N2O fluxes from agricultural soils in Slovakia and Russia -direct measurements and prediction using the DNDC model

Abstract

Direct measurements of N2O emissions were made on a loamy sand Spodosol (Russia) on agricultural plots with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba L.) during the growing seasons of 2004 and 2006. A closed chamber method was used for measurements of N2O fluxes from the soil. The DNDC model was applied to predict N2O emissions from agricultural soils in the Danubian Lowland in Slovakia and in a northwestern region of Russia. Comparison of the modeled against the observed data demonstrated that the DNDC model adequately predicted the N2O fluxes from soils in Russia and was sensitive to precipitation, soil water-filled pore space and rates of N fertilizers. A comparison of the modeled N2O cumulative fluxes from soils in Slovakia and Russia showed that the DNDC model could be applied for the prediction of their seasonal dynamics in the selected agricultural sites.