Changes in N₂O emissions from agricultural water samples with storage time at low temperature measured with headspace methods

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural water samples stored under different conditions, specifically refrigerated at 4°C and frozen at -16°C, over various time periods using the headspace method. Water samples were collected from agricultural runoff and analyzed for water nutrients parameters, including pH, EC, TN, TOC, PO4-P. N2O emissions were measured immediately after sample collection (0 day) and after storage for 5 and 7 days. The results indicated that N2O emissions decreased significantly over time, with a marked reduction in both refrigerated and frozen samples. In refrigerated samples, N2O emissions decreased by 41% after 5 days and by 78% after 7 days. In frozen samples, a similar trend was refrigerated samples, with emissions decreasing by 60% after 5 days and by 66% after 7 days. These findings highlight the critical impact of storage conditions and duration on the accuracy of N2O emission measurements. These findings can inform better practices for assessing indirect N2O emissions in agricultural water management. KCI Citation Count: 0