title: A modeling study on mitigation of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching at different agricultural sites across Europe using LandscapeDNDC.
abstract: The identification of site-specific agricultural management practices in order to maximize yield while minimizing environmental nitrogen losses remains in the center of environmental pollution research. Here, we used the biogeochemical model LandscapeDNDC to explore different agricultural practices with regard to their potential to reduce soil N2O emissions and NO3 leaching while maintaining yields. In a first step, the model was tested against observations of N2O emissions, NO3 leaching, soil micrometeorology as well as crop growth for eight European cropland and grassland sites. Across sites, LandscapeDNDC predicts very well mean N2O emissions (r(2)=0.99) and simulates the magnitude and general temporal dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen pools. For the assessment of site-specific mitigation potentials of environmental nitrogen losses a Monte Carlo optimization technique considering different agricultural management options (i.e., timing of planting, harvest and fertilization, amount of applied fertilizer as well as residue management) was used. The identified optimized field management practices reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from croplands on average by 21% and 31%, respectively. Likewise, average reductions of 55% for N2O emissions and 16% for NO3 leaching are estimated for grasslands. For mitigating environmental loss - while maintaining yield levels - it was most important to reduce fertilizer application rates by in average 10%. Our analyses indicate that yield scaled N2O emissions and NO3 leaching indicate possible improvements of nitrogen use efficiencies in European farming systems. Moreover, the applied optimization approach can be used also in a prognostic way to predict optimal timings and fertilization options (rates and splitting) upon accurate weather forecasts combined with the knowledge of modeled soil nutrient availability and plant nitrogen demand.
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Saúl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molina-Herrera
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Electronic address: edwin.haas@kit.edu.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klatt
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Centre for Agriculture Landscape Research (ZALF) e.V., Institute for Landscape Biogeochemistry, Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.affiliation: Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo CNR, Via C. Patacca 85, 80056 Ercolano, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Magliulo
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of the Biosphere from Space (CESBIO),Unité mixte de recherché (UPS, CNRS, CNES, IRD), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Tiphaine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tallec
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of the Biosphere from Space (CESBIO),Unité mixte de recherché (UPS, CNRS, CNES, IRD), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ceschia
authors.affiliation: Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART, Swiss Federal Research Station, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ammann
authors.affiliation: INRA, AgroParisTech, UMR, 1091 EGC, Environnement et Grandes Cultures, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loubet
authors.affiliation: Centre of Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Skiba
authors.affiliation: Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Crop & Soils Systems, Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Thünen Institut, Institut für Agrarklimaschutz, Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brümmer
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butterbach-Bahl
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiese
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005060:Europe; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D009566:Nitrates; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: Agricultural management; LandscapeDNDC; Mitigation; N(2)O emission; NO(3) leaching; Optimization