CO fluxes from drained and rewetted peatlands using a new ECOSSE model water table simulation approach.

The ability of peatlands to remove and store atmospheric carbon (C) depends on the drainage characteristics, which can be challenging to accommodate in biogeochemical models. Many studies indicate that restoration (by rewetting) of damaged peatlands can re-establish their capacity as a natural C sink. The purpose of this research was to improve the biogeochemical modelling of peatlands using the ECOSSE process-based model, which will account for the effects of drainage and rewetting during simulation, and potentially contribute towards improved estimation of carbon dioxide (CO) fluxes from peatlands, using the IPCC Tier 3 approach.

Effects of over-winter green cover on soil solution nitrate concentrations beneath tillage land.

There is a growing need to reduce nitrogen losses from agricultural systems to increase food production while reducing negative environmental impacts. The efficacy of vegetation cover for reducing nitrate leaching in tillage systems during fallow periods has been widely investigated. Nitrate leaching reductions by natural regeneration (i.

Comparison of pesticide leaching potential to groundwater under EU FOCUS and site specific conditions.

The EU FOCUS scenarios are a set of nine standard scenarios based on a combination of crop, soil and weather data used throughout Europe to evaluate the leaching potential of pesticides to groundwater. In Ireland, two predefined EU FOCUS scenarios (Okehampton and Hamburg) appear to be the most appropriate to Irish conditions. However, there is concern that these scenarios may not accurately represent Irish specific conditions, especially in terms of soil and climatic weather.

Effects of over-winter green cover on groundwater nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations beneath tillage land.

Application of over-winter green cover (e.g. cover crops) as a measure for reducing nitrate losses from tillage land has been frequently investigated, especially in the unsaturated zone.