Emissions of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane from different types of dairy manure during storage as affected by dietary protein content

In a storage experiment with dairy cow manure, the effects of dietary protein content and manure type on ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane volatilization as well as overall nitrogen (N) loss from manure were investigated. Early-lactating cows received rations with 175, 150 and 125 g crude protein/kg dry matter. Each ration was tested in four manure storage systems reflecting typical farm conditions. These either contained total excreta with high amounts of straw (deep litter manure) or no straw (slurry) or, proportionately, 0·9 of urine and 0·1 of faeces (urine-rich slurry) complemented by the residuals with a low amount of straw (farmyard manure). Manure samples were stored for 7 weeks under controlled conditions and trace gas emission was repeatedly measured. Reduction of N intake decreased daily N excretion and urine N proportion and, on average, led to 0·7-fold lower storage ammonia emission rates on average. Total storage N loss was simultaneously reduced with the extent depending on urine N proportion of the respective manures. A lower dietary protein content furthermore reduced nitrous oxide emission rates in most manure types but increased methane emission from urine-rich slurry; however, global warming potential (based on trace gas output) of all manures was similar with low and high dietary protein content. In deep litter manure, characterized by the highest C:N ratio, emission rates of total N, ammonia and methane were lowest, whereas nitrous oxide values were intermediate. Substantial emission of nitrous oxide occurred with farmyard manure which also had the highest methane values and, consequently, by far the highest global warming potential. C:N ratio of manure was shown to be suitable to predict total N loss from manure during storage in all manure types whereas urine N proportion and manure pH were only of use with liquid manures.

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UTILIZATION OF CATTLE MANURE CONTAINING WOOD SHAVINGS: EFFECT ON SOIL AND CROP

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss87-027 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 309-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

T. G. SOMMERFELDT ◽

D. C. MACKAY

Keyword(s):

Hordeum Vulgare ◽

Protein Content ◽

Key Words ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Crop Yields ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

N Immobilization ◽

Hordeum Vulgare L ◽

Total N ◽

Wood Shavings

A 7-yr study was conducted to determine the effects of repeated annual applications of manure containing softwood shavings (M + S) at 50 t ha−1 on the soil and its productivity, relative to manure without shavings (M) at 50 t ha−1 and nitrogen fertilizer (F) at 67 kg ha−1. The EC, OM, total N and C:N ratio of the soil of the M + S and M + S + F plots to 60-cm depth were not significantly greater than those from the M plots, and in some instances they were significantly less. The NO3-N and total N and available P contents of the soil from the M + S treatment were significantly lower than those from the M treatment. Immobilization of N in the M + S and M + S + F treatments was indicated. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Gait') straw and grain yields and protein content of the grain were generally greater under the M than under the M + S treatment. When N fertilizer was included in the M + S treatment (M + S + F) the yields were similar to those of M, and the protein content increased. If manure with shavings is used for fertilizer, supplemental N should be applied to offset N immobilization. Key words: Manure disposal, manure, manure with wood shavings, nitrogen, crop yields

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Potential for biological denitrification of fertilizer nitrogen in sugarcane soils

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9960067 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 67 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

KL Weier ◽

CW McEwan ◽

I Vallis ◽

VR Catchpoole ◽

RJ Myers

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Sampling Period ◽

Field Studies ◽

N Loss ◽

Total N ◽

Biological Denitrification ◽

Sugarcane Crop ◽

Ratoon Sugarcane ◽

Red Earth ◽

Crop Management Systems

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is being lost from sugarcane soils following application to the crop. This study was conducted to estimate the quantity of N being lost from the soil through biological denitrification and to determine the proportion of gaseous N being emitted either as N2O or as N2. Field studies were conducted on four different soils (humic gley, alluvial massive earth, red earth and gleyed podzolic), and on different crop management systems, by installing plastic (PVC) cylinders (23.5 cm diam., 25 cm long) in the soil to a depth of 20 cm beside the plant row in a ratoon sugarcane crop. 15N-labelled KNO3 was applied as a band across each cylinder to a depth of 2.5 cm at a rate of 160 kg N/ha. After rainfall or irrigation, the cylinders were capped for 3 h intervals and gas in the headspace sampled in the morning and afternoon, for up to 4 days. Denitrification losses from the humic gley ranged from 247 g N/ha.day for cultivated plots to 1673 g N/ha.day for no-till plots. Over the sampling period, this was equivalent to 3.2% and 19.7% of the N applied, respectively. Nitrous oxide accounted for 46% to 78% of the total N lost. For the alluvial, massive earth and the red earth and gleyed podzolic, losses over the sampling period ranged from 25 to 117 g N/h.day and represented <1% of the N applied. Recovery of 15N in the soil ranged from 67% at the first sampling on the red earth soil to 4.9% at the third sampling on the alluvial, massive earth soil. In a glasshouse study, intact soil cores (23.5 cm diam., 20 cm long), taken from the humic gley and the alluvial, massive earth, were waterlogged after band application of 15N-labelled KNO3 at a rate of 160 kg N/ha. Gas samples from the headspace were taken after 3 h, and then morning and afternoon for the next 14 days. Denitrification losses ranged from 13.2 to 38.6% of N applied with the majority of gaseous N loss occurring as N2. Total recoveries after 14 days, including the evolved gases, ranged from 68.7 to 88.2%. We conclude that denitrification is a major cause of fertilizer N loss from fine-textured soils, with nitrous oxide the major gaseous N product when soil nitrate concentrations are high.

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Modification of the Nitrogen Content and C:N Ratio of Sitka Spruce Timber by Kiln and Air Drying

Holzforschung ◽

10.1515/hf.2002.049 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 304-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. Payne

Keyword(s):

C:N Ratio ◽

Sitka Spruce ◽

N Loss ◽

Air Drying ◽

N Content ◽

Total N ◽

Kiln Drying ◽

Wood Temperature ◽

N Enrichment ◽

Do So

Summary Loss of N from Sitka spruce timber was investigated by sampling battens before drying, after 5 and 41 days air drying, after exposure to a full kiln drying schedule and at 24 h intervals during kiln drying. Undried sapwood and heartwood had similar total N content. Kiln drying significantly reduced total N content of the sapwood and heartwood within the first 24 h of the drying schedule when wood temperature was below 50°C. Tests using timber from trees felled at different times of the year and grown in different locations with considerably different undried N content indicated a constant N loss of approx 30% of the total as a result of kiln drying. No evidence of absolute N enrichment of evaporation surfaces of battens was found, although a slight enrichment relative to wood within battens did develop as a result of kiln drying. Air drying also reduced N content but to a lesser extent than kiln drying, even after 41 days exposure. Nitrogen was lost more quickly from heartwood than sapwood during air drying. Loss of N from the wood appears to be in a gaseous or vapour form which is suggested to be through loss of naturally present ammonia and deamination of amino acids to produce further ammonia. GC-MS analysis of gasses/vapours released by wood samples indicated that molecules of 17 amu, which may include ammonia, were liberated in relatively large quantities from undried heartwood but not from partly kiln dried heartwood when heated. Sapwood released these molecules more slowly and continued to do so following partial kiln drying possibly indicating a less volatile source. Temperature gradients within battens during kiln drying were relatively small, with temperature similar to that of the kiln air.

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Understanding the evolution of atmospheric nitrous oxide over the last century from the stable isotopes of the firn air at Styx Glacier, East Antarctica

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-9337 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sambit Ghosh ◽

Sakae Toyoda ◽

Jinho Ahn ◽

Youngjoon Jang ◽

Naohiro Yoshida

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Global Warming ◽

East Antarctica ◽

Box Model ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Site Preference ◽

Mixing Ratio ◽

Mass Balance Calculation ◽

Total N

The increase in mixing ratio of greenhouse gas (GHG) has been believed to be the primary driver for the ongoing global warming. Among the GHGs, the mixing ratio of nitrous oxide (N2O) has increased by 23% since 1750 CE. N2O has a long residence time of ca. 120 years, and a potential to destruct the ozone layer. The Global Warming Potential of N2O is about 300 times greater than that of CO2 over 100 years. However, the temporal changes in magnitude and geographic distribution of different N2O sources are uncertain, hence, understanding the dynamics of atmospheric N2O has been a challenge to the researcher during the last few decades. Here, we present new stable isotope data of N2O from the firn air at Styx Glacier, East Antarctica to comprehend the atmospheric evolution for the last 100 years. Our results show that the N2O mixing ratio has increased, whereas the &#948;15Nbulk (&#8240;, AIR) and &#948;18O (&#8240;, VSMOW) values decreased during the last 100 years, consistent with the existing firn air records. The progressive increase in the N2O mixing ratio and the decrease in the isotope ratios suggest a higher contribution from the anthropogenic sources assuming that the N2O flux from the natural sources is constant. Our box model analysis using the stable isotopes and mixing ratio data of N2O of Styx firn air suggests that anthropogenic N2O emission at 2014 CE was ca. 37.5% higher than 1919 CE. The box model calculation with Styx and other firn air and ice core data suggests that in comparison to the pre-industrial era, the total N2O emission is ca. 61% higher at present (2014 CE), where ca. 62% and 38% contributions are from natural and anthropogenic sources, respectively to the total N2O emission. The isotope-based mass-balance calculation indicates that continental emission was ca. 45% higher in 2014 CE than in 1919 CE. Although there is a large scatter in existing data, the site preference of 15N in N2O molecules (&#948;15NSP &#8240;, AIR) shows an increasing trend during the post-industrial era, which is consistent with the idea that enhanced fertilization increased soil N2O emissions by activating nitrification processes.

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Agricultural practices and diffuse nitrogen pollution in Denmark: empirical leaching and catchment models

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1999.0554 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 39 (12) ◽

pp. 257-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hans E. Andersen ◽

Brian Kronvang ◽

Søren E. Larsen

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Land ◽

Root Zone ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Animal Manure ◽

Annual Runoff ◽

N Leaching ◽

N Loss ◽

Total N ◽

Model Calculations ◽

N Removal

An empirical leaching model was applied to data on agricultural practices at the field level within 6 small Danish agricultural catchments in order to document any changes in nitrogen (N) leaching from the root zone during the period 1989-96. The model calculations performed at normal climate revealed an average reduction in N-leaching that amounted to 30% in the loamy catchments and 9% in the sandy catchments. The reductions in N leaching could be ascribed to several improvements in agricultural practices during the study period: (i) regulations on livestock density; (ii) regulations on the utilisation of animal manure; (iii) regulations concerning application practices for manure. The average annual total N-loss from agricultural areas to surface water constituted only 54% of the annual average N leached from the root zone in the three loamy catchments and 17% in the three sandy catchments. Thus, subsurface N-removal processes are capable of removing large amounts of N leached from agricultural land. An empirical model for the annual diffuse N-loss to streams from small catchments is presented. The model predicts annual N-loss as a function of the average annual use of mineral fertiliser and manure in the catchment and the total annual runoff from the unsaturated zone.

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Biochar and urease inhibitor mitigate NH3 and N2O emissions and improve wheat yield in a urea fertilized alkaline soil

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-96771-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Khadim Dawar ◽

Shah Fahad ◽

M. M. R. Jahangir ◽

Iqbal Munir ◽

Syed Sartaj Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Block Design ◽

N Uptake ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

Urease Inhibitor ◽

Alkaline Soil ◽

Total N ◽

N Assimilation

AbstractIn this study, we explored the role of biochar (BC) and/or urease inhibitor (UI) in mitigating ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) discharge from urea fertilized wheat cultivated fields in Pakistan (34.01°N, 71.71°E). The experiment included five treatments [control, urea (150 kg N ha−1), BC (10 Mg ha−1), urea + BC and urea + BC + UI (1 L ton−1)], which were all repeated four times and were carried out in a randomized complete block design. Urea supplementation along with BC and BC + UI reduced soil NH3 emissions by 27% and 69%, respectively, compared to sole urea application. Nitrous oxide emissions from urea fertilized plots were also reduced by 24% and 53% applying BC and BC + UI, respectively, compared to urea alone. Application of BC with urea improved the grain yield, shoot biomass, and total N uptake of wheat by 13%, 24%, and 12%, respectively, compared to urea alone. Moreover, UI further promoted biomass and grain yield, and N assimilation in wheat by 38%, 22% and 27%, respectively, over sole urea application. In conclusion, application of BC and/or UI can mitigate NH3 and N2O emissions from urea fertilized soil, improve N use efficiency (NUE) and overall crop productivity.

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Variation in Soil Properties Regulate Greenhouse Gas Fluxes and Global Warming Potential in Three Land Use Types on Tropical Peat

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos9120465 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 465 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kiwamu Ishikura ◽

Untung Darung ◽

Takashi Inoue ◽

Ryusuke Hatano

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Groundwater Level ◽

Global Warming Potential ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Co2 Flux ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

N2o Flux ◽

Ch4 Flux ◽

In The Beginning

This study investigated spatial factors controlling CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes and compared global warming potential (GWP) among undrained forest (UDF), drained forest (DF), and drained burned land (DBL) on tropical peatland in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sampling was performed once within two weeks in the beginning of dry season. CO2 flux was significantly promoted by lowering soil moisture and pH. The result suggests that oxidative peat decomposition was enhanced in drier position, and the decomposition acidify the peat soils. CH4 flux was significantly promoted by a rise in groundwater level, suggesting that methanogenesis was enhanced under anaerobic condition. N2O flux was promoted by increasing soil nitrate content in DF, suggesting that denitrification was promoted by substrate availability. On the other hand, N2O flux was promoted by lower soil C:N ratio and higher soil pH in DBL and UDF. CO2 flux was the highest in DF (241 mg C m−2 h−1) and was the lowest in DBL (94 mg C m−2 h−1), whereas CH4 flux was the highest in DBL (0.91 mg C m−2 h−1) and was the lowest in DF (0.01 mg C m−2 h−1), respectively. N2O flux was not significantly different among land uses. CO2 flux relatively contributed to 91–100% of GWP. In conclusion, it is necessary to decrease CO2 flux to mitigate GWP through a rise in groundwater level and soil moisture in the region.

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Denitrifying pathways dominate nitrous oxide emissions from managed grassland during drought and rewetting

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abb7118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. eabb7118

Author(s):

E. Harris ◽

E. Diaz-Pines ◽

E. Stoll ◽

M. Schloter ◽

S. Schulz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Nitrous Oxide ◽

N Fertilization ◽

High Variability ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Severe Drought ◽

Total N ◽

The Past ◽

Precipitation Changes ◽

Isotopic Measurements

Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas whose atmospheric growth rate has accelerated over the past decade. Most anthropogenic N2O emissions result from soil N fertilization, which is converted to N2O via oxic nitrification and anoxic denitrification pathways. Drought-affected soils are expected to be well oxygenated; however, using high-resolution isotopic measurements, we found that denitrifying pathways dominated N2O emissions during a severe drought applied to managed grassland. This was due to a reversible, drought-induced enrichment in nitrogen-bearing organic matter on soil microaggregates and suggested a strong role for chemo- or codenitrification. Throughout rewetting, denitrification dominated emissions, despite high variability in fluxes. Total N2O flux and denitrification contribution were significantly higher during rewetting than for control plots at the same soil moisture range. The observed feedbacks between precipitation changes induced by climate change and N2O emission pathways are sufficient to account for the accelerating N2O growth rate observed over the past decade.

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The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N2O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr15286 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

pp. 604 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

G. D. Schwenke ◽

B. M. Haigh

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

Crop Production ◽

Field Experiments ◽

N2o Emission ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

N Loss ◽

N Losses ◽

Total N ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

The Impact

Summer crop production on slow-draining Vertosols in a sub-tropical climate has the potential for large emissions of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) from denitrification of applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser. While it is well established that applying N fertiliser will increase N2O emissions above background levels, previous research in temperate climates has shown that increasing N fertiliser rates can increase N2O emissions linearly, exponentially or not at all. Little such data exists for summer cropping in sub-tropical regions. In four field experiments at two locations across two summers, we assessed the impact of increasing N fertiliser rate on both soil N2O emissions and crop yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Vertosols of sub-tropical Australia. Rates of N fertiliser, applied as urea at sowing, included a nil application, an optimum N rate and a double-optimum rate. Daily N2O fluxes ranged from –3.8 to 2734g N2O-Nha–1day–1 and cumulative N2O emissions ranged from 96 to 6659g N2O-Nha–1 during crop growth. Emissions of N2O increased with increased N fertiliser rates at all experimental sites, but the rate of N loss was five times greater in wetter-than-average seasons than in drier conditions. For two of the four experiments, periods of intense rainfall resulted in N2O emission factors (EF, percent of applied N emitted) in the range of 1.2–3.2%. In contrast, the EFs for the two drier experiments were 0.41–0.56% with no effect of N fertiliser rate. Additional 15N mini-plots aimed to determine whether N fertiliser rate affected total N lost from the soil–plant system between sowing and harvest. Total 15N unaccounted was in the range of 28–45% of applied N and was presumed to be emitted as N2O+N2. At the drier site, the ratio of N2 (estimated by difference)to N2O (measured) lost was a constant 43%, whereas the ratio declined from 29% to 12% with increased N fertiliser rate for the wetter experiment. Choosing an N fertiliser rate aimed at optimum crop production mitigates potentially high environmental (N2O) and agronomic (N2+N2O) gaseous N losses from over-application, particularly in seasons with high intensity rainfall occurring soon after fertiliser application.

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Nitrous oxide production in two forested watersheds exhibiting symptoms of nitrogen saturation

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x98-158 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 28 (11) ◽

pp. 1723-1732 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

William T Peterjohn ◽

Richard J McGervey ◽

Alan J Sexstone ◽

Martin J Christ ◽

Cassie J Foster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Nitrogen Saturation ◽

N Cycling ◽

Woody Vegetation ◽

N Saturation ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Forested Watersheds ◽

Total N ◽

Nitrous Oxide Production ◽

Poorly Drained Soils

A major concern about N saturation is that it may increase the production of a strong greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O). We measured N2O production in two forested watersheds, a young, fertilized forest (WS 3) and an older, unfertilized forest (WS 4), to (i) assess the importance of N2O production in forests showing symptoms of N saturation; (ii) estimate the contribution of chemoautrophic nitrification to total N2O production; and (iii) examine the relative importance of factors that may control N2O production. During the study period, mean monthly rates of N2O production (3.41-11.42 µ N ·m-2·h-1) were consistent with measurements from other well-drained forest soils but were much lower than measurements from N-rich sites with poorly drained soils. Chemoautotrophic nitrification was important in both watersheds, accounting for 60% (WS 3) and 40% (WS 4) of total N2O production. In WS 3, N2O production was enhanced by additions of CaCO3 and may be constrained by low soil pH. In WS 4, N2O production on south-facing slopes was exceptionally low, constrained by low NO3 availability, and associated with a distinct assemblage of woody vegetation. From this observation, we hypothesize that differences in vegetation can influence N cycling rates and susceptibility to N saturation.

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