Estimation of N2O Emissions from Agricultural Soils and Determination of Nitrogen Leakage

Abstract

Leaching of nitrogen from the soil is a natural but unfavorable effect that generates N2O emissions. Exact quantification of nitrogen leakage is a challenging process. Intensive leakage occurs mainly when the soil is without vegetation and under specific climatic conditions. This paper aims to quantify the amount of nitrogen leakage from arable land and grassland, and to estimate N2O emissions in 2017. Estimating the country-specific fraction of leached nitrogen (FracLEACH) is important for the emission balance from this source. Emissions are underestimated when the fraction is low; on the contrary, a high fraction causes overestimation. The internationally recognized fraction is 30%, according to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control (IPCC) Guidelines. This factor represents the fraction of nitrogen losses compared to total nitrogen inputs and sources. In this study, we analyzed the effects of climatic conditions on agricultural soils in Slovakia to evaluate the area of nitrogen loss through leaching.