Chapter 17: Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Mitigation

Nitrous oxide, or N₂O, is a greenhouse gas that is largely considered to be the cause for depletion of the ozone layer. As nearly 70% of the global emissions seem to arise from bacterial and fungal denitrifications and nitrification processes in soils, there is a growing concern to identify mitigation techniques to improve the atmosphere in which we live. Fertilizers in agricultural soils are the primary source. This chapter will explain the causes of nitrous oxide emissions in the atmosphere as well as explore these mitigation methods that have been researched, tested and successfully implemented.