DenNit – Experimental analysis and modelling of soil N2O efflux in response on changes of soil water content, soil temperature, soil pH, nutrient availability and the time after rain event

To quantify the effects of soil temperature (Tsoil), and relative soil water content (RSWC) on soil N2O emission we measured N2O soil efflux with a closed dynamic chamber in situ in the field and from soil cores in a controlled climate chamber experiment. Additionally we analysed the effect of soil acidity, ammonium, and nitrate concentration in the field. The analysis was performed on three meadows, two bare soils and in one forest. We identified soil water content, soil temperature, soil nitrogen content, and pH as the main parameters influencing soil N2O emission. The response of N2O emission to soil temperature and relative soil water content was analysed for the field and climate chamber measurements. A non-linear regression model (DenNit) was developed for the field data to describe soil N2O efflux as a function of soil temperature, soil moisture, pH value, and ammonium and nitrate concentration. The model could explain 81% of the variability in soil N2O emission of all individual field measurements, except for data with short-term soil water changes, namely during and up to 2 h after rain stopped. We validated the model with an independent dataset. For this additional meadow site 73% of the flux variation could be explained with the model.

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