黄河流域农业生产活性氮排放及减排对策

人口增长和城市化进程促使粮食和肉禽奶类食品需求不断增加,由此带来的农业生产活性氮(Nr)大量排放对生态环境及人类健康的影响日益加剧。黄河流域作为中国的粮食主产区,农业生产活动强度高,为研究其Nr排放规律,采用排放因子法估算2000、2005及2010年黄河流域内9省(区)农业生产不同形态Nr的排放源。结果表明：(1)黄河流域9省(区)中,农业生产Nr排放量最大的为河南省,最小的为四川省,河南省Nr排放量是四川的8倍。(2)4种形态Nr排放量从大到小依次为Nr-wp(排放到水体的Nr)、NH₃、N₂O和NO_x。化学氮肥施用和畜禽散养是NH₃排放的最主要贡献源,其次是规模化养殖和放牧饲养,四者贡献率达85%以上。农田作物系统径流、淋洗以及畜禽养殖流失淋洗对Nr-wp排放的贡献率各占1/3左右。四季非蔬菜旱地和畜禽养殖是N₂O排放的主要来源,其贡献率之和大于66%。(3)黄河流域内9省(区)单位农业GDP、单位耕地面积、单位农村人口Nr排放强度最大的均为青海省,单位农业GDP和单位农...     

江西省森林净初级生产力动态变化特征及其驱动因子分析

亚热带森林生态系统具有巨大的固碳潜力。净初级生产力(NPP)在碳循环过程中具有重要的作用, 受到气候变化、大气成分、森林扰动的强度和频度、林龄等因子的综合影响, 然而目前上述各因子对亚热带森林NPP变化的贡献尚不明确, 需要鉴别森林NPP时空变化的主要驱动因子, 以准确认识亚热带森林生态系统碳循环。该文综合气象数据、年最大叶面积指数(LAI)、参考年NPP (BEPS模型模拟)、林龄、森林类型、土地覆盖、数字高程模型(DEM)、土壤质地、CO₂浓度、氮沉降等多源数据, 利用InTEC模型(Integrated Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon-budget Model)研究亚热带典型地区江西省森林生态系统1901-2010年NPP时空动态变化特征, 通过模拟情景设计, 着重讨论1970-2010年气候变化、林龄、CO₂浓度和氮沉降对森林NPP动态变化的影响。研究结果如下: (1) InTEC模型能较好地模拟研究区NPP的时空变化; (2)江西省森林NPP 1901-2010年为(47.7 ± 4.2) Tg C·a^-1 (平均值±标准偏差), 其中20世纪70年代、80年代、90年代分别为50.7、48.8、45.4 Tg C·a^-1, 2000-2009年平均为55.2 Tg C·a^-1; 随着森林干扰后的恢复再生长, 江西省森林NPP显著上升, 2000-2009年NPP增加的森林面积占森林总面积的60%; (3) 1970-2010年, 仅考虑森林干扰因子和仅考虑非干扰因子(气候、氮沉降、CO₂浓度)情景下NPP分别为43.1和53.9 Tg C·a^-1, 比综合考虑干扰因子和非干扰因子作用下的NPP分别低估7.3 Tg C·a^-1 (低估的NPP与综合考虑干扰因子和非干扰因子作用下NPP的比值为14.5%,下同)和高估3.6 Tg C·a^-1 (7.1%); 气候因子导致平均NPP减少2.0 Tg C·a^-1 (4.7%), 氮沉降导致平均NPP增加4.5 Tg C·a^-1 (10.4%), CO₂浓度变化及耦合效应(氮沉降+ CO₂浓度变化)分别导致平均NPP增加4.4 Tg C·a^-1 (10.3%)和9.4 Tg C·a^-1 (21.8%)。     

三江平原小叶章湿地温室气体排放及其对模拟氮沉降的响应

利用黑龙江省科学院自然与生态研究所三江平原湿地生态定位研究站内的长期模拟氮沉降试验平台,采用静态箱-气相色谱法,设置低氮(40 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)和高氮(80 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)处理,以及对照(0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1),测定小叶章湿地温室气体排放通量及其相关环境因子,研究三江平原小叶章湿地温室气体排放对氮沉降的响应.结果表明: 低氮和高氮输入均显著增加了温室气体的排放通量,低氮和高氮处理使CO₂排放通量增加47.5%和47.9%,CH₄排放通量增加76.8%和110.1%,N₂O排放通量增加42.4%和10.6%.低氮输入改变了N₂O排放的季节动态,但对CO₂和CH₄排放的季节动态没有显著影响,高氮处理对3种气体排放的季节动态均未造成影响.CO₂排放通量和CH₄排放通量均与土壤温度呈显著正相关,而影响N₂O排放的因素较为复杂,未与土壤温度出现显著的相关关系.     

1950—2008年江西省森林火灾的碳损失估算

1950—2008年间江西省年均发生森林火灾762次、年均过火面积1.578×10.4 hm².本文利用江西省森林火灾统计数据,结合气象、森林分布和历次森林清查数据,分析了该省林火的特征,估算历年的林火碳释放量和碳转移量.结果表明： 1950—2008年江西省森林火灾导致的森林生物量总损失约61.155 Tg,活生物量碳库损失约30.993 Tg C,占全省植被碳库的15.92%.20世纪70年代以前林火生物量碳损失率约占1950—2008年生物量总碳损失的74.3%;90年代以后,年均林火生物量碳损失小于0.097 Tg C.森林火灾释放的CO₂、CH₄和CO气体分别为5.408 Tg、0.047 Tg和0.486 Tg,有22.436 Tg C活生物量碳进入土壤碳库.2008年初雨雪冰冻灾害引发的高频率次生林火灾害导致森林活生物量碳损失(0.463 Tg C)是前5年平均值(0.181 Tg C)的2.56倍.     

基于终端消费的云南省碳排放总量测算及驱动因素实证研究

在终端能源消费CO₂ 排放总量测算中, 二次能源(电力、热力)通常不被列入计算, 这种测算结果无法准确测算出CO₂ 排放总量, 更会影响减排相应措施的制定。根据生产和生活部门终端一次能源和二次能源消费量, 构建了17种(含电力、热力)能源的碳排放总量测算模型, 全面测算云南省2000-2014 年CO₂ 排放量。选取LMDI 1 分解法, 将CO₂ 排放量分解为生产部门5 类因素、生活部门6 类因素。结果表明: ①2000-2014 年, 云南省终端能源消费CO₂ 排放总量从5744.15 万吨增长到18952.46 万吨; 其中, 生产部门CO₂ 排放量约占总排放量91.2%, 为碳排放主要来源。②能源强度是生产与生活部门最主要的驱动因素, 其累计贡献度为–92.64%和–94.78%, 其次为生产部门的产业结构效应以及生产与生活部门的能源结构效应, 累计贡献度分别为–33.55%、–17.65%和–17.18%。③GDP 和人均收入分别以累计贡献度245.28%和194.54%成为生产与生活部门最大的碳排放增长驱动因素。     

节水轻简栽培模式下增密减氮对双季稻田温室气体排放的影响

为了明确节水轻简栽培模式下增密减氮对双季稻田温室气体排放的影响,以陆两优996(早稻)和丰源优299(晚稻)为材料,使用密闭静态箱法收集温室气体,监测早晚稻不同增密减氮组合CH₄和N₂O的排放动态,探讨不同增密减氮措施对早晚稻田CH₄和N₂O的累积排放量、全球增温潜势(GWP)、排放强度(GHGI)的影响。结果表明: 不同增密减氮组合间的CH₄、N₂O累积排放量差异显著。与对照(CK)相比,增密减氮组合IR₂(早稻施氮量为86.4 kg·hm^-2,密度为36万穴·hm^-2;晚稻施氮量为108 kg·hm^-2,密度为32万穴·hm^-2)的CH₄累积排放量、GWP、GHGI两季平均分别降低了50.8%、37.3%、42.9%;早稻IR₂的N₂O累积排放量最低,降低了33.7%,晚稻以IR₁(早稻施氮量为103.2 kg·hm^-2,密度为32万穴·hm^-2;晚稻施氮量为129 kg·hm^-2,密度为28万穴·hm^-2)的N₂O累积排放量最低,降低了94.9%;稻田周年温室效应(总GWP、GHGI)仍以IR₂最低。与其他增密减氮处理相比,早晚氮肥均减少28.0%、早稻密度增加28.6%、晚稻密度增加33.3%(IR₂)既可保证高产,又可减少温室气体排放。     

CO2浓度升高和施氮条件下小麦根际呼吸对土壤呼吸的贡献

依托FACE技术平台, 采用稳定¹³C同位素技术, 通过将小麦(C₃作物)种植于长期单作玉米(C₄作物)的土壤上, 研究了大气CO₂浓度升高和不同氮肥水平对土壤排放CO₂的δ¹³C值及根际呼吸的影响. 结果表明: 种植小麦后土壤排放CO₂的δ¹³C值随作物生长逐渐降低, CO₂浓度升高200 μmol·mol^-1显著降低了孕穗、抽穗期(施氮量为250 kg·hm^-2, HN)与拔节、孕穗期(施氮量为150 kg·hm^-2, LN)土壤排放CO₂的δ¹³C值, 显著提高了孕穗、抽穗期的根际呼吸比例. 拔节至成熟期, 根际呼吸占土壤呼吸的比例在高CO₂浓度下为24%～48%(HN)和21%～48%(LN), 在正常CO₂浓度下为20%～36% (HN)和19%～32%(LN). 不同CO₂浓度下土壤排放CO₂的δ¹³C值和根际呼吸对氮肥增加的响应不同, CO₂浓度与氮肥用量在拔节期对根际呼吸的交互效应显著.     

城乡居民食物氮足迹估算及其动态分析——以北京市为例

氮足迹作为一种评价氮排放影响的新兴测度方法,已被用来衡量人类活动造成的环境影响。食物消费是城市营养元素流动的重要环节,其产生的氮足迹反映了维持一个城市人口的基本食物需求所导致的活性氮排放以及对周边环境的影响。以北京市为例,基于N-Calculator模型的基础上,估算了1980—2012年居民食物氮足迹,分析其变化特点及其与经济社会因素之间的关系。结果表明:北京市居民人均食物氮足迹变化与食物消费量变化趋势相似,城镇居民氮足迹呈持续增长后渐趋平稳,在14.69—22.58 kg(N)/a之间波动,平均为17.78 kg(N)/a,接近发达国家水平;农村居民氮足迹呈小幅减少趋势,在10.81—15.28kg(N)/a之间波动,平均为12.72 kg(N)/a。其中,高氮含量食物在城乡居民人均食物氮足迹中所占比例都有所增加,以肉类为主的荤食比例分别由27%和10%上升至41%和31%;以奶类为主的副食比例由7%和1%上升至18%和13%。城镇居民食物氮足迹与人均可支配收入呈正相关,与恩格尔系数和平均家庭人口数呈负相关,而农村居民食物氮足迹与各因子的相关关系则与前者相反。此外,北京市食物氮足迹总体呈增长趋势,年均增加约8066 t(N)/a。城镇居民当前的饮食消费模式不利于减缓北京区域食物氮足迹高通量的剧增趋势,更多的农村及外来人口进入城镇将加速区域氮足迹增长。食物氮足迹的估算能为居民改变高氮消费模式提供参考,进而促进城市的低氮发展。     

加气灌溉对不同施氮水平的设施甜瓜土壤CO2和N2O排放的影响

为探讨不同加气灌溉施氮模式下设施甜瓜土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的动态变化规律及其与土壤温度、湿度的关系,本研究采用密闭静态箱-气相色谱法对加气灌溉不同施氮水平下土壤CO₂和N₂O排放进行监测,并分析了加气灌溉对不同施氮量下土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的影响.试验采用加气灌溉(AI)和不加气灌溉(CK)两种灌溉方式,施氮量设不施氮(N₁)、传统施氮量的2/3(150 kg·hm^-2,N₂)和传统施氮量(225 kg·hm^-2,N₃)3个施氮水平.结果表明:加气灌溉土壤CO₂和N₂O排放量高于不加气灌溉处理,但是差异不显著;相同灌溉模式下,CO₂和N₂O排放量随施氮量的增加而显著增加,施氮量是土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的主要影响因素.加气灌溉条件下,不同施氮处理N₂O排放通量与土壤温度和湿度呈显著正相关,CO₂排放通量与土壤温度呈显著正相关.加气减氮处理在氮肥减少1/3的情况下,甜瓜产量提高了6.9%,温室气体排放引起的增温潜势值从9544.82 kg·hm^-2下降到9340.72 kg·hm^-2.综上,通过加气灌溉减少氮肥施用量来抑制农业生产系统中温室气体排放是可行的.     

加气灌溉对不同施氮水平的设施甜瓜土壤CO2和N2O排放的影响

为探讨不同加气灌溉施氮模式下设施甜瓜土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的动态变化规律及其与土壤温度、湿度的关系,本研究采用密闭静态箱-气相色谱法对加气灌溉不同施氮水平下土壤CO₂和N₂O排放进行监测,并分析了加气灌溉对不同施氮量下土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的影响.试验采用加气灌溉(AI)和不加气灌溉(CK)两种灌溉方式,施氮量设不施氮(N₁)、传统施氮量的2/3(150 kg·hm^-2,N₂)和传统施氮量(225 kg·hm^-2,N₃)3个施氮水平.结果表明:加气灌溉土壤CO₂和N₂O排放量高于不加气灌溉处理,但是差异不显著;相同灌溉模式下,CO₂和N₂O排放量随施氮量的增加而显著增加,施氮量是土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的主要影响因素.加气灌溉条件下,不同施氮处理N₂O排放通量与土壤温度和湿度呈显著正相关,CO₂排放通量与土壤温度呈显著正相关.加气减氮处理在氮肥减少1/3的情况下,甜瓜产量提高了6.9%,温室气体排放引起的增温潜势值从9544.82 kg·hm^-2下降到9340.72 kg·hm^-2.综上,通过加气灌溉减少氮肥施用量来抑制农业生产系统中温室气体排放是可行的.     

Intentional versus unintentional nitrogen use in the United States: trends, efficiency and implications

Human actions have both intentionally and unintentionally altered the global economy of nitrogen (N), with both positive and negative consequences for human health and welfare, the environment and climate change. Here we examine long-term trends in reactive N (Nr) creation and efficiencies of Nr use within the continental US. We estimate that human actions in the US have increased Nr inputs by at least ~5 times compared to pre-industrial conditions. Whereas N₂ fixation as a by-product of fossil fuel combustion accounted for ~1/4 of Nr inputs from the 1970s to 2000 (or ~7 Tg N year^?1), this value has dropped substantially since then (to <5 Tg N year^?1), owing to Clean Air Act amendments. As of 2007, national N use efficiency (NUE) of all combined N inputs was equal to ~40 %. This value increases to 55 % when considering intentional N inputs alone, with food, industrial goods, fuel and fiber production accounting for the largest Nr sinks, respectively. We estimate that 66 % of the N lost during the production of goods and services enters the air (as NO _x , NH₃, N₂O and N₂), with the remaining 34 % lost to various waterways. These Nr losses contribute to smog formation, acid rain, eutrophication, biodiversity declines and climate change. Hence we argue that an improved national NUE would: (i) benefit the US economy on the production side; (ii) reduce social damage costs; and (iii) help avoid some major climate change risks in the future.     

Global soil nitrous oxide emissions since the preindustrial era estimated by an ensemble of terrestrial biosphere models: Magnitude,attribution, and uncertainty

Our understanding and quantification of global soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and the underlying processes remain largely uncertain. Here, we assessed the effects of multiple anthropogenic and natural factors, including nitrogen fertilizer (N) application, atmospheric N deposition, manure N application, land cover change, climate change, and rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration, on global soil N₂O emissions for the period 1861–2016 using a standard simulation protocol with seven process‐based terrestrial biosphere models. Results suggest global soil N₂O emissions have increased from 6.3 ± 1.1 Tg N₂O‐N/year in the preindustrial period (the 1860s) to 10.0 ± 2.0 Tg N₂O‐N/year in the recent decade (2007–2016). Cropland soil emissions increased from 0.3 Tg N₂O‐N/year to 3.3 Tg N₂O‐N/year over the same period, accounting for 82% of the total increase. Regionally, China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia underwent rapid increases in cropland N₂O emissions since the 1970s. However, US cropland N₂O emissions had been relatively flat in magnitude since the 1980s, and EU cropland N₂O emissions appear to have decreased by 14%. Soil N₂O emissions from predominantly natural ecosystems accounted for 67% of the global soil emissions in the recent decade but showed only a relatively small increase of 0.7 ± 0.5 Tg N₂O‐N/year (11%) since the 1860s. In the recent decade, N fertilizer application, N deposition, manure N application, and climate change contributed 54%, 26%, 15%, and 24%, respectively, to the total increase. Rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration reduced soil N₂O emissions by 10% through the enhanced plant N uptake, while land cover change played a minor role. Our estimation here does not account for indirect emissions from soils and the directed emissions from excreta of grazing livestock. To address uncertainties in estimating regional and global soil N₂O emissions, this study recommends several critical strategies for improving the process‐based simulations.     

我国农村居民生活能源碳排放的时空特征分析

随着生活质量的提高,我国农村居民生活能源消费呈现大幅增长的趋势,成为碳排放增长的新源泉。估算了我国30个省区2001—2013年的农村居民生活能源碳排放,采用碳基尼系数、Arc GIS技术分析了中国省级尺度农村居民生活能源碳排放的时空特征,并利用STIRPAT模型辨明了农村居民生活能源碳排放的主要影响因素。结果表明:(1)2001—2013年农村居民直接生活能源碳排放量和间接生活能源碳排放量分别增长了7.65%、9.16%。(2)东部、中部、西部地区的碳基尼系数呈下降趋势,说明各区域农村居民人均生活能源碳排放量的区域差异总体均呈缩小趋势。(3)2001—2013年间,处于我国农村居民人均直接生活能源碳排放高水平地区的空间格局分布相对较为稳定,而对于人均间接生活能源碳排放来说,处于低水平地区的空间格局分布较为稳定。(4)农村人口规模、农民人均纯收入、农村居民生活消费支出、青壮年人口比重对农村居民生活能源碳排放量具有促进作用,而农村居民能源消费结构对其具有减缓作用,且北方农村居民生活能源碳排放量明显高于南方。(5)从环境Kuznets曲线假说出发,经济发展是促使我国农村居民生活能源碳排放Kuznets曲线存在拐点的重要因素。     

The European carbon balance. Part 4: integration of carbon and other trace‐gas fluxes

Overviewing the European carbon (C), greenhouse gas (GHG), and non‐GHG fluxes, gross primary productivity (GPP) is about 9.3 Pg yr^?1, and fossil fuel imports are 1.6 Pg yr^?1. GPP is about 1.25% of solar radiation, containing about 360 × 10¹⁸ J energy – five times the energy content of annual fossil fuel use. Net primary production (NPP) is 50%, terrestrial net biome productivity, NBP, 3%, and the net GHG balance, NGB, 0.3% of GPP. Human harvest uses 20% of NPP or 10% of GPP, or alternatively 1‰ of solar radiation after accounting for the inherent cost of agriculture and forestry, for production of pesticides and fertilizer, the return of organic fertilizer, and for the C equivalent cost of GHG emissions. C equivalents are defined on a global warming potential with a 100‐year time horizon. The equivalent of about 2.4% of the mineral fertilizer input is emitted as N₂O. Agricultural emissions to the atmosphere are about 40% of total methane, 60% of total NO‐N, 70% of total N₂O‐N, and 95% of total NH₃‐N emissions of Europe. European soils are a net C sink (114 Tg yr^?1), but considering the emissions of GHGs, soils are a source of about 26 Tg CO₂ C‐equivalent yr^?1. Forest, grassland and sediment C sinks are offset by GHG emissions from croplands, peatlands and inland waters. Non‐GHGs (NH₃, NOx) interact significantly with the GHG and the C cycle through ammonium nitrate aerosols and dry deposition. Wet deposition of nitrogen (N) supports about 50% of forest timber growth. Land use change is regionally important. The absolute flux values total about 50 Tg C yr^?1. Nevertheless, for the European trace‐gas balance, land‐use intensity is more important than land‐use change. This study shows that emissions of GHGs and non‐GHGs significantly distort the C cycle and eliminate apparent C sinks.     

Exchange of gaseous nitrogen compounds between agricultural systems and the atmosphere

Crop and livestock agricultural production systems are important contributors to local, regional and global budgets of NH₃, NO_x (NO + NO₂) and N₂O. Emissions of NH₃ and NO_x (which are biologically and chemically active) into the atmosphere serve to redistribute fixed N to local and regional aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that may otherwise be disconnected from the sources of the N gases. The emissions of NO_x also contribute to local elevated ozone concentrations while N₂O emissions contribute to global greenhouse gas accumulation and to stratospheric ozone depletion.Ammonia is the major gaseous base in the atmosphere and serves to neutralize about 30% of the hydrogen ions in the atmosphere. Fifty to 75% of the 55 Tg N yr^–1 NH₃ from terrestrial systems is emitted from animal and crop-based agriculture from animal excreta and synthetic fertilizer application. About half of the 50 Tg N yr^–1 of NO_x emitted from the earth surface annually arises from fossil fuel combustion and the remainder from biomass burning and emissions from soil. The NO_x emitted, principally as nitric oxide (NO), reacts rapidly in the atmosphere and in a complex cycle with light, ozone and hydrocarbons, and produces nitric acid and particulate nitrate. These materials can interact with plants and the soil locally or be transported form the site and interact with atmospheric particulate to form aerosols. These salts and aerosols return to fertilize terrestrial and aquatic systems in wet and dry deposition. A small fraction of this N may be biologically converted to N₂O. About 5% of the total atmospheric greenhouse effect is attributed to N₂O from which 70% of the annual global anthropogenic emissions come from animal and crop production.The coupling of increased population with a move of a large sector of the world population to diets that require more energy and N input, will lead to continued increases in anthropogenic input into the global N cycle. This scenario suggests that emissions of NH₃, NO_x and N₂O from agricultural systems will continue to increase and impact global terrestrial and aquatic systems, even those far removed from agricultural production, to an ever growing extent, unless N resources are used more efficiently or food consumption trends change.     

Estimation of nitrous oxide, nitric oxide and ammonia emissions from croplands in East, Southeast and South Asia

Agricultural activities have greatly altered the global nitrogen (N) cycle and produced nitrogenous gases of environmental significance. More than half of all chemical N fertilizer produced globally is used in crop production in East, Southeast and South Asia, where rice is central to nutrition. Emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH₃) from croplands in this region were estimated by considering background emission and emissions resulting from N added to croplands, including chemical N, animal manure, biologically fixed N and N in crop residues returned to fields. Background emission fluxes of N₂O and NO from croplands were estimated to be 1.22 and 0.57 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. Separate fertilizer‐induced emission factors were estimated for upland fields and rice fields. Total N₂O emission from croplands in the study region was estimated to be 1.19 Tg N yr^?1, with 43% contributed by background emissions. The average fertilizer‐induced N₂O emission, however, accounts for only 0.93% of the applied N, which is less than the default IPCC value of 1.25%, because of the low emission factor from paddy fields. Total NO emission was 591 Gg N yr^?1 in the study region, with 40% from background emissions. The average fertilizer‐induced NO emission factor was 0.48%. Total NH₃ emission was estimated to be 11.8 Tg N yr^?1. The use of urea and ammonium bicarbonate and the cultivation of rice led to a high average NH₃ loss rate from chemical N fertilizer in the study region. Emissions were displayed at a 0.5° × 0.5° resolution with the use of a global landuse database.     

An estimate of greenhouse gas (N2O and CO2) mitigation potential under various scenarios of nitrogen use efficiency in Chinese croplands

It is well recognized that improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can directly reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in cropland and indirectly reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) release from nitrogen (N) production, while such a reduction has not been well quantified in China. We estimated the greenhouse gas (GHG; N₂O and CO₂) mitigation potential (MP) from Chinese cropland and its regional distribution by quantifying NUE and determining the amount of over‐applied synthetic N under various scenarios of NUE. We estimated that synthetic NUE in the late 1990s was 31±11% (mean±SD) for rice, 33±13% for wheat, and 31±11% for maize cultivation. Improving NUE to 50% could cut 6.6 Tg of synthetic N use per year, accounting for 41% of the total used. As a result of this reduction, the direct N₂O emission from croplands together with CO₂ emission from the industrial production and transport of synthetic N could be reduced by 39%, equivalent to 60 Tg CO₂ yr^?1. The MP was probably underestimated because organic N supply was not taken into account when estimating NUE. It was concluded that improving N management can greatly reduce GHG (N₂O and CO₂) emissions in Chinese croplands, and mitigation in the Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, and Hebei provinces should be given priority.     

Global inputs of biological nitrogen fixation in agricultural systems

Biological dinitrogen (N₂) fixation is a natural process of significant importance in world agriculture. The demand for accurate determinations of global inputs of biologically-fixed nitrogen (N) is strong and will continue to be fuelled by the need to understand and effectively manage the global N cycle. In this paper we review and update long-standing and more recent estimates of biological N₂ fixation for the different agricultural systems, including the extensive, uncultivated tropical savannas used for grazing. Our methodology was to combine data on the areas and yields of legumes and cereals from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) database on world agricultural production (FAOSTAT) with published and unpublished data on N₂ fixation. As the FAO lists grain legumes only, and not forage, fodder and green manure legumes, other literature was accessed to obtain approximate estimates in these cases. Below-ground plant N was factored into the estimations. The most important N₂-fixing agents in agricultural systems are the symbiotic associations between crop and forage/fodder legumes and rhizobia. Annual inputs of fixed N are calculated to be 2.95 Tg for the pulses and 18.5 Tg for the oilseed legumes. Soybean (Glycine max) is the dominant crop legume, representing 50% of the global crop legume area and 68% of global production. We calculate soybean to fix 16.4 Tg N annually, representing 77% of the N fixed by the crop legumes. Annual N₂ fixation by soybean in the U.S., Brazil and Argentina is calculated at 5.7, 4.6 and 3.4 Tg, respectively. Accurately estimating global N₂ fixation for the symbioses of the forage and fodder legumes is challenging because statistics on the areas and productivity of these legumes are almost impossible to obtain. The uncertainty increases as we move to the other agricultural-production systems—rice (Oryza sativa), sugar cane (Saccharum spp.), cereal and oilseed (non-legume) crop lands and extensive, grazed savannas. Nonetheless, the estimates of annual N₂ fixation inputs are 12–25 Tg (pasture and fodder legumes), 5 Tg (rice), 0.5 Tg (sugar cane), <4 Tg (non-legume crop lands) and <14 Tg (extensive savannas). Aggregating these individual estimates provides an overall estimate of 50–70 Tg N fixed biologically in agricultural systems. The uncertainty of this range would be reduced with the publication of more accurate statistics on areas and productivity of forage and fodder legumes and the publication of many more estimates of N₂ fixation, particularly in the cereal, oilseed and non-legume crop lands and extensive tropical savannas used for grazing.     

Role of maize stover incorporation on nitrogen oxide emissions in a non-irrigated Mediterranean barley field

Aims

Agricultural soils in semiarid Mediterranean areas are characterized by low organic matter contents and low fertility levels. Application of crop residues and/or manures as amendments is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to overcome this problem. However, these management practices may induce important changes in the nitrogen oxide emissions from these agroecosystems, with additional impacts on carbon dioxide emissions. In this context, a field experiment was carried out with a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crop under Mediterranean conditions to evaluate the effect of combining maize (Zea mays L.) residues and N fertilizer inputs (organic and/or mineral) on these emissions.

Methods

Crop yield and N uptake, soil mineral N concentrations, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), denitrification capacity, N₂O, NO and CO₂ fluxes were measured during the growing season.

Results

The incorporation of maize stover increased N₂O emissions during the experimental period by c. 105 %. Conversely, NO emissions were significantly reduced in the plots amended with crop residues. The partial substitution of urea by pig slurry reduced net N₂O emissions by 46 and 39 %, with and without the incorporation of crop residues respectively. Net emissions of NO were reduced 38 and 17 % for the same treatments. Molar DOC:NO ₃ ^? ratio was found to be a robust predictor of N₂O and NO fluxes.

Conclusions

The main effect of the interaction between crop residue and N fertilizer application occurred in the medium term (4–6 month after application), enhancing N₂O emissions and decreasing NO emissions as consequence of residue incorporation. The substitution of urea by pig slurry can be considered a good management strategy since N₂O and NO emissions were reduced by the use of the organic residue.     

Spatially explicit estimates of N2O emissions from croplands suggest climate mitigation opportunities from improved fertilizer management

With increasing nitrogen (N) application to croplands required to support growing food demand, mitigating N₂O emissions from agricultural soils is a global challenge. National greenhouse gas emissions accounting typically estimates N₂O emissions at the country scale by aggregating all crops, under the assumption that N₂O emissions are linearly related to N application. However, field studies and meta‐analyses indicate a nonlinear relationship, in which N₂O emissions are relatively greater at higher N application rates. Here, we apply a super‐linear emissions response model to crop‐specific, spatially explicit synthetic N fertilizer and manure N inputs to provide subnational accounting of global N₂O emissions from croplands. We estimate 0.66 Tg of N₂O‐N direct global emissions circa 2000, with 50% of emissions concentrated in 13% of harvested area. Compared to estimates from the IPCC Tier 1 linear model, our updated N₂O emissions range from 20% to 40% lower throughout sub‐Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe, to >120% greater in some Western European countries. At low N application rates, the weak nonlinear response of N₂O emissions suggests that relatively large increases in N fertilizer application would generate relatively small increases in N₂O emissions. As aggregated fertilizer data generate underestimation bias in nonlinear models, high‐resolution N application data are critical to support accurate N₂O emissions estimates.