Greenhouse gas emissions from windrow composting of organic wastes: Patterns and emissions factors

Rivers play an important role in greenhouse gas emissions. Over the past decade, because of global urbanization trends, rapid land use changes have led to changes in river ecosystems that have had a stimulating effect on the greenhouse gas production and emissions. Presently, there is an urgent need for assessments of the greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions in watersheds. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate river-based greenhouse gas emissions and their spatial-temporal features as well as possible impact factors in a rapidly urbanizing area. The specific objectives were to investigate how river greenhouse gas concentrations and emission fluxes are responding to urbanization in the Liangtan River, which is not only the largest sub-basin but also the most polluted one in Chongqing City. The thin layer diffusion model method was used to monitor year-round concentrations of pCO2, CH4, and N2O in September and December 2014, and March and June 2015. The pCO2 range was (23.38±34.89)-(1395.33±55.45) Pa, and the concentration ranges of CH4 and N2O were (65.09±28.09)-(6021.36±94.36) nmol·L-1 and (29.47±5.16)-(510.28±18.34) nmol·L-1, respectively. The emission fluxes of CO2, CH4, and N2O, which were calculated based on the method of wind speed model estimations, were -6.1-786.9, 0.31-27.62, and 0.06-1.08 mmol·(m2·d)-1, respectively. Moreover, the CO2 and CH4 emissions displayed significant spatial differences, and these were roughly consistent with the pollution load gradient. The greenhouse gas concentrations and fluxes of trunk streams increased and then decreased from upstream to downstream, and the highest value was detected at the middle reaches where the urbanization rate is higher than in other areas and the river is seriously polluted. As for branches, the greenhouse gas concentrations and fluxes increased significantly from the upstream agricultural areas to the downstream urban areas. The CO2 fluxes followed a seasonal pattern, with the highest CO2 emission values observed in autumn, then successively winter, summer, and spring. The CH4 fluxes were the highest in spring and the lowest in summer, while N2O flux seasonal patterns were not significant. Because of the high carbon and nitrogen loads in the basin, the CO2 products and emissions were not restricted by biogenic elements, but levels were found to be related to important biological metabolic factors such as the water temperature, pH, DO, and chlorophyll a. The carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content of the water combined with sewage input influenced the CH4 products and emissions. Meanwhile, N2O production and emissions were mainly found to be driven by urban sewage discharge with high N2O concentrations. Rapid urbanization accelerated greenhouse gas emissions from the urban rivers, so that in the urban reaches, CO2/CH4 fluxes were twice those of the non-urban reaches, and all over the basin N2O fluxes were at a high level. These findings illustrate how river basin urbanization can change aquatic environments and aggravate allochthonous pollution inputs such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which in turn can dramatically stimulate river-based greenhouse gas production and emissions; meanwhile, spatial and temporal differences in greenhouse gas emissions in rivers can lead to the formation of emission hotspots.

Emission factors and global warming potential as influenced by fertilizer management for the cultivation of rice under varied growing seasons

Peatlands represent 2.5% of all agricultural land in the EU, yet they account for ~ 25% of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and ~ 5% of total EU-wide GHG emissions. Several studies have shown that peatland rewetting can reduce, or even reverse, the net GHG emissions from previously drained peatlands. We investigated GHG emissions from 14 different European peatland sites (Germany [6], Poland [4] and Netherlands [4]) across a landuse (3 levels) and water table (2 levels) gradient during a 2 year period (July 2021 – June 2023). GHG flux measurements utilizing closed, non-flow-through, dark, non-steady-state chambers were implemented to estimate ecosystem respiration from the study sites. Ecosystem respiration represents the largest share of carbon export to the atmosphere from terrestrial ecosystems. Within the study, landuse gradient was represented by the level of paludiculture (harvest frequency/ soil nitrogen levels), and water table level indicated by Typha- and Carex- dominated vegetation. Initial study results indicate that overall, CO2 fluxes varied across seasons (ANOVA, p<0.001, n = 1738, F = 14.08), with the highest fluxes occurring in summer (0.402 ± 0.342 g CO2 m-2h-1), and lowest in winter (0.233 ± 0.368 g CO2 m-2h-1). Similarly, CH4 fluxes varied seasonally, with the highest CH4 fluxes in summer (6.95 ± 8.07 mg CH4 m-2h-1) and lowest in winter (1.98 ± 4.07 mg CH4 m-2h-1). Average CO2 fluxes decreased with the increasing level of paludiculture intensity for both Typha and Carex dominated sites, while CH4 fluxes typically increased with increasing harvest frequency/ soil nitrogen levels. While CO2 and CH4 fluxes were generally higher in the early morning (as compared to afternoons), particularly during summer and autumn, we could not show an overall significant diurnal difference in GHG fluxes. Seasonal variability in CO2 and CH4 was likely an indicator of the effect of temperature and water table level on GHG fluxes. GHG fluxes at the Typha dominated sites were consistently higher than those of complimentary Carex dominated sites for each landuse class, highlighting the importance of water table and vegetation species on GHG emissions. This research was conducted as part of the Peatland Rewetting In Nitrogen-Contaminated Environments: Synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity, climate, water quality & Society (PRINCESS) project, investigating rewetting of drained, nitrogen contaminated peatlands and their potential role in reducing EU-wide greenhouse gas emissions and improving wetland biodiversity.

The Earth's surface temperature is steadily increasing due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases, a phenomenon known as global warming. Human activities are the root cause of this significant global issue. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is one of the most critical actions in climate change mitigation. Organizations can engage in activities that promote change and reduce greenhouse gases by acknowledging the significance of addressing climate change. By reducing GHG emissions and promoting the use of renewable energy, organizations can begin to address environmental issues. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to assess the reduction of GHG emissions in an educational institution by substituting electricity consumption from the electrical grid with renewable energy in the form of a solar PV rooftop on-grid system. The School of Renewable Energy's GHG emissions were assessed, covering three scopes of GHG emissions activities: direct emissions, indirect emissions, and other indirect emissions. The organization's activity data were collected over a 12-month period. Without installing a solar panel system, the organization reported total GHG emissions of 310.40 tCO2e, relying solely on imported electricity for internal use. The highest GHG emissions were from Scope 2, amounting to 239.38 tCO2e, primarily due to electricity importation. Scope 3 had the second highest GHG emissions, totaling 65.76 tCO2e, resulting from employee commuting and the use of purchased goods such as paper and tap water. Scope 1 had the lowest GHG emissions at 5.26 tCO2e, produced by the combustion of diesel and gasoline in both stationary and mobile sources, as well as CH4 emissions from the septic tank. The percentage of GHG emissions from Scope 2 activities was 77.12%, which was considered to have a significant environmental impact and contribute to global warming. This was because 478,851 kWh of electricity were imported. The installation of on-grid solar cells for power generation reduced imported electricity to 113,120 kWh. Consequently, GHG emissions from Scope 2 decreased to 56.55 tCO2e, leading to an overall reduction in the organization's GHG emissions to 127.57 tCO2e. The organization's GHG emissions decreased by 182.83 tCO2e as a result of using alternative energy to generate electricity. This assessment can serve as a database for educational institutions and prepare the government to report greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it can serve as carbon credits for trading and exchanging carbon with other organizations to offset GHG emissions from various activities. In addition, it endorses the government's goal of achieving carbon neutrality and net zero emissions in the future.

The net GHG emissions of the China Three Gorges Reservoir: I. Pre-impoundment GHG inventories and carbon balance

Three years of CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes from different sheepfolds in a semiarid steppe region, China

The global animal food chain has a large contribution to the global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but its share and sources vary highly across the world. However, the assessment of GHG emissions from livestock production is subject to various uncertainties, which have not yet been well quantified at large spatial scale. We assessed the uncertainties in the relations between animal production (milk, meat, egg) and the CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions in Africa, Latin America and the European Union, using the MITERRA-Global model. The uncertainties in model inputs were derived from time series of statistical data, literature review or expert knowledge. These model inputs and parameters were further divided into nine groups based on type of data and affected greenhouse gas. The final model output uncertainty and the uncertainty contribution of each group of model inputs to the uncertainty were quantified using a Monte Carlo approach, taking into account their spatial and cross-correlation. GHG emissions and their uncertainties were determined per livestock sector, per product and per emission source category. Results show large variation in the GHG emissions and their uncertainties for different continents, livestock sectors products or source categories. The uncertainty of total GHG emissions from livestock sectors is higher in Africa and Latin America than in the European Union. The uncertainty of CH4 emission is lower than that for N2O and CO2. Livestock parameters, CH4 emission factors and N emission factors contribute most to the uncertainty in the total model output. The reliability of GHG emissions from livestock sectors is relatively high (low uncertainty) at continental level, but could be lower at country level.

Major US electric utility climate pledges have the potential to collectively reduce power sector emissions by one-third

Better information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation potential in the agricultural sector is necessary to manage these emissions and identify responses that are consistent with the food security and economic development priorities of countries. Critical activity data (what crops or livestock are managed in what way) are poor or lacking for many agricultural systems, especially in developing countries. In addition, the currently available methods for quantifying emissions and mitigation are often too expensive or complex or not sufficiently user friendly for widespread use.The purpose of this focus issue is to capture the state of the art in quantifying greenhouse gases from agricultural systems, with the goal of better understanding our current capabilities and near-term potential for improvement, with particular attention to quantification issues relevant to smallholders in developing countries. This work is timely in light of international discussions and negotiations around how agriculture should be included in efforts to reduce and adapt to climate change impacts, and considering that significant climate financing to developing countries in post-2012 agreements may be linked to their increased ability to identify and report GHG emissions (Murphy et al 2010, CCAFS 2011, FAO 2011).

CH4 and CO2 are important greenhouse gases, playing a very important role in greenhouse effect. In order to estimate the current situation of source and sink of main greenhouse gases in Baiyangdian wetland and evaluate the influences of wetland system to the greenhouse effect of North China, static closed chamber-gas chromatogram method was adopted to study the space-time variation characteristics of N2O, CH4, and CO2 emission fluxes in Baiyangdian wetland. The analysis results indicate: the lake wetland which was abundant in organic matters and nutritive salt was an important greenhouse gases emission source. During one year of observation, it was found out that the fluxes of N2O, CH4, and CO2 of Baiyangdian wetland posses a very high time variability, with the range of variation being-0.08~0.33 mg·m-2·h-1, -5.40~328.65 mg·m-2·h-1 and -814.06~2934.93 mg·m-2·h-1. The emission fluxes of N2O, CH4, and CO2 reaches to maximum in summer, respectively being 62.09%, 92.15% and 87.04% of the annual total emission flux, The lakeside was a core area of N2O, CH4 emission, with annual average emission flux respectively reaching up to 0.11 mg·m-2·h-1 and 40.86 mg·m-2·h-1. Although the main emission area of CO2 was land, the emission flux of lakeside, with annual average emission flux being 692.35 mg·m-2·h-1, was also very high, ranking only second to land, the lakeside area of Baiyangdian wetland was only 12.60% of the whole lake wetland area, but the emission loads of N2O, CH4, and CO2 were respectively 26.51%, 43.96% and 23.76% of the total emission load, which explains that the lakeside was leading the greenhouse gases emission of Baiyangdian wetland.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> Peatlands are the world&rsquo;s largest terrestrial carbon store. Despite covering only 3 % of the planet&rsquo;s land surface, peatlands store 30 % of the planet&rsquo;s terrestrially available carbon. The Dutch government's 2019 National Climate Agreement committed to reduce the contribution of peatlands to total national Dutch greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by 1 Mton CO₂ per year (20 %) until 2030. Countries with similarly degraded peatlands are likely to face similar commitments in the coming years. Restoration (or rewetting) is a proposed solution to reduce land subsidence and increase carbon sequestration in agricultural peatlands but is often accompanied by large CH₄ emissions. Whilst, previous studies have investigated whether singular plant types impact the GHG emissions of peatlands, few (or no) studies have investigated the impact of plant composition on GHG emissions in peatlands. To assess the impact of dynamic vegetation on subsequent GHG fluxes in peatlands, we developed a new model, Peatland-VU-NUCOM (PVN). This is the second process-based model to date, capable of simulating dynamic vegetation, CO₂, and CH₄ emissions in peatlands. The new PVN model simulates CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes in relation to the plant community composition. The PVN model includes plant competition, CH₄ diffusion, ebullition, root, shoot, litter exudate production, below-ground decomposition, and aboveground moss development, under changing water table and climatic conditions. The model was compared against observational data collected at two sites in the Netherlands. These results showed that plant communities impact net GHG emissions. This is the first time that a peatland emissions model is able to investigate the role of re-introducing peat forming vegetation on subsequent GHG emissions. We also found that the initial plant community influenced the potential for harvest events to reduce GHG emissions. These results indicated that plant community restoration is a critical component of peatland restoration.

How do sand addition, soil moisture and nutrient status influence greenhouse gas fluxes from drained organic soils?

Organic matter content increases in soil with no-tilled permanent raised beds (PBs) compared with soil with conventionally tilled beds (CBs), and this might affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Greenhouse gas (CO2, N2O, and CH4) emissions were measured from PBs, from which crop residue was either removed or retained and from CBs where crop residue was retained. The CO2 emission was not affected by tillage, but CH4 and N2O emissions were lower in PBs when residue was retained than in CBs. Removing crop residue from PBs reduced CO2 emissions compared with when it was retained, but it had no effect on N2O and CH4 emissions. The global warming potential (GWP) of GHG emissions was higher in CBs (801 kg CO2/ha/year) than in PBs (517 kg CO2/ha/year) with crop-residue retention, but more C was sequestered in the 0–60 cm soil layer in PBs (83.4 Mg C/ha) than in CBs (79.2 Mg C/ha). Crop-residue removal in PBs had little effect on the GWP of GHG compared with PBs with crop residue retained, but less C was sequestered in the latter (63.1 Mg C/ha). Net GWP (considering soil C sequestration, GHG emissions, fuel used, glyphosate application, fertilizer and seed production) was lower in CBs with crop-residue retention (1062 kg CO2/ha/year) than in PBs with crop-residue removal (6,120 kg CO2/ha/year), but it was larger than in PBs with crop-residue retention (−681 kg CO2/ha/year). We found that reduced tillage when beds were made permanent and crop-residue retention greatly reduced net GWP compared with when beds were tilled and remade each year.We found that retention of crop residue in PBs increased the emission of CO2 compared with where it was removed, but tillage did not affect fluxes of CO2. Emission of CH4 and N2O was larger from CBs than from PBs, but crop-residue management in PBs had no significant effect on fluxes of CH4 and N2O. Concentrations of mineral N were larger in CBs than in PBs, whereas the removal of crop residue from PBs increased mineral N concentration. Soil temperature was higher in CBs than in PBs and in PBs with crop residue retained compared with where it was removed. Soil water was better preserved in PBs than in CBs and in PBs where residue was retained than where it was removed. The higher water content in the PB compared with the CB will favor plant growth during dry spells. However, retaining crop residues in PBs will require sufficient application of inorganic N, as mineral N in soil is lower in PBs than in CBs or PBs with crop residue removed. Limited N availability in PBs with crop residue retained might reduce yields as poor farmers in the central highlands of Mexico apply little or no N fertilizer. Reduced tillage on PBs and crop-residue retention strongly reduced the net GWP of the system compared with the case when beds were remade each year. PBs with residue retention reduced net GWP by 50% compared with CBs with residue retention, but the removal of residues from the PBs more than doubled it.

Rising concerns about global warming as a consequence of increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have markedly strengthened scientific, political, and even public interest in issues surrounding human-induced climate change. This has resulted in fundamental economic and ecologic debates

At present scenario, estimation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission in the ambient air has becomes a major concern. Emission of GHG has the direct linkage with ambient air pollution and also poses global environmental threats and challenges. Though several scientists are working to mitigate the emission of GHGs but till date no mitigation/management plan has been implemented in global scale. The emission of GHGs are in general from multiple sectors like energy, industry, waste management plant, agricultural sector etc. The major GHGs are methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O). In the present study GHG (CH4, CO2 and N2O) fluxes have been reviewed from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), constructed wetlands (CWs) and irrigated rice fields (IRF) in India and compared with other countries like Australia, Europe and China. The emission of CH4, CO2 and N2O fluxes from WWTP in Australian condition varied in an average from 0 to 111, 0 to 769 and 0 to 3 ton/year respectively whereas in Indian condition CH4 and N2O fluxes varied in an average from 0 to 6, and 0 to 0.01 ton/year. The higher emission of CH4 and N2O in Australia might be due to higher capacity of WWTP and advance biological treatment plant as compared to India. In Indian and China climatic condition the emission of CH4, CO2 and N2O fluxes from IRF varied from 107 × 104 to 110 × 104, 2116 × 104 to 6096 × 104 and 4 × 104 to 5 × 104, 644 × 104 to 1202 × 104, 205 × 104 to 1208 × 104 and 29 × 104 to 41 × 104 ton/year respectively. The higher fluxes of GHG w.r.t CH4 and N2O might be due to continuous flooding in China, application of nitrogen fertilizers in large scale in the rice field, and likely to be due to overburden pressure for production of rice as compared to India. CWs are the well-known natural CH4 producer in the atmosphere. The emission of CH4 from CWs in India and Europe varied from 46 to 1103 and negative to 38,000 mg/m2/day respectively. CH4 emission depends on tropical coastal wetland condition and type of surface flow in the wetland. India is fewer producers to GHGs as compared to other countries. Appropriate management plan will further reduce the emission of GHGs as well as ambient air pollution.