Kanter, D.R. and Zhang, X. and Mauzerall, D.L. and et al, . (2016) The importance of climate change and nitrogen use efficiency for future nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture. Environmental Research Letters, 11 (094003). pp. 1-10.
![[img]](http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
PDF
- Published Version
Restricted to ICRISAT researchers only |
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance. Previous projections of agricultural N2O(the dominant anthropogenic source) show emissions changing in tandem, or at a faster rate than changes in nitrogen (N) consumption. However, recent studies suggest that the carbon dioxide (CO2) fertilization effect may increase plant N uptake, which could decrease soil N losses and dampen increases in N2O. To evaluate this hypothesis at a global scale, we use a process-based land model with a coupled carbon-nitrogen cycle to examine how changes in climatic factors, land-use, and N application rates could affect agricultural N2O emissions by 2050. Assuming little improvement in N use efficiency (NUE), the model projects a 24%–31% increase in global agricultural N2O emissions by 2040–2050 depending on the climate scenario—a relatively moderate increase compared to the projected increases in N inputs (42%–44%) and previously published emissions projections (38%–75%). This occurs largely because the CO2 fertilization effect enhances plant N uptake in several regions, which subsequently dampens N2O emissions. And yet, improvements in NUE could still deliver important environmental benefits by 2050: equivalent to 10 Pg CO2 equivalent and 0.6 Tg ozone depletion potential.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Nitrous oxide, Agriculture,CO2, Fertilization, Nitrogen use efficiency |
| Author Affiliation: | Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, 285 Mercer Street, 9th floor, New York, NY, 10003, USA |
| Subjects: | Atmosperic Science > Climatology Plant Protection > Pesticides |
| Divisions: | General |
| Depositing User: | Mr B Krishnamurthy |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Feb 2017 08:24 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Feb 2017 08:24 |
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/9/094003 |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/14735 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
