Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Red Pepper, Chinese Cabbage, and Potato Fields in Gangwon-do, Korea

Abstract

The level of nitrous oxide (<TEX>$N_2O$</TEX>), a long-lived greenhouse gas, in atmosphere has increased mainly due to anthropogenic source, especially application of nitrogen fertilizers. Quantifying <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission from agricultural field is essential to develop national inventories of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission. The objective of the study was to develop emission factor to estimate direct <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission from agricultural field in Gangwon-do, Korea by measuring <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emissions from potato (Solanum tuberosum), red pepper (Capsicum annum L.), and Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) cultivation lands from 2009 to 2012. Accumulated <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission was <TEX>$1.48{\pm}0.25kg$</TEX> <TEX>$N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> for red pepper, <TEX>$1.27{\pm}0.27kg$</TEX> <TEX>$N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> for potato, <TEX>$1.49{\pm}0.06kg$</TEX> <TEX>$N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> for Chinese cabbage cultivated in spring, and <TEX>$1.14{\pm}0.22kg$</TEX> <TEX>$N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> for fall Chinese cabbage. Emission factor of <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> calculated from accumulated <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission, nitrogen fertilization rate, and background <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission was <TEX>$0.0051{\pm}0.0016kg$</TEX> <TEX>$N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> N for cropland in Gangwon province. More extensive study is deserved to be conducted to develop <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission factor for upland crops in Korea through examining the emission factors from various regions and crops because <TEX>$N_2O$</TEX> emission is influenced by many factors including climate characteristics, soil properties, and agricultural practices.