N2O is produced naturally in soils through the microbial processes of denitrification.
These natural emissions of N2O can be increased by a variety of agricultural
practices and activities, including the use of synthetic and organic fertilisers,
production of nitrogen-fixing crops, cultivation of high organic content
soils, and the application of livestock manure to croplands and pasture.
All of these practices directly add additional nitrogen to soils, which can
then be converted to N2O. Indirect additions of nitrogen to soils can also
result in N2O emissions. Surface run-off and leaching of applied nitrogen
into ground water and surface waters can also result in indirect additions
of nitrogen to the soil. Nitrous oxide is also produced through the denitrification
of the organic nitrogen in livestock manure and urine. The production of
N2O from livestock manure is likely to depend on the composition of the manure
and urine, the type of bacteria involved in the process, and the amount of
oxygen and liquid in the manure system. These are the types of variables
that our research into Nitrous Oxide can provide insight into.
