Distribution of nitrous oxide emissions from managed organic soils under different land uses estimated by the peat C/N ratio to improve national GHG inventories

Summary

This paper addresses the challenge of quantifying nitrous oxide emissions from managed organic soils—a significant but poorly characterised source in national greenhouse gas inventories. Leifeld proposes that the peat C/N ratio can serve as a practical indicator to distribute N₂O emissions across different land uses (as suggested by the 2018 timeframe of GHG inventory methodologies). The approach aims to improve the accuracy and granularity of national-level GHG reporting for these carbon-rich, agriculturally managed systems.

UK applicability

The United Kingdom has extensive managed organic soils, particularly in Scotland, Northern England, and lowland England; this methodology could directly inform UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) reporting and compliance with EU/international GHG accounting standards, particularly relevant for peatland under agriculture or forestry management.

Key measures

Nitrous oxide emissions (N₂O) from managed organic soils; peat C/N ratios; land-use categorisation

Outcomes reported

The study estimates the distribution of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from managed organic soils across different land-use categories. The research proposes using peat carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios as a proxy to improve national greenhouse gas inventory reporting for these systems.

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