Nitrous oxide emissions from applied nitrate fertiliser in commercial cherry orchards

Soil Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
P. Quin ◽  
N. Swarts ◽  
G. Oliver ◽  
S. Paterson ◽  
J. Friedl ◽  
...  

The application of nitrate (NO3–) fertiliser is important worldwide in providing nitrogen (N) nutrition to perennial fruit trees. There is little information available on N losses to the environment from commercial cherry orchards, in relation to different timings of NO3– application. The emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) gas is an important greenhouse gas loss from NO3– application, being responsible for 6% of anthropogenic global warming and a catalyst for depletion of stratospheric ozone. In a commercial sweet-cherry orchard in southern Tasmania, we applied 373 g NO3–-N m–2 (equivalent to 90 kg NO3–-N ha–1) either pre- or post-harvest, or equally split between the two, to study the resultant N2O emissions. Emissions averaged 8.37 mg N2O-N m–2 day–1 during the pre-harvest period, primarily driven by a heavy rainfall event, and were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the average 4.88 × 10–1 mg N2O-N m–2 day–1 from post-harvest NO3– application. Discounting the emissions related to the rainfall event, the resultant average 1.88 mg N2O-N m–2 day–1 for the rest of the pre-harvest emissions remained significantly greater (P < 0.05) than those post-harvest. Ongoing studies will help to build on these results and efforts to minimise N2O emissions in perennial tree cropping systems.

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Smith ◽  
C. A. M. de Klein ◽  
R. M. Monaghan ◽  
W. D. Catto

A study was conducted in Southland, New Zealand to: (i) measure nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3–-N) leaching losses from a cattle-grazed, winter forage crop; and (ii) quantify the effect of dicyandiamide (DCD) in reducing these losses. Drainage losses were measured for 12 months (December 2005–November 2006) from a December-sown kale crop using 12 hydrologically isolated drainage plots at the Woodlands Research Station. N2O emissions were measured for 6 months (June–November) following simulated grazing of the crop in mid-June. N2O emissions from the bare ground following grazing of the crop amounted to 3.6 kg nitrogen (N)/ha for the winter–spring period. This figure is higher than that measured for pasture on the same soil type over a similar period. DCD application significantly reduced N2O emissions for the whole crop area by 25% over this period and reduced the N2O emission factor for urine by 54%. DCD application increased the length of time mineral N (0–10 cm soil depth) was maintained in the ammonium form and significantly reduced soil NO3–-N levels for 6 weeks following the simulated grazing. Annual NO3–-N losses in drainage under this winter forage crop were relatively high at 79 kg N/ha.year, with the majority of this (67%) being lost over the wet summer months (December–January rainfall 434 mm or 200% of normal) during crop growth. The application of DCD following the grazing resulted in a 47% decrease in NO3–-N leached over the winter–spring period (26 kg N/ha v. 14 kg N/ha) with this equating to a 29% decrease over the full 12-month measurement period. This study suggested that winter forage crops are major contributors to N losses from livestock farming systems in Southland and that DCD application following the grazing of such crops by cattle can significantly reduce N2O emissions and leaching N losses.


2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Rochester ◽  
C. Wood ◽  
B. Macdonald

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming. Most of the N2O emitted from cropping systems is derived from the soil and is closely related to the use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser. However, several reports have shown that small, yet significant, portions of the N2O flux from cropping systems are emitted from the crop foliage. This research aimed to quantify N2O emissions from the foliage of field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and included maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) for comparison. We also aimed to identify differences in the timing of N2O emissions from foliage during the day and over an irrigation cycle. Individual plants were isolated from the soil, and the atmosphere surrounding the encapsulated plants was sampled over a 30-min period. Subplots that were previously fertilised with urea at 0, 80, 160, 240 and 320 kg N ha–1 and then sown to cotton were used to measure N2O flux from plants on three occasions. N2O flux from cotton foliage was also measured on five occasions during an 11-day irrigation cycle and at five times throughout one day. N2O flux from foliage accounted for a small but significant portion (13–17%) of the soil–crop N2O flux. N2O flux from foliage varied with plant species, and the time of day the flux was measured. N2O flux from cotton plants was closely related to soil water content. Importantly, the application of N fertiliser was not related to the N2O flux from cotton plants. The most plausible explanation of our results is that a proportion of the N2O that was evolved in the soil was transported through the plant via evapotranspiration, rather than being evolved within the plant. Studies that exclude N2O emissions from crop foliage will significantly underestimate the N2O flux from the system.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 770
Author(s):  
Cong Wang ◽  
Barbara Amon ◽  
Karsten Schulz ◽  
Bano Mehdi

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-lived greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Emissions of N2O mainly stem from agricultural soils. This review highlights the principal factors from peer-reviewed literature affecting N2O emissions from agricultural soils, by grouping the factors into three categories: environmental, management and measurement. Within these categories, each impact factor is explained in detail and its influence on N2O emissions from the soil is summarized. It is also shown how each impact factor influences other impact factors. Process-based simulation models used for estimating N2O emissions are reviewed regarding their ability to consider the impact factors in simulating N2O. The model strengths and weaknesses in simulating N2O emissions from managed soils are summarized. Finally, three selected process-based simulation models (Daily Century (DAYCENT), DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC), and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)) are discussed that are widely used to simulate N2O emissions from cropping systems. Their ability to simulate N2O emissions is evaluated by describing the model components that are relevant to N2O processes and their representation in the model.


Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Scheer ◽  
David W. Rowlings ◽  
Massimiliano De Antoni Migliorati ◽  
David W. Lester ◽  
Mike J. Bell ◽  
...  

To meet the global food demand in the coming decades, crop yields per unit area must increase. This can only be achieved by a further intensification of existing cropping systems and will require even higher inputs of N fertilisers, which may result in increased losses of nitrous oxide (N2O) from cropped soils. Enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) have been promoted as a potential strategy to mitigate N2O emissions and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereal cropping systems. However, only limited data are currently available on the use of different EEF products in sub-tropical cereal systems. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of three different EEFs on N2O emissions, NUE and yield in a sub-tropical summer cereal cropping system in Australia. Over an entire year soil N2O fluxes were monitored continuously (3h sampling frequency) with a fully-automated measuring system. The experimental site was fertilised with different nitrogen (N) fertilisers applied at 170kgNha–1, namely conventional urea (Urea), urea with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), polymer-coated urea (PCU), and urea with the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (Nitrapyrin). Nitrous oxide emissions were highly episodic and mainly controlled by heavy rainfall events within two months of planting and fertiliser N application. Annual N2O emissions in the four treatments amounted to 2.31, 0.40, 0.69 and 1.58kgN2O-Nha–1year–1 for Urea, DMPP, PCU and Nitrapyrin treatments, respectively, while unfertilised plots produced an average of 0.16kgN2O-Nha–1year–1. Two of the tested products (DMPP and PCU) were found to be highly effective, decreasing annual N2O losses by 83% and 70%, respectively, but did not affect yield or NUE. This study shows that EEFs have a high potential to decrease N2O emissions from sub-tropical cereal cropping systems. More research is needed to assess if the increased costs of EEFs can be compensated by lower fertiliser application rates and/or yield increases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. e0302
Author(s):  
Noemí Mateo-Marín ◽  
Ramón Isla ◽  
Dolores Quílez

Aim of the study: The use of pig slurry as fertiliser is associated with gaseous nitrogen (N) losses, especially ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O), leading to environmental problems and a reduction of its fertiliser value. This study evaluates, in an irrigated wheat crop, the effect of different additives mixed with pig slurry to decrease NH3 and N2O losses.Area of study: Middle Ebro valley, SpainMaterials and methods: The treatments were: i) non-N-fertilised control, ii) pig slurry (PS), iii) pig slurry with the urease inhibitor monocarbamide dihydrogen sulphate (PS-UI), iv) pig slurry with a microbial activator in development (PS-A), and v) pig slurry with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (PS-NI). Pig slurry was applied at a target rate of 120 kg NH4+-N ha-1. Ammonia volatilisation was measured using semi-opened static chambers after treatments application at presowing 2016 and side-dressing 2017. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured using static closed chambers after treatments application at the 2017 and 2018 side-dressing.Main results: Ammonia volatilisation was estimated to be 7-9% and 19-23% of NH4+-N applied after presowing and side-dressing applications, respectively. Additives were not able to reduce NH3 emissions in any application moment. PS-NI was the only treatment being effective in reducing N2O emissions, 70% respect to those in PS treatment. Crop yield parameters were not affected by the application of the additives because of the no effect of additives controlling NH3 losses and the low contribution of N2O losses to the N balance (<1 kg N2O-N ha-1).Research highlights: The use of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate would be recommended from an environmental perspective, although without grain yield benefits.


Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdalla ◽  
Xiaotong Song ◽  
Xiaotang Ju ◽  
Pete Smith

Optimizing crop rotations is one of the proposed sustainable management strategies for increasing carbon sequestration. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model for estimating soil parameters (temperature, moisture and exchangeable NO3− and NH4+), crop yield and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions for long-term multi-cropping systems in Hebei, China. The model was validated using five years of data of soil parameters, crop yields and N2O emissions. The DNDC model effectively simulated daily soil temperature, cumulative soil nitrogen and crop yields of all crops. It predicted the trends of observed daily N2O emissions and their cumulative values well but overestimated the magnitude of some peaks. However, the model underestimated daily water filled pore space, especially in dry seasons, and had difficulties in correctly estimating daily exchangeable NO3− and NH4+. Both observed and simulated cumulative N2O results showed that optimized and alternative cropping systems used less nitrogen fertiliser, increased grain yield and decreased N2O emissions compared to the conventional cropping system. Our study shows that although the DNDC model (v. 9.5) is not perfect in estimating daily N2O emissions for these long-term multi-cropping systems, it could still be an effective tool for predicting cumulative emissions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khadim Dawar ◽  
Shah Fahad ◽  
M. M. R. Jahangir ◽  
Iqbal Munir ◽  
Syed Sartaj Alam ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4928
Author(s):  
Alicia Vanessa Jeffary ◽  
Osumanu Haruna Ahmed ◽  
Roland Kueh Jui Heng ◽  
Liza Nuriati Lim Kim Choo ◽  
Latifah Omar ◽  
...  

Farming systems on peat soils are novel, considering the complexities of these organic soil. Since peat soils effectively capture greenhouse gases in their natural state, cultivating peat soils with annual or perennial crops such as pineapples necessitates the monitoring of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, especially from cultivated peat lands, due to a lack of data on N2O emissions. An on-farm experiment was carried out to determine the movement of N2O in pineapple production on peat soil. Additionally, the experiment was carried out to determine if the peat soil temperature and the N2O emissions were related. The chamber method was used to capture the N2O fluxes daily (for dry and wet seasons) after which gas chromatography was used to determine N2O followed by expressing the emission of this gas in t ha−1 yr−1. The movement of N2O horizontally (832 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the dry period was higher than in the wet period (599 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) because of C and N substrate in the peat soil, in addition to the fertilizer used in fertilizing the pineapple plants. The vertical movement of N2O (44 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) was higher in the dry season relative to N2O emission (38 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the wet season because of nitrification and denitrification of N fertilizer. The peat soil temperature did not affect the direction (horizontal and vertical) of the N2O emission, suggesting that these factors are not related. Therefore, it can be concluded that N2O movement in peat soils under pineapple cultivation on peat lands occurs horizontally and vertically, regardless of season, and there is a need to ensure minimum tilling of the cultivated peat soils to prevent them from being an N2O source instead of an N2O sink.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1014
Author(s):  
Liza Nuriati Lim Kim Choo ◽  
Osumanu Haruna Ahmed ◽  
Nik Muhamad Nik Majid ◽  
Zakry Fitri Abd Aziz

Burning pineapple residues on peat soils before pineapple replanting raises concerns on hazards of peat fires. A study was conducted to determine whether ash produced from pineapple residues could be used to minimize carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in cultivated tropical peatlands. The effects of pineapple residue ash fertilization on CO2 and N2O emissions from a peat soil grown with pineapple were determined using closed chamber method with the following treatments: (i) 25, 50, 70, and 100% of the suggested rate of pineapple residue ash + NPK fertilizer, (ii) NPK fertilizer, and (iii) peat soil only. Soils treated with pineapple residue ash (25%) decreased CO2 and N2O emissions relative to soils without ash due to adsorption of organic compounds, ammonium, and nitrate ions onto the charged surface of ash through hydrogen bonding. The ability of the ash to maintain higher soil pH during pineapple growth primarily contributed to low CO2 and N2O emissions. Co-application of pineapple residue ash and compound NPK fertilizer also improves soil ammonium and nitrate availability, and fruit quality of pineapples. Compound NPK fertilizers can be amended with pineapple residue ash to minimize CO2 and N2O emissions without reducing peat soil and pineapple productivity.


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