Nitrous oxide emissions in agriculture: impacts on the GHG mitigation issue

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is responsible for about two thirds of the emissions from agriculture. With a global warming potential (GWP) that is 310 times greater than CO2, management of N2O emissions is critical to achieve reductions. Mitigation research aimed at identifying strategies for reducing emissions from agriculture has shown that many of the “best management practices” (BMP) for achieving sustainable agricultural development in Canada also reduce GHG emissions. As such, mitigation strategies are often practices that have demonstrated economic and environmental benefits and fit within Canada’s overall sustainability objectives for the sector.