management practices and mitigation options on GHG emissions. The model provides assessments of emissions from both the production unit and the pre-chains. However, the model does not quantify changes in soil C storage.Model dairy farms were defined within five European agro-ecological zones for both organic and conventional systems. The model farms were all defined to have the same utilised agricultural area (50 ha). Cows on conventional and organic model farms were defined to achieve the same milk yield, so the basic difference between conventional and organic farms was expressed in the livestock density. The organic farms were defined to be 100% self-sufficient with respect to feed. The conventional farms, on the other hand, import concentrates as supplementary feed and their livestock density was defined to be 75% higher than the organic farm density. Regional differences between farms were expressed in the milk yield, the crop rotations, and the cow housing system and manure management method most common to each region.The model results showed that the emissions at farm level could be related to either the farm N surplus or the farm N efficiency. The farm N surplus appeared to be a good proxy for GHG emissions per unit of land area. The GHG emissions increased from 3.0 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ at a N surplus of 56 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ to 15.9 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ at a N surplus of 319 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The farm N surplus can relatively easily be determined on practical farms from the farm records of imports and exports and the composition of the crop rotation. The GHG emissions per product unit (milk or metabolic energy) were quite closely related to the farm N efficiency, and a doubling of the N efficiency from 12.5 to 25% reduced the emissions per product unit by ca. 50%. The farm N efficiency may therefore be used as a proxy for comparing the efficiencies of farms with respect to supplying products with a low GHG emission.     

N2O emission from nitrogen removal via nitrite in oxic-anoxic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor

Bionitrification is considered to be a potential source of nitrous oxide （N2O） emissions, which are produced as a by-product during the nitrogen removal process. To investigate the production of N2O during the process of nitrogen removal via nitrite, a granular sludge was studied using a labscale sequence batch reactor operated with real-time control. The total production of N2O generated during the nitrification and denitrification processes were 1.724 mg/L and 0.125 mg/L, respectively, demonstrating that N2O is produced during both processes, with the nitrification phase generating larger amount. In addition, due to the NEO-N mass/oxidized ammonia mass ratio, it can be concluded that nitrite accumulation has a positive influence on N2O emissions. Results obtained from PCRDGGE analysis demonstrate that a specific Nitrosomonas microorganism is related to N2O emission.     

Aerobic N2O emission for activated sludge acclimated under different aeration rates in the multiple anoxic and aerobic process

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas that can be emitted during biological nitrogen removal. N₂O emission was examined in a multiple anoxic and aerobic process at the aeration rates of 600 mL/min sequencing batch reactor (SBR_L) and 1200 mL/min (SBR_H). The nitrogen removal percentage was 89% in SBR_L and 71% in SBR_H, respectively. N₂O emission mainly occurred during the aerobic phase, and the N₂O emission factor was 10.1% in SBR_L and 2.3% in SBR_H, respectively. In all batch experiments, the N₂O emission potential was high in SBR_L compared with SBR_H. In SBR_L, with increasing aeration rates, the N₂O emission factor decreased during nitrification, while it increased during denitrification and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). By contrast, in SBR_H the N₂O emission factor during nitrification, denitrification and SND was relatively low and changed little with increasing aeration rates. The microbial competition affected the N₂O emission during biological nitrogen removal.     

Carbon footprint of sugar produced from sugarcane in eastern Thailand

Carbon footprint (CFP) of sugar produced from sugarcane in eastern Thailand was estimated from greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) during the sugarcane cultivation and milling process. The use of fossil fuels, chemical and organic fertilizer and sugarcane biomass data during cultivation were collected from field surveys, questionnaires and interviews. Sugar mill emissions, fossil fuel utilization and greenhouse gas emission from wastewater treatments were included. The results show that sugar production has a carbon footprint of 0.55 kg CO₂e kg^?1 sugar. This carbon footprint was a sum of 0.49 kg CO₂e kg^?1 sugar from sugarcane cultivation and 0.06 kg CO₂e kg^?1 sugar from the milling process. For the cultivation part, most of the GHGs emissions were from fertilizer, fossil fuel use and biomass burning. The CFP in eastern Thailand is sensitive to the type of data selected for calculation and of variations of farm inputs during sugarcane cultivation. There was no significant difference of CFP among farm sizes, although small farms tended to give a relatively higher CFP than that of medium and large farms.