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Understanding N 2 O Emissions in African Ecosystems: Assessments from a Semi-Arid Savanna Grassland in Senegal and Sub-Tropical Agricultural Fields in Kenya

Author

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  • Laurent Bigaignon

    (Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France
    Centre d’Etudes Spatiales de la BIOsphère, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CNES, IRD, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Claire Delon

    (Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Ousmane Ndiaye

    (Centre de Recherche Zootechnique, Institut Sénégalais de Recherche Agricole, BP 3120 Yoff, Dakar, Senegal)

  • Corinne Galy-Lacaux

    (Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Dominique Serça

    (Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Frédéric Guérin

    (Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CNES, IRD, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Tiphaine Tallec

    (Centre d’Etudes Spatiales de la BIOsphère, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CNES, IRD, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Lutz Merbold

    (Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute, 30709 Nairobi, Kenya
    Agroscope, Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Torbern Tagesson

    (Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund University, Box 117, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, DK-1165 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Rasmus Fensholt

    (Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, DK-1165 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Sylvain André

    (Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

  • Sylvain Galliau

    (Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, CEDEX 6, 31013 Toulouse, France)

Abstract

This study is based on the analysis of field-measured nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from a Sahelian semi-arid grassland site in Senegal (Dahra), tropical humid agricultural plots in Kenya (Mbita region) and simulations using a 1D model designed for semi arid ecosystems in Dahra. This study aims at improving present knowledge and inventories of N 2 O emissions from the African continent. N 2 O emissions were larger at the agricultural sites in the Mbita region (range: 0.0 ± 0.0 to 42.1 ± 10.7 ngN m −2 s −1 ) than at the Dahra site (range: 0.3 ± 0 to 7.4 ± 6.5 ngN m −2 s −1 ). Soil water and nitrate (NO 3 − ) contents appeared to be the most important drivers of N 2 O emissions in Dahra at the seasonal scale in both regions. The seasonal pattern of modelled N 2 O emissions is well represented, though the model performed better during the rainy season than between the rainy and dry seasons. This study highlighted that the water-filled pore space threshold recognised as a trigger for N 2 O emissions should be reconsidered for semi-arid ecosystems. Based on both measurements and simulated results, an annual N 2 O budget was estimated for African savanna/grassland and agricultural land ranging between 0.17–0.26 and 1.15–1.20 TgN per year, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurent Bigaignon & Claire Delon & Ousmane Ndiaye & Corinne Galy-Lacaux & Dominique Serça & Frédéric Guérin & Tiphaine Tallec & Lutz Merbold & Torbern Tagesson & Rasmus Fensholt & Sylvain André & Sylv, 2020. "Understanding N 2 O Emissions in African Ecosystems: Assessments from a Semi-Arid Savanna Grassland in Senegal and Sub-Tropical Agricultural Fields in Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8875-:d:435026
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Franco-Luesma, Samuel & Álvaro-Fuentes, Jorge & Plaza-Bonilla, Daniel & Arrúe, José Luis & Cantero-Martínez, Carlos & Cavero, José, 2019. "Influence of irrigation time and frequency on greenhouse gas emissions in a solid-set sprinkler-irrigated maize under Mediterranean conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 303-311.
    2. Klaus Butterbach-Bahl & Gretchen Gettel & Ralf Kiese & Kathrin Fuchs & Christian Werner & Jaber Rahimi & Matti Barthel & Lutz Merbold, 2020. "Livestock enclosures in drylands of Sub-Saharan Africa are overlooked hotspots of N2O emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-6, December.
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