Gaseous emissions at different space scales in the nitrogen cycle: A review

Abstract

For a long time emissions of gaseous reactive nitrogen has been of less concern in France than nitrate leaching. However, these emissions are known to have significant consequences on the climate, the environment and human health. Estimating emission of reactive nitrogen to the atmosphere at different scales by using classical methods for inventory, as well as databases and models, showed that the largest emission losses are due to N2 from denitrification, followed by ammonia. The total gaseous losses amount to the same magnitude as nitrate. Livestock farming is a large contributor to gaseous nitrogen losses, mainly through ammonia emissions due to the handling of manure that varies from one system of livestock production to another. Processes at the origin of these emissions are described, as well as their drivers linked to soil, the climate and agricultural practices, along with the main means to mitigate such emissions. Measurement methods are also.