Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agriculture on a Regional Scale

Nowadays, agriculture has to meet the growing food demand together with high requirements of environmental protection, especially regarding the climate change. The greenhouse gas emissions differ not only on a global, but also on a regional scale, and mitigation strategies are effective when they are adapted properly. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present the results of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions inventory on a regional level in Poland in years 1999-2015. The CH4 and N2O emissions were calculated according to the methodology used by the National Centre for Emissions Management (NCEM) for national inventory for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol. The data were taken from Central Statistical Office of Poland. The CH4 emissions in all studied years varied strongly between voivodeships and ranged from 5.6-7.5 Gg y(-1) in the Lubuskie Voivodeship to 84.8-104.3 Gg y(-1) in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. While in most voivodeships the CH4 emissions dropped down, in Podlaskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, and Wielkopolskie voivodeships, the emissions of this gas increased significantly as a consequence of the development of dairy and meat production. In 1999, the highest N2O fluxes were calculated for the Wielkopolskie (5.7 Gg y(-1)), Mazowieckie (4.8 Gg y(-1)) Kujawsko-Pomorskie (3.5 Gg y(-1)) and Lubelskie (3.3 Gg y(-1)) voivodeships, while in 2015, the highest nitrous oxide emissions were calculated for the Wielkopolskie (7.3 Gg y(-1)), Mazowieckie (5.5 Gg y(-1)), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (4.1 Gg y(-1)) and Podlaskie (4.1 Gg y(-1)) voivodeships. In the studied period, the contribution of N2O emissions from crop production increased in almost all voivodeships except the Podlaskie, Lubuskie and Warminsko-Mazurskie regions. The growth in emissions from mineral fertilization and crop residue incorporation, together with the increase of emission from the animal sector in some regions of Poland, resulted in the higher national emission of nitrous oxide in the period of 1999 to 2015. Although there is a range of GHG reduction possibilities, the mitigation should be adapted with caution, on the basis of precisely calculated GHG emissions. The best management practices, if followed carefully, may reduce the environmental burden of the agricultural production and enhance its profitability.