The objective of this project was to estimate NH₃ emissions from a variety of major crop-fertilizer combinations and from native soils in California.

Phase one of this project aimed to:

Develop a simulation model for NH₃ emissions from native soils using satellite image drivers and other spatial data.

Evaluate an active sampler for monitoring NH₃ emissions from fertilized fields and background soil emission levels.

Major findings:

Time series plots showed peak emissions shortly after fertilizer application. Emission factors were highly consistent among most fertilizer application forms and methods.

Estimated annual emissions of N-NH₃ from native soils in California were 14 X 10⁶ kg from cropland and 16 x 10⁶ kg from non-cropland (mainly coniferous forest) areas.

Estimated annual emissions of N-NH₃ from chemical fertilizer were 23 x 10⁶ kg.

For more information on this project click here

References

Potter, C., S. Klooster, C. Krauter, M. Benjamin, V. Brooks Genovese, and A. Torregrosa. 2000. Development of Statewide Inventory Estimates of Ammonia Emissions from Native Soils and Crop Fertilizers in California. EOS, Transactions, AGU.

This work was funded by the California Air Resources Board & NASA Ames Research Center.