A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC

S Molina-Herrera, E Haas*, S Klatt, D Kraus, J Augustin, V Magliulo, T Tallec, E Ceschia, C Ammann, B Loubet, U Skiba, SK Jones, C Brummer, K Butterbach-Bahl, R Kiese

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The identification of site-specific agriculturalmanagement practices in order tomaximize yieldwhile minimizing environmental nitrogen losses remains in the center of environmental pollution research. Here, we used the biogeochemical model LandscapeDNDC to explore different agricultural practices with regard to their potential to reduce soil N2O emissions and NO3 leachingwhile maintaining yields. In a first step, the model was tested against observations of N2O emissions, NO3 leaching, soil micrometeorology as well as crop growth for eight European cropland and grassland sites. Across sites, LandscapeDNDC predicts very well mean N2O emissions (r2= 0.99) and simulates the magnitude and general temporal dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen pools. For the assessment of site-specific mitigation potentials of environmental nitrogen losses a Monte Carlo optimization technique considering different agricultural management options (i.e., timing of planting, harvest and fertilization, amount of applied fertilizer as well as residue management)was used. The identified optimized field management practices reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from croplands on average by 21% and 31%, respectively. Likewise, average reductions of 55% for N2O emissions and 16% for NO3 leaching are estimated for grasslands. For mitigating environmental loss - while maintaining yield levels - it was most important to reduce fertilizer application rates by in average 10%. Our analyses indicate that yield scaled N2O emissions and NO3 leaching indicate possible improvements of nitrogen use efficiencies in European farming systems.Moreover, the applied optimization approach can be used also in a prognostic way to predict optimal timings and fertilization options (rates and splitting) upon accurate weather forecasts combined with the knowledge of modeled soil nutrient availability and plant nitrogen demand. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)128 - 140
Number of pages13
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume553
DOIs
Publication statusFirst published - 22 Feb 2016

Fingerprint

mitigation
leaching
modeling
nitrogen
grassland
micrometeorology
fertilizer
soil emission
agricultural management
inorganic nitrogen
agricultural practice
nutrient availability
soil nutrient
farming system
Europe
weather
crop
loss
soil

Keywords

  • Agricultural management
  • LandscapeDNDC
  • Mitigation
  • N2O emission
  • NO3 leaching
  • Optimization

Cite this

Molina-Herrera, S ; Haas, E ; Klatt, S ; Kraus, D ; Augustin, J ; Magliulo, V ; Tallec, T ; Ceschia, E ; Ammann, C ; Loubet, B ; Skiba, U ; Jones, SK ; Brummer, C ; Butterbach-Bahl, K ; Kiese, R. / A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC. In: Science of the Total Environment. 2016 ; Vol. 553. pp. 128 - 140.
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abstract = "The identification of site-specific agriculturalmanagement practices in order tomaximize yieldwhile minimizing environmental nitrogen losses remains in the center of environmental pollution research. Here, we used the biogeochemical model LandscapeDNDC to explore different agricultural practices with regard to their potential to reduce soil N2O emissions and NO3 leachingwhile maintaining yields. In a first step, the model was tested against observations of N2O emissions, NO3 leaching, soil micrometeorology as well as crop growth for eight European cropland and grassland sites. Across sites, LandscapeDNDC predicts very well mean N2O emissions (r2= 0.99) and simulates the magnitude and general temporal dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen pools. For the assessment of site-specific mitigation potentials of environmental nitrogen losses a Monte Carlo optimization technique considering different agricultural management options (i.e., timing of planting, harvest and fertilization, amount of applied fertilizer as well as residue management)was used. The identified optimized field management practices reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from croplands on average by 21{\%} and 31{\%}, respectively. Likewise, average reductions of 55{\%} for N2O emissions and 16{\%} for NO3 leaching are estimated for grasslands. For mitigating environmental loss - while maintaining yield levels - it was most important to reduce fertilizer application rates by in average 10{\%}. Our analyses indicate that yield scaled N2O emissions and NO3 leaching indicate possible improvements of nitrogen use efficiencies in European farming systems.Moreover, the applied optimization approach can be used also in a prognostic way to predict optimal timings and fertilization options (rates and splitting) upon accurate weather forecasts combined with the knowledge of modeled soil nutrient availability and plant nitrogen demand. {\circledC} 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.",
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author = "S Molina-Herrera and E Haas and S Klatt and D Kraus and J Augustin and V Magliulo and T Tallec and E Ceschia and C Ammann and B Loubet and U Skiba and SK Jones and C Brummer and K Butterbach-Bahl and R Kiese",
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Molina-Herrera, S, Haas, E, Klatt, S, Kraus, D, Augustin, J, Magliulo, V, Tallec, T, Ceschia, E, Ammann, C, Loubet, B, Skiba, U, Jones, SK, Brummer, C, Butterbach-Bahl, K & Kiese, R 2016, 'A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 553, pp. 128 - 140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.099

A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC. / Molina-Herrera, S; Haas, E; Klatt, S; Kraus, D; Augustin, J; Magliulo, V; Tallec, T; Ceschia, E; Ammann, C; Loubet, B; Skiba, U; Jones, SK; Brummer, C; Butterbach-Bahl, K; Kiese, R.

In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 553, 22.02.2016, p. 128 - 140.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

TY - JOUR

T1 - A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC

AU - Molina-Herrera, S

AU - Haas, E

AU - Klatt, S

AU - Kraus, D

AU - Augustin, J

AU - Magliulo, V

AU - Tallec, T

AU - Ceschia, E

AU - Ammann, C

AU - Loubet, B

AU - Skiba, U

AU - Jones, SK

AU - Brummer, C

AU - Butterbach-Bahl, K

AU - Kiese, R

PY - 2016/2/22

Y1 - 2016/2/22

N2 - The identification of site-specific agriculturalmanagement practices in order tomaximize yieldwhile minimizing environmental nitrogen losses remains in the center of environmental pollution research. Here, we used the biogeochemical model LandscapeDNDC to explore different agricultural practices with regard to their potential to reduce soil N2O emissions and NO3 leachingwhile maintaining yields. In a first step, the model was tested against observations of N2O emissions, NO3 leaching, soil micrometeorology as well as crop growth for eight European cropland and grassland sites. Across sites, LandscapeDNDC predicts very well mean N2O emissions (r2= 0.99) and simulates the magnitude and general temporal dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen pools. For the assessment of site-specific mitigation potentials of environmental nitrogen losses a Monte Carlo optimization technique considering different agricultural management options (i.e., timing of planting, harvest and fertilization, amount of applied fertilizer as well as residue management)was used. The identified optimized field management practices reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from croplands on average by 21% and 31%, respectively. Likewise, average reductions of 55% for N2O emissions and 16% for NO3 leaching are estimated for grasslands. For mitigating environmental loss - while maintaining yield levels - it was most important to reduce fertilizer application rates by in average 10%. Our analyses indicate that yield scaled N2O emissions and NO3 leaching indicate possible improvements of nitrogen use efficiencies in European farming systems.Moreover, the applied optimization approach can be used also in a prognostic way to predict optimal timings and fertilization options (rates and splitting) upon accurate weather forecasts combined with the knowledge of modeled soil nutrient availability and plant nitrogen demand. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

AB - The identification of site-specific agriculturalmanagement practices in order tomaximize yieldwhile minimizing environmental nitrogen losses remains in the center of environmental pollution research. Here, we used the biogeochemical model LandscapeDNDC to explore different agricultural practices with regard to their potential to reduce soil N2O emissions and NO3 leachingwhile maintaining yields. In a first step, the model was tested against observations of N2O emissions, NO3 leaching, soil micrometeorology as well as crop growth for eight European cropland and grassland sites. Across sites, LandscapeDNDC predicts very well mean N2O emissions (r2= 0.99) and simulates the magnitude and general temporal dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen pools. For the assessment of site-specific mitigation potentials of environmental nitrogen losses a Monte Carlo optimization technique considering different agricultural management options (i.e., timing of planting, harvest and fertilization, amount of applied fertilizer as well as residue management)was used. The identified optimized field management practices reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from croplands on average by 21% and 31%, respectively. Likewise, average reductions of 55% for N2O emissions and 16% for NO3 leaching are estimated for grasslands. For mitigating environmental loss - while maintaining yield levels - it was most important to reduce fertilizer application rates by in average 10%. Our analyses indicate that yield scaled N2O emissions and NO3 leaching indicate possible improvements of nitrogen use efficiencies in European farming systems.Moreover, the applied optimization approach can be used also in a prognostic way to predict optimal timings and fertilization options (rates and splitting) upon accurate weather forecasts combined with the knowledge of modeled soil nutrient availability and plant nitrogen demand. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KW - Agricultural management

KW - LandscapeDNDC

KW - Mitigation

KW - N2O emission

KW - NO3 leaching

KW - Optimization

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.099

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.099

M3 - Article

VL - 553

SP - 128

EP - 140

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

SN - 0048-9697

ER -

Molina-Herrera S, Haas E, Klatt S, Kraus D, Augustin J, Magliulo V et al. A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC. Science of the Total Environment. 2016 Feb 22;553:128 - 140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.099

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