Non CO2 Gases

Mission/Vision

To support common observations of soil N2O emissions from Common Experiment treatments at all LTAR sites.

Objectives

• To define a standardized minimum sampling design to address greenhouse gas questions across the LTAR network.
• To identify LTAR sites that are able to analyze gas samples for other sites.
• To coordinate use of LTAR Non-CO2 gas data to address network-wide questions.

Activities

Accomplishments

• The group recommends using existing methodologies as defined by GRACEnet (http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?np_code=212&docid=21223) and GRA (http://globalresearchalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Chamber_Methodology_Guidelines_Final-V1.1-2015.pdf)
• Sites without experience measuring N2O should identify a partner site with experience (possibly with similar land use treatments e.g. grasslands vs. croplands) for guidance on chamber design, chamber placement, sampling protocols etc.
• Key Questions identified by the group:
  • Can existing N2O models (DayCent, DNDC, others?) predict N2O fluxes in response to N inputs (fertilizer, manure, urine, legume cover crops)?
  • Comparing GHG balance and N2O-N (unit production)-1 in Business as Usual and Aspirational treatments in Common Experiment
  • Can we improve IPCC national GHG inventory methods for agriculture (Tiers 2 and 3)?

Datasets Produced

Manuscripts Published

List of manuscripts published or under development with LTAR Meteorology datasets.