Influence of the distribution of soil carbon, nutrients and water on nitrous oxide production and consumption in soil profiles

Our inventory of surface N2O emissions has expanded dramatically over the past several decades. Despite the diversity of conditions under which surface emissions have been monitored, we are still challenged to effectively model N2O emissions in the natural environment. Most studies have simply examined surface emissions, treating the soil as a two-dimensional body. Understanding the three-dimensional nature of N2O production and consumption and the resulting surface and sub-surfaces fluxes of N2O are key to modeling this process. This project will collect a series of high temporal resolution data sets to examine N2O production, consumption and emissions of soil profiles under field conditions and based on these findings examine some of the triggers of N2O production and consumption (carbon, water content and temperature) under more controlled conditions in the laboratory. This work will enable the refinement of models of N2O production and transport in the soil profile and allow better prediction of the effects of management, climate and climate change on N2O emissions from ageroecosystems.