scholarly journals Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes in south Brazilian gleysol as affected by nitrogen fertilizers

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1653-1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiléia Acordi Zanatta ◽  
Cimélio Bayer ◽  
Frederico C.B. Vieira ◽  
Juliana Gomes ◽  
Michely Tomazi
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Controlled Release ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Urease Inhibitor ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Application ◽  
N Fertilizers ◽  
N Sources

Nitrogen fertilizers increase the nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and can reduce the methane (CH4) oxidation from agricultural soils. However, the magnitude of this effect is unknown in Southern Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions, as well as the potential of different sources of mineral N fertilizers in such an effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different mineral N sources (urea, ammonium sulphate, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, Uran, controlled- release N fertilizer, and urea with urease inhibitor) on N2O and CH4 fluxes from Gleysol in the South of Brazil (Porto Alegre, RS), in comparison to a control treatment without a N application. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block with three replications, and the N fertilizer was applied to corn at the V5 growth stage. Air samples were collected from a static chambers for 15 days after the N application and the N2O and CH4 concentration were determined by gas chromatography. The topmost emissions occurred three days after the N fertilizer application and ranged from 187.8 to 8587.4 µg m-2 h-1 N. The greatest emissions were observed for N-nitric based fertilizers, while N sources with a urease inhibitor and controlled release N presented the smallest values and the N-ammonium and amidic were intermediate. This peak of N2O emissions was related to soil NO3--N (R² = 0.56, p < 0.08) when the soil water-filled pore space was up to 70 % and it indicated that N2O was predominantly produced by a denitrification process in the soil. Soil CH4 fluxes ranged from -30.1 µg m-2 h-1 C (absorption) to +32.5 µg m-2 h-1 C (emission), and the accumulated emission in the period was related to the soil NH4+-N concentration (R² = 0.82, p < 0.001), probably due to enzymatic competition between nitrification and metanotrophy processes. Despite both of the gas fluxes being affected by N fertilizers, in the average of the treatments, the impact on CH4 emission (0.2 kg ha-1 equivalent CO2-C ) was a hundredfold minor than for N2O (132.8 kg ha-1 equivalent CO2-C). Accounting for the N2O and CH4 emissions plus energetic costs of N fertilizers of 1.3 kg CO2-C kg-1 N regarding the manufacture, transport and application, we estimated an environmental impact of N sources ranging from 220.4 to 664.5 kg ha-1 CO2 -C , which can only be partially offset by C sequestration in the soil, as no study in South Brazil reported an annual net soil C accumulation rate larger than 160 kg ha-1 C due to N fertilization. The N2O mitigation can be obtained by the replacement of N-nitric sources by ammonium and amidic fertilizers. Controlled release N fertilizers and urea with urease inhibitor are also potential alternatives to N2O emission mitigation to atmospheric and systematic studies are necessary to quantify their potential in Brazilian agroecosystems.

Nitrous oxide production from granular nitrogen fertilizers applied to a silt loam soil

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tenuta and E. G. Beauchamp
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Laboratory Experiment ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
N Fertilizers ◽  
Oxide Production ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Production

One field and two laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the relative magnitude and pattern of N2O production from several granular N fertilizers including urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and, in a laboratory experiment, monoammonium and diammonium phosphates. Several parameters, in particular soil water content, were studied for their roles in N2O production with these fertilizers. The field experiment was conducted at the Elora Research Station (20 km north of Guelph) on Conestoga silt loam during July on a site previously cropped to barley. Three methods were employed to assess N2O production following N fertilizer treatments in the field experiment, viz., soil cover, soil core and profile distribution. The data with each method revealed that incorporated urea produced the greatest quantity of N2O especially in the first few days following application. Shortly after urea application and incorporation (10 cm), N2O was detected at a depth of 50 cm indicating gas produced in the tilled layer was transported to lower depths. Data obtained with the intact core method showed that nitrification preceeded denitrification as the source of N2O produced during a wetting event as air-filled porosity decreased from 65% to less than 50%, respectively. The laboratory experiments showed that under aerobic conditions N2O production was generally greater with urea than the other N fertilizers. The greater production of N2O with urea was associated with N2O-accumulation. In the second laboratory experiment, saturating the soil following 14 d of aerobic incubation showed enhanced N2O production with ammonium phosphate fertilizers. Our findings indicate refinement of methods to predict N2O emissions based on N fertilizer source use and moisture can reduce uncertainties in national estimates of N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Key words: Nitrous oxide production, nitrogen fertilizers, soil atmosphere profiles, nitrification, denitrification, air-filled porosity

scholarly journals Nitrogen Management in a Maize-Groundnut Crop Rotation of Humid Tropics: Effect on N2O Emission

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 320-327
Author(s):  
M.I. Khalil ◽  
A.B. Rosenani ◽  
O. Van Cleemput ◽  
C.I. Fauziah ◽  
J. Shamshuddin
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Chicken Manure ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Transformations ◽  
N Sources

Development of appropriate land management techniques to attain sustainability and increase the N use efficiency of crops in the tropics has been gaining momentum. The nitrous oxides (N2Os) affect global climate change and its contribution from N and C management systems is of great significance. Thus, N transformations and N2O emission during maize-groundnut crop rotation managed with various N sources were studied. Accumulation of nitrate (NO3 –) and its disappearance happened immediately after addition of various N sources, showing liming effect. The mineral N retained for 2–4 weeks depending on the type and amount of N application. The chicken manure showed rapid nitrification in the first week after application during the fallow period, leading to a maximum N2O flux of 9889 μg N2O-N m–2 day– 1. The same plots showed a residual effect by emitting the highest N2O (4053 μg N2O-N m–2 day– 1) during maize cultivation supplied with a halfrate of N fertilizer. Application of N fertilizer only or in combination with crop residues exhibited either lowered fluxes or caused a sink during the groundnut and fallow periods due to small availability of substrates and/or low water-filled pore space (<40%). The annual N2O emission ranged from 1.41 to 3.94 kg N2O-N ha–1; the highest was estimated from the chicken manure plus crop residues and half-rate of inorganic N-amended plots. Results indicates a greater influence of chicken manure on the N transformations and thereby N2O emission.

scholarly journals Nitrous oxide emission from highland winter wheat field after long-term fertilization

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 4539-4563 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. R. Wei ◽  
M. D. Hao ◽  
X. H. Xue ◽  
P. Shi ◽  
A. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N2o Flux ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Wheat Field ◽  
N2o Fluxes ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas. N2O emissions from soils vary with fertilization and cropping practices. The response of N2O emission to fertilization of agricultural soils plays an important role in global N2O emission. The objective of this study was to assess the seasonal pattern of N2O fluxes and the annual N2O emissions from a rain-fed winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) field in the Loess Plateau of China. A static flux chamber method was used to measure soil N2O fluxes from 2006 to 2008. The study included 5 treatments with 3 replications in a randomized complete block design. Prior to initiating N2O measurements the treatments had received the same fertilization for 22 years. The fertilizer treatments were unfertilized control (CK), manure (M), nitrogen (N), nitrogen + phosphorus (NP), and nitrogen + phosphorus + manure (NPM). Soil N2O fluxes in the highland winter wheat field were highly variable temporally and thus were fertilization dependent. The highest fluxes occurred in the warmer and wetter seasons. Relative to CK, M slightly increased N2O flux while N, NP and NPM treatments significantly increased N2O fluxes. The fertilizer induced increase in N2O flux occurred mainly in the first 30 days after fertilization. The increases were smaller in the relatively warm and dry year than in the cold and wet year. Combining phosphorous and/or manure with mineral N fertilizer partly offset the nitrogen fertilizer induced increase in N2O flux. N2O fluxes at the seedling stage were mainly controlled by nitrogen fertilization, while fluxes at other plant growth stages were influenced by plant and environmental conditions. The cumulative N2O emissions were always higher in the fertilized treatments than in the non-fertilized treatment (CK). Mineral and manure nitrogen fertilizer enhanced N2O emissions in wetter years compared to dryer years. Phosphorous fertilizer offset 0.78 and 1.98 kg N2O ha−1 increases, while manure + phosphorous offset 0.67 and 1.64 kg N2O ha−1 increases by N fertilizer for the two observation years. Our results suggested that the contribution of single N fertilizer on N2O emission was larger than that of NP and NPM and that manure and phosphorous had important roles in offsetting mineral N fertilizer induced N2O emissions. Relative to agricultural production and N2O emission, manure fertilization (M) should be recommended while single N fertilization (N) should be avoided for the highland winter wheat due to the higher biomass and grain yield and less N2O flux and annual emission in M than in N.

Controlled-release urea for winter wheat in southern Alberta

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
R H McKenzie ◽  
E. Bremer ◽  
A B Middleton ◽  
P G Pfiffner ◽  
R E Dowbenko
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Release ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
N Application ◽  
N Fertilizers ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Controlled Release Urea

The recent development of low-cost controlled-release urea (CRU) may provide additional options for N fertilization of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Two field experiments were conducted over 3 yr at three locations in southern Alberta to evaluate different options of applying CRU to winter wheat. In the first experiment, three N fertilizers (20-day CRU, 40-day CRU and urea) were seed-placed and side-banded at the time of seeding at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1. Stand densities were substantially reduced by seedrow application of urea at rates greater than 30 kg N ha-1, but were unaffected by seedrow application of CRU, even at the highest rate of N application. When N fertilizer was sidebanded, stand densities were unaffected by fertilizer type or N rate. Yield gains due to N application were reduced by application of high rates of seed-placed urea, but similar for other treatments. Grain protein concentration and N uptake were also similar for CRU and seed-placed urea. In the second experiment, three N fertilizers (CRU, urea and ammonium nitrate) were broadcast at 30 kg N ha-1 in early spring on plots that had received 0, 30 or 60 kg N ha-1 of CRU at the time of seeding. Inadequate release of spring broadcast CRU was indicated by reduced grain protein concentrations relative to conventional N fertilizers. Under the conditions experienced in our study, CRU substantially increased the maximum safe rate of seed-placed urea, provided minimal benefits to N response relative to side-banded urea, and was less effective than conventional N fertilizers when broadcast in early spring. Key words: N fertilizer use efficiency, slow release, winter survival

scholarly journals Nitrous oxide emission from highland winter wheat field after long-term fertilization

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 3301-3310 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. R. Wei ◽  
M. D. Hao ◽  
X. H. Xue ◽  
P. Shi ◽  
R. Horton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N2o Flux ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Wheat Field ◽  
N2o Fluxes ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas. N2O emissions from soils vary with fertilization and cropping practices. The response of N2O emission to fertilization of agricultural soils plays an important role in global N2O emission. The objective of this study was to assess the seasonal pattern of N2O fluxes and the annual N2O emissions from a rain-fed winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) field in the Loess Plateau of China. A static flux chamber method was used to measure soil N2O fluxes from 2006 to 2008. The study included 5 treatments with 3 replications in a randomized complete block design. Prior to initiating N2O measurements the treatments had received the same fertilization for 22 years. The fertilizer treatments were unfertilized control (CK), manure (M), nitrogen (N), nitrogen + phosphorus (NP), and nitrogen + phosphorus + manure (NPM). Soil N2O fluxes in the highland winter wheat field were highly variable temporally and thus were fertilization dependent. The highest fluxes occurred in the warmer and wetter seasons. Relative to CK, m slightly increased N2O flux while N, NP and NPM treatments significantly increased N2O fluxes. The fertilizer induced increase in N2O flux occurred mainly in the first 30 days after fertilization. The increases were smaller in the relatively warm and dry year than in the cold and wet year. Combining phosphorous and/or manure with mineral N fertilizer partly offset the nitrogen fertilizer induced increase in N2O flux. N2O fluxes at the seedling stage were mainly controlled by nitrogen fertilization, while fluxes at other plant growth stages were influenced by plant and environmental conditions. The cumulative N2O emissions were always higher in the fertilized treatments than in the non-fertilized treatment (CK). Mineral and manure nitrogen fertilizer enhanced N2O emissions in wetter years compared to dryer years. Phosphorous fertilizer offset 0.50 and 1.26 kg N2O-N ha−1 increases, while manure + phosphorous offset 0.43 and 1.04 kg N2O-N ha−1 increases by N fertilizer for the two observation years. Our results suggested that the contribution of single N fertilizer on N2O emission was larger than that of NP and NPM and that manure and phosphorous had important roles in offsetting mineral N fertilizer induced N2O emissions. Relative to agricultural production and N2O emission, manure fertilization (M) should be recommended while single N fertilization (N) should be avoided for the highland winter wheat due to the higher biomass and grain yield and lower N2O flux and annual emission in m than in N.

scholarly journals Ammonia volatilization in no-till system in the south-central region of the State of Paraná, Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1677-1684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mara Vieira Fontoura ◽  
Cimélio Bayer
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Release ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Ammonia Volatilization ◽  
Nh3 Volatilization ◽  
The South ◽  
N Application ◽  
N Sources ◽  
South Central ◽  
N Source ◽  
No Till

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization can reduce the efficiency of urea applied to the surface of no-till (NT) soils. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the magnitude of NH3 losses from surface-applied urea and to determine if this loss justifies the urea incorporation in soil or its substitution for other N sources under the subtropical climatic conditions of South-Central region of Paraná State, Brazil. The experiment, performed over four harvesting seasons in a clayey Hapludox followed a randomized block design with four replicates. A single dose of N (150 kg ha-1) to V5 growth stage of corn cultivated under NT system was applied and seven treatments were evaluated, including surface-applied urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea with urease inhibitor, controlled-release N source, a liquid N source, incorporated urea, and a control treatment with no N application. Ammonia volatilization was evaluated for 20 days after N application using a semi-open static system. The average cumulative NH3 loss due to the superficial application of urea was low (12.5 % of the applied N) compared to the losses observed in warmer regions of Southeastern Brazil (greater than 50 %). The greatest NH3 losses were observed in dry years (up to 25.4 % of the applied N), and losses decreased exponentially as the amount of rainfall after N application increased. Incorporated urea and alternative N sources, with the exception of controlled-release N source, decreased NH3 volatilization in comparison with surface-applied urea. Urea incorporation is advantageous for the reduction of NH3 volatilization; however, other aspects as its low operating efficiency should be considered before this practice is adopted. In the South-Central region of Paraná, the low NH3 losses from the surface-applied urea in NT system due to wet springs and mild temperatures do not justify its replacement for other N sources.

Cadmium accumulation in wheat grain as affected by mineral N fertilizer and soil characteristics

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianglan Li ◽  
Noura Ziadi ◽  
Gilles Bélanger ◽  
Zucong Cai ◽  
Hua Xu
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Cadmium Accumulation ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Application ◽  
Application Rates

Li, X., Ziadi, N., Bélanger, G., Cai, Z. and Xu, H. 2011. Cadmium accumulation in wheat grain as affected by mineral N fertilizer and soil characteristics. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 521–531. Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal distributed in soil by natural processes and anthropogenic activities. It can accumulate in crops, such as spring milling wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and its accumulation depends on crop species, soil factors, and agricultural practices like fertilizer inputs. Our objective was to study the effect of mineral N fertilizer and soil characteristics on wheat grain Cd concentration. A field study was conducted over 12 site-years (2004–2006) in Québec, with four N application rates (0, 40, 120, and 200 kg N ha−1). Wheat grain samples (n=192) were analysed for their Cd and N concentrations. Soil samples (n=48) taken before N fertilizer application were characterised for their chemical and physical properties, including Mehlich-3 extractable Cd concentration. Wheat grain Cd concentration increased significantly with increasing N application rates at 11 of the 12 site-years. Averaged across the 12 site-years, Cd concentration ranged from 53 µg kg−1dry matter (DM) without N applied up to 87 µg kg−1DM when 200 kg N ha−1was applied. Wheat grain Cd concentration also varied significantly with site-years (34–99 µg kg−1DM), but never exceeded the proposed tolerance for wheat grain of 235 µg kg−1DM. Wheat grain Cd concentration was significantly related to Mehlich-3 extractable Cd in soil (R2=0.44, P=0.021) and nitrogen nutrition index (R2=0.69, P=0.001). We conclude that soil Cd concentration and the crop N nutrition status affect Cd accumulation in spring wheat grain produced in eastern Canada.

The mobility and transformation of soil nitrogen and the relationships between soil and plant nitrogen and yield at different times following application of various nitrogen fertilizers to sweet corn

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 1643 ◽  
Author(s):  
AA Salardini ◽  
LA Sparrow ◽  
RJ Holloway
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Application ◽  
Plant Nitrogen ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Sampling Times

The concentration of NH4-N, NO3-N and their sum (mineral N) were monitored 12 times in 1 or 2 weekly intervals in the soil under a sweet corn crop. The samples were taken on the fertilizer band and to depths of 200, 400 and 600 mm. The NO3-N concentration of the sap expressed from the midrib of the leaf opposite and immediately above the primary cob (sap NO3-N) and that of midrib dry matter (midrib NO3-N) were determined weekly. Under the low rainfall and optimized irrigation of this trial the concentration of mineral N in soil to the depth of 400 mm or more was a good predictor of yield response to application of N at 10 of the 12 sampling times. The concentration of either NH4-N or NO3-N in the soil to any depth and the concentration of mineral N in the surface 200 mm correlated with the yield at only a few times of sampling. The concentration of mineral N in the top 200 mm of soil 1 or 2 weeks after top-dressing of N was highly correlated to yield. The concentration of sap NOS-N and midrib NO3-N decreased continuously until harvest. Both these concentrations were significantly correlated with the rates of basal and top-dressed N in most sampling times. These were also strongly correlated to yield 1 or 2 weeks after N top-dressing. Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and urea gave similar responses in sap NO3-N and midrib NO3-N and in soil nitrogen after 5 weeks when nitrification of fertilizer NH4-N was complete. These observations indicated that soil mineral N, sap NO3-N and midrib NO3-N all offer potential as techniques to predict the yield response of sweet corn to N application. The sap NO3-N test was simpler, quicker, cheaper and more consistent than other tests.

Nitrous oxide emission from Australian agricultural lands and mitigation options: a review

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram C. Dalal ◽  
Weijin Wang ◽  
G. Philip Robertson ◽  
William J. Parton
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Tropical Savannas ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N2o Production ◽  
Mitigation Options

Increases in the concentrations of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and halocarbons in the atmosphere due to human activities are associated with global climate change. The concentration of N2O has increased by 16% since 1750. Although atmospheric concentration of N2O is much smaller (314 ppb in 1998) than of CO2 (365 ppm), its global warming potential (cumulative radiative forcing) is 296 times that of the latter in a 100-year time horizon. Currently, it contributes about 6% of the overall global warming effect but its contribution from the agricultural sector is about 16%. Of that, almost 80% of N2O is emitted from Australian agricultural lands, originating from N fertilisers (32%), soil disturbance (38%), and animal waste (30%). Nitrous oxide is primarily produced in soil by the activities of microorganisms during nitrification, and denitrification processes. The ratio of N2O to N2 production depends on oxygen supply or water-filled pore space, decomposable organic carbon, N substrate supply, temperature, and pH and salinity. N2O production from soil is sporadic both in time and space, and therefore, it is a challenge to scale up the measurements of N2O emission from a given location and time to regional and national levels.Estimates of N2O emissions from various agricultural systems vary widely. For example, in flooded rice in the Riverina Plains, N2O emissions ranged from 0.02% to 1.4% of fertiliser N applied, whereas in irrigated sugarcane crops, 15.4% of fertiliser was lost over a 4-day period. Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilised dairy pasture soils in Victoria range from 6 to 11 kg N2O-N/ha, whereas in arable cereal cropping, N2O emissions range from <0.01% to 9.9% of N fertiliser applications. Nitrous oxide emissions from soil nitrite and nitrates resulting from residual fertiliser and legumes are rarely studied but probably exceed those from fertilisers, due to frequent wetting and drying cycles over a longer period and larger area. In ley cropping systems, significant N2O losses could occur, from the accumulation of mainly nitrate-N, following mineralisation of organic N from legume-based pastures. Extensive grazed pastures and rangelands contribute annually about 0.2 kg N/ha as N2O (93 kg/ha per year CO2-equivalent). Tropical savannas probably contribute an order of magnitude more, including that from frequent fires. Unfertilised forestry systems may emit less but the fertilised plantations emit more N2O than the extensive grazed pastures. However, currently there are limited data to quantify N2O losses in systems under ley cropping, tropical savannas, and forestry in Australia. Overall, there is a need to examine the emission factors used in estimating national N2O emissions; for example, 1.25% of fertiliser or animal-excreted N appearing as N2O (IPCC 1996). The primary consideration for mitigating N2O emissions from agricultural lands is to match the supply of mineral N (from fertiliser applications, legume-fixed N, organic matter, or manures) to its spatial and temporal needs by crops/pastures/trees. Thus, when appropriate, mineral N supply should be regulated through slow-release (urease and/or nitrification inhibitors, physical coatings, or high C/N ratio materials) or split fertiliser application. Also, N use could be maximised by balancing other nutrient supplies to plants. Moreover, non-legume cover crops could be used to take up residual mineral N following N-fertilised main crops or mineral N accumulated following legume leys. For manure management, the most effective practice is the early application and immediate incorporation of manure into soil to reduce direct N2O emissions as well as secondary emissions from deposition of ammonia volatilised from manure and urine.Current models such as DNDC and DAYCENT can be used to simulate N2O production from soil after parameterisation with the local data, and appropriate modification and verification against the measured N2O emissions under different management practices.In summary, improved estimates of N2O emission from agricultural lands and mitigation options can be achieved by a directed national research program that is of considerable duration, covers sampling season and climate, and combines different techniques (chamber and micrometeorological) using high precision analytical instruments and simulation modelling, under a range of strategic activities in the agriculture sector.

Soil nitrogen dynamics in irrigated maize systems as impacted on by nitrogen and stubble management

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 382 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Edis ◽  
D. Chen ◽  
G. Wang ◽  
D. A. Turner ◽  
K. Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Transformations ◽  
Ammonium Thiosulfate ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
The Difference

The soil nitrogen (N) dynamics of an irrigated maize system in which stubble retention and stubble burned treatments were superimposed over treatments of varying N fertiliser rate were studied. The field site was near Whitton, New South Wales, Australia, and the work described here is part a life cycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from maize project. The objective of this part of the work was to quantify the fate of fertiliser N applied at the site. Field measurements of denitrification, mineral N content and recovery of 15N-labelled urea from microplots with and without ammonium thiosulfate were complimented with laboratory studies of denitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) flux. Significantly (P < 0.05) more fertiliser N was recovered in the grain from the stubble incorporated treatment than the stubble burned treatment and there was greater recovery of fertiliser N in the soil at the end of the experiment in the stubble burned treatment. This may indicate that fertiliser N applied to the stubble burned system may be more exposed to soil-N transformations. The reason for the difference in uptake and soil residual is not clear but may be related to soil structure differences leading to less plant accessibility of N in the burned treatment. This difference may lead to more nitrous oxide emission from soil in the stubble burned treatments. Short-term (1 h) static chamber measurements in the field found a strong N-rate dependence of N2O emission rate for fertiliser rates between 0 and 300 kg N/ha. Inclusion of ammonium thiosulfate in the fertiliser formulation did not appear to have a significant impact on fertiliser N recovery.

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