Application of the DNDC model for predicting soil GHGs emissions under shallow water-table conditions

In the context of the Common Agricultural Policy, it is important to develop cost-effective tools that support the evaluation of the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures undertaken by farmers. Biogeochemical models play an important role in monitoring the benefits and the drawbacks of such strategies, especially since they provide specific and precise output considering different pedo-climatic conditions. In this thesis work we calibrated and validated a new version of the biogeochemical model DNDC for the low-lying condition of the Venetian plain. For this purpose, we used soil and GHGs emissions data gathered in a lysimetric experimental site at the experimental farm “Lucio Toniolo” of the University of Padova thanks to a complex automated system composed of probes and dataloggers. The recent upgrade of this model provided good results in describing shallow groundwater conditions that strongly influence the redox conditions and consequently the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. Therefore, we obtained Soil GHGs emissions levels at high spatial and temporal resolution.