<p>Vogeler, I., Beukes, P., Romera, A. &amp; Cichota, R. (2012). Estimating nitrous oxide emissions from a diary farm using a mechanistic, whole farm model and segregated emission factors for New Zealand. <em>Soil Research</em> 50 (3) 188-194</p>
<p>Abstract</p>
<p>Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions from agriculture are generally estimated using default IPCC emission factors (EFs) despite the large variation in measured EFs. We used a classification and regression tree (CART) analysis to segregate measured EFs from direct emissions from urine patches and fertiliser and effluent applications, based on temporal and site-specific factors. These segregated EFs were linked to simulations from the DairyNZ Whole Farm Model to obtain N<sub>2</sub>O emissions for a typical pasture-based dairy farm in New Zealand. The N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from urine patches, dung pads, and fertiliser and effluent application, as well as from indirect sources, were aggregated to obtain total N<sub>2</sub>O emissions for the farm-scale. The results, based on segregated EFs, were compared with those obtained using New Zealand-specific EFs. On-farm N<sub>2</sub>O emissions based on these segregated EFs were 5% lower than those based on New Zealand-specific EFs. Improved farm management by avoiding grazing, effluent, and N fertiliser application during periods of high risk for N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, or by the use of mitigation technologies such as nitrification inhibitors, could reduce annual farm scale N<sub>2</sub>O emissions.</p>
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