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Large N2O emissions from agricultural soils have been reported during winter and spring thaw. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of the DNDC model to simulate N2O emissions resulting from freeze–thaw cycles, particularly the timing of flux events. The DNDC model was tested against micrometeorological fluxes measured during 5 yr in Ontario, Canada. There was a very large discrepancy between simulated and observed fluxes in terms of magnitude and timing. The simulated event occurred, on average, 38 d later than observed, and N2O fluxes were up to 3.5 times larger than the highest measured flux. Examination of simulated soil conditions indicated that the mechanism underlying freeze–thaw‐induced N2O flux in the DNDC model, release of ice‐trapped N2O, was not correct. This misconception had not been identified before, possibly because cold conditions in previous studies were not as extreme as observed in our data set or because continuously measured N2O fluxes were not available for model assessment. As a result of this analysis, DNDC 9.1 was revised by removing the release of ice‐trapped N2O and adding N2O newly produced by denitrification in the surface layer as the main mechanism for N2O production (DNDC 9.3). Comparison between simulated N2O fluxes using DNDC 9.3 and our data indicated improved timing to within 1 d of observed events. The magnitude of simulated flux differed from measurements by more than a factor of two, however, suggesting that an improved algorithm for N2O production and diffusion under soil freezing and thawing is needed.

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Kariyapperuma, K. A., Furon, A. and Wagner-Riddle, C. 2012. Non-growing season nitrous oxide fluxes from an agricultural soil as affected by application of liquid and composted swine manure. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 315–327. Agricultural soils have been recognized as a significant source of anthropogenic nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, an important greenhouse gas and contributor to stratospheric ozone destruction. Application of liquid swine manure (LSM) has been reported to increase direct N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Composting of LSM with straw under forced aeration has been suggested as a mitigation practice for emissions of N2O. In cold climates, up to 70% of total annual soil N2O emissions have been observed during winter and spring thaw. Non-growing season soil N2O emissions after field application of composted swine manure (CSM) versus LSM have not been directly compared in past studies. A 2-yr field experiment was conducted at the Arkell Research Station, Ontario, Canada, as a part of a larger study to evaluate composting as a mitigation strategy for greenhouse gases (GHGs). The objectives were to quantify and compare non-growing season N2O fluxes from agricultural soils after fall application of LSM and CSM. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured using the flux-gradient method. Compared with LSM, CSM resulted in 57% reduction of soil N2O emissions during February to April in 2005, but emissions during the same period in 2006 were not affected by treatments. This effect was related to fall and winter weather conditions with the significant reduction occurring in the year when soil freezing was more pronounced. Compared with LSM, CSM resulted in a reduction of 37% (CO2-eq) of estimated N2O emissions per liter of treated manure and of 50% in the emission factor for the non-growing season.

Warm season perennial C4 grasses (WSGs), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus species (Miscanthus spp.), have been reported to positively influence short-term (15–20 years) soil organic carbon (SOC). In this study, the DayCent model was used to predict changes in long-term SOC stocks under WSGs for moderate (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5) and high (RCP 8.5) warming climate change scenarios in southern Ontario, Canada, and to determine how long the enhanced SOC stock will last when WSGs are converted back to annual crop rotation. The model predicted that a consistent corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) rotation prevented SOC from depletion over the 21st century. Under WSGs, the model predicted high rates of SOC sequestration during the first 20–30 years which then tended to stabilize after 50–60 years. However, the rate of SOC sequestration over 90 years for RCP 4.5 was 0.26 and 0.94 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. If 40-year stands of WSGs are converted back to CCSW, the model predicted SOC decline to the previous level in 40–50 years. DayCent predicted that under RCP 8.5 scenario in the second half of the 21st century and in the future, there will be a reduction in SOC stocks, especially under miscanthus stands.