Parameterizing an agricultural production model for simulating nitrous oxide emissions in a wheat–maize system in the North China Plain

Ting-Ting Li,Qing Zhang,Jing-Jing Xu,Guo-Cheng Wang,Wen Zhang,Jun Wang,Wei Zhang

doi:10.1080/16742834.2016.1230002

Abstract

AbstractConcentrations of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, have been continuously increasing, and cropland soils are one of the largest sources of N2O. Variations in environmental and anthropogenic factors have substantial impacts on both the frequency and magnitude of N2O emissions. Based on measurements from a wheat–maize system in the North China Plain, the authors parameterized the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model, which was initially developed in Australia, for simulating N2O emissions under different agricultural management practices. After calibrating one of the key parameters – the fraction of N2O lost in nitrification (k2) – the results showed that the model successfully captured the daily N2O fluxes under different nitrogen fertilization treatments, but underestimated some large peak fluxes. By pooling all data together, the calibrated APSIM model also performed well in representing cumulative N2O emissions under various treatments at annual and fi...

Highlights

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that, on the basis of mass, absorbs much more infrared radiation than carbon dioxide and methane
Cropland soil N2O emissions are determined mainly by microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification, which are further regulated by agricultural practices, as well as edaphic and climatic conditions (Li 2000; Mosier and Kroeze 2000)
Zheng et al (2000) reported that soil moisture is a sensitive factor involved in the regulation of N2O emissions from agricultural soils

Summary

Introduction

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that, on the basis of mass, absorbs much more infrared radiation than carbon dioxide and methane. Cropland soil N2O emissions are determined mainly by microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification, which are further regulated by agricultural practices, as well as edaphic and climatic conditions (Li 2000; Mosier and Kroeze 2000). Zheng et al (2000) reported that soil moisture is a sensitive factor involved in the regulation of N2O emissions from agricultural soils Climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation play an important role in agricultural N2O production (Meng, Cai, and Ding 2005). Agricultural practices such as nitrogen amendments from fertilizer and manure, cultivation, tillage regime, irrigation, and cropping systems, tend to alter N2O emission rates (Del Grosso et al 2009).

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