Abstract
Global warming is the main cause of greenhouse gases (GHG) including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous
oxide (N2O). The Denitrification and Decomposition (DNDC) model is considered a good tool to validate and estimate these
gases from various agricultural practices. The farmers of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia grow rice in soils which
has clay loam soil texture with 5.59 soil pH and 0.0193 kg ha-1 initial soil organic carbon. The farmers grow two rice crops
by applying 248 kg N ha-1
year-1
. The model validation was found satisfactory and gave correct simulations while comparing
with other international modeled studies. The yearly DNDC simulation for CO2 flux rate was 4392 kg C ha-1
, 33.7 N2O kg
ha-1
year-1 with -2 CH4 flux. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) for CO2 flux was 16105 kg CO2-eq ha-1 and N2O of
16403 kg CO2-eq ha-1
; however, CH4 was found as sink (-66 kg CO2-eq ha-1
). Bulk of all these gases had 32442 kg CO2-eq
ha-1
net GWP. The DNDC simulations of field uncertainties by N rates (20% less than recommended, recommended and 20,
40 and 60% more than recommended) and SOC rates at 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.0193 kg C kg-1
) were run through linear
correlation. The unit increase in N as well as SOC rates correspondingly increased NH3 volatilization by 4.09, 3.76, 2.31 and
1.28 kg N ha-1
year-1
, respectively, N2O flux by 10.06, 6.80, 6.51 and 1.16kg N ha-1
, respectively, NO flux by 0.76, 3.25, 3.14
and 2.03 kg N ha-1
year-1
and N2 flux by 17.87, 18.21, 21.75 and 25.22 kg ha-1
year-1
, respectively. In conclusion, the
validation of agricultural data through DNDC model was perfect. The ongoing agricultural practices in the area have been
found contributing small quantities of CO2 and N2O except CH4 which is serving as sink. In future, the increase in soil
organic carbon as well as nitrogen rates probably may involve this area towards more GHG (CO2, N2O, CH4) emissions.
