Preparatory Actions
The project will be carried out through two preparatory actions, comprising a market research for the selection of two N2O analyzers and other materials needed for the realization of the two prototypes.
A.1 Activation of the Project Management Team
A.2 Market research and selection of instruments and materials
Implementation Actions
Seven implementation actions are foreseen.
The first three implementation actions are aimed at the realization of two prototypes for measuring N2O fluxes, one portable for evaluating spatial variability, the other to be used in a fixed location (station prototype) for investigating temporal changes. After testing the performance of both prototypes in the West Systems laboratory, they will be validated against other instruments and methodologies to test their robustness, sensitivity, and operational capabilities at the laboratories and field site of INRA in France.
The other four implementation actions are focused on the application of the two prototypes in the agricultural Tuscan framework. After the identification of the main cropping systems in Tuscany and their effects of N2O emissions, a series of field trials will be set up in the Interdipartimental Centre for Agro-Ecological Research E. Avanzi (CIRAA), located on the northern coast of Tuscany, near Pisa, and the Cesa Research Centre for Agricultural Technologies and Extension Services in the Province of Arezzo (CATES). They are representative of different pedological and climatic characteristics as well as crop management. A monitoring period of two years will be carried out on these field trials using both prototypes, in order to obtain a comprehensive set of N2O flux data and ancillary parameters. These outcomes will be used to draw up a Best Practice Manual including short- to long-term best practice/effective actions for governmental authorities and stakeholders (both at local and regional scale) in order to favor the reduction of N2O emission from agriculture.
The guidelines contained in the Best Practice Manual will be formulated following a participatory approach together with stakeholders and will be integrated in the regional planning tools, trying to answer the following questions: How to manage cropping systems in order to reduce N2O emissions? Which actions should be implemented both on short- and long-term periods?
Monitoring of the impact of the project actions
Four actions will be performed to monitor the impact of the project on the environmental target, related both to the use of the two prototypes and to the Best Practices Manual adoption at regional scale.
Communication and Dissemination Actions
Seven communication and dissemination actions will be implemented for publishing the results of the project, also comprising specific reports, one for policy makers and another for technicians involved in environmental monitoring activities, who will be trained through suitable on-the-job courses. Workshops and meetings are also foreseen to disseminate the outcomes of the project at different levels and to increase the public awareness on the need to reduce the N2O output from agriculture and consequently to mitigate the related climate change impact. Dissemination activities will be realised by website implementation, information boards, and Layman's report, as well as organisation of national workshops, articles in the local press, radio and web interviews, advertising materials, meetings with primary to high school students.
Project Management and monitoring of the project Progress
| E.1 Project coordination | |
| E.2 Monitoring of activity progress | |
| E.3 Networking with other Life projects. Communication with the European Commission | |
| E.4 Project reporting |
