A Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Framework (Mrv) for Tracking Fertilizer-Induced Nitrous Oxide Emissions

The use of nitrogen (N) as fertiliser is an important driver of agricultural intensification, and supports high crop production. However, N-fertilizer is a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The actual values of N2O emissions from agriculture are not well known, nor is this information reflected in National GHGs inventories. Those data are key to develop efficient GHG mitigation strategies, and policies that limit N2O emissions. We present a Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework, to improve documentation and monitoring of N2O emissions from N-fertilizer use. Unlike previous MRV proposed, this scheme can be implemented by local policy makers, farmers and land-owners since it is unexpensibe and does not require technical knowledge.We also make recommendations regarding the implementation of a coordinated network, to support reduction and mitigation policies necessary to meet climate goals.