Determining the nitrous oxide transfer velocity and emission factor of an agricultural drain

What is it about?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and agriculture is the largest source of anthropogenic N2O emissions. The direct N2O emissions from pastoral agriculture soils have been studied extensively, but not indirect emissions from agricultural drains due to measurement difficulties of N2O transfer velocity (V_N2O), Therefore, in this study, V_N2O measured using tracers, chamber methods and the model that developed by O'Connor and Dobbins (1958). The measurements and estimates were averaged 5 m/day.

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Why is it important?

Indirect N2O emissions from agricultural drainage equal the water's N2O concentration in excess of the atmospheric value multiplied by the V_N2O. Using New Zealand's first estimates of the V_N2O, a previously unknown component of the indirect N2O emissions associated with nitrogen leaching from agricultural lands can be determined.