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Project title

Assessing Peatland Emissions of Nitrous Oxide

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

Matthew Saunders

Project Abstract

This project will address a fundamental knowledge gap relating to the N2O-producing potential of drained, cut-away, agricultural and afforested peatlands as well as and restoration/rewetting activities to develop emission factors (EFs) for these specific activities. The primary research will consist of a review of the current available data, equipment and technology used to measure N2O emissions from peatlands, with the subsequent development of the harmonised sampling techniques and equipment relevant to adopt at each designated peatland site. Sites will be selected to provide data from a broad range of activities that represent near-natural, degraded/converted, and restored peatlands in Ireland. This project will liaise with key stakeholders and experts in the field to ensure synergies with data collation and research activities at currently operational sites. All relevant data will be input into ecosystem models to further refine the correct simulation of soil carbon and nitrogen fluxes and to investigate how these interact with plant growth and decomposition, nutrient status and peatland hydrology. While there are several projects that have/are addressing the implications of anthropogenic management of peatlands systems on the hydrology, ecology and biogeochemistry of peatland systems (Bogland, AUGER, SmartBog, EcoMetrics, iHabiMap, and SWAMP) few to date have focused on the main drivers of N2O emissions or quantified associated emission factors. This project will expand the scope of current research activities to explore the site-specific characteristics that drive N2O production and can act as proxies for emissions (water table height, nutrient status, bulk density, peat degradation, C:N ratio, pH). These will be assessed against measured time-dependent emissions and site heterogeneity across a range of sites that are representative of the degradation/rehabilitation land use in Ireland. The project will utilise a range of gas analysis methods including new state-of-the art portable gas analysers that have the capacity to measure N2O in real time (LICOR LI-7820). This analyser will be coupled with the LICOR Smart Chamber and will be deployed at the peatland rehabilitation sites in conjunction with current measurements (SmartBog and T-AI) where methane and carbon dioxide are currently being assessed, and also on a newly developed afforested site on peat (as part of the T-AI project). Conventional static chambers and gas chromatography analysis will be utilised at the agricultural peatland sites undergoing rewetting, to allow for the development of N-input specific EFs. Where feasible, the sites used selected will be part of the national network of eddy covariance sites (NASCO, ICOS-IRL) to ensure added benefit for the development of full C/GHG budgets for these sites and to support other EPA research fellows working in this area. This information will be used to refine and develop the use of EFs in the national inventory report (NIR), with particular focus given to developing new EFs from the rewetting of agricultural soils. This work will further extend the current state of knowledge by providing additional, targeted geospatial emission data required for key peatland cover classes and input data required for site-specific processed based modelling (e.g. Wetland-DNDC) and land-surface modelling approaches (EPA CO2 fellowship application).

Grant Approved

�394,192.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

01/03/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/02/2026