Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Modelling spatial and inter-annual variations of nitrous oxide emissions from UK cropland and grasslands using DailyDayCent

Nuala Fitton, Arindam Datta, Joanna M. Cloy, Robert M. Rees, K. Topp, M.J. Bell, L. M. Cardenas, J. R. Williams, Kate E. Smith, R. E. Thorman, Catherine J. Watson, Karen McGeough, Matthias Kuhnert, Astley Hastings, Steven Anthony, David R. Chadwick, Pete Smith

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · 2017

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Summary

This study applied the DailyDayCent mechanistic model to characterise spatial and inter-annual variation in nitrous oxide emissions from UK croplands and grasslands using field measurement data from multiple sites and years. The work demonstrates that process-based modelling can capture both site-specific and temporal variation in N₂O emissions, with implications for greenhouse gas inventory estimation and climate mitigation policy. Model performance appears to vary with soil type, climate, and management intensity, suggesting the need for site-specific calibration in some contexts.

UK applicability

The findings are directly applicable to UK agricultural policy and practice, particularly for meeting greenhouse gas reporting requirements under the UNFCCC and for designing spatially targeted mitigation strategies. The multi-site dataset and model calibration provide evidence base for predicting N₂O emissions under different UK soil, climate, and management scenarios.

Key measures

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission rates (likely in kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ or similar), modelled versus measured emissions across multiple sites, soil types, climate conditions, and management practices

Outcomes reported

The study quantified spatial and inter-annual variability in nitrous oxide emissions from UK croplands and grasslands using the DailyDayCent biogeochemical model, integrated with multi-site field measurement data. The work evaluated the model's capacity to represent N₂O dynamics at landscape and national scales for greenhouse gas inventory purposes.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United Kingdom
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.032
Catalogue ID
BFmobghqjf-xvrfsn

Topic tags

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