Dr David Whitehead (right) and visiting scientist Adriano Nascente with equipment set up for data collection at Ashley Dene, Selwyn
We have worked in partnership with NzOnet (New Zealanders involved in nitrous oxide emissions) researchers with a key focus on developing country-specific emission factors from emissions measured to account for New Zealand soils, climate, and management practices. We collected emissions data from grazed pasture soils, followed the IPCC guidelines, and used our process-based research understanding of biological nitrogen transformations and soil and climatic factors regulating emissions to improve the New Zealand agricultural greenhouse gas inventory.
These subsequent improvements in nitrous oxide emission factors have resulted in significant reductions in New Zealand nitrous oxide inventory estimates and avoided overestimation of emissions. We have also been able to develop a method for the national inventory that could more accurately estimate nitrous oxide emissions from hill country, which will be incorporated in the national inventory from 2020.
