Response of Nitrous Oxide and Corresponding Bacteria to Managements in an Agricultural Soil

Abstract Agricultural and forest soils with low organic C content and high alkalinity were studied over 17 days to investigate the potential response of the atmospheric pollutant nitric oxide (NO) and the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) on (1) increased N deposition rates to forest soil; (2) different fertilizer types to agricultural soil and (3) a simulated rain event to forest and agricultural soils. Cumulative forest soil NO emissions (148–350 ng NO-N g−1) were ~ 4 times larger than N2O emissions (37–69 ng N2O-N g−1). Contrary, agricultural soil NO emissions (21–376 ng NO-N g−1) were ~ 16 times smaller than N2O emissions (45–8491 ng N2O-N g−1). Increasing N deposition rates 10 fold to 30 kg N ha−1 yr−1, doubled soil NO emissions and NO3− concentrations. As such high N deposition rates are not atypical in China, more attention should be paid on forest soil NO research. Comparing the fertilizers urea, ammonium nitrate, and urea coated with the urease inhibitor ‘Agrotain®,’ demonstrated that the inhibitor significantly reduced NO and N2O emissions. This is an unintended, not well-known benefit, because the primary function of Agrotain® is to reduce emissions of the atmospheric pollutant ammonia. Simulating a climate change event, a large rainfall after drought, increased soil NO and N2O emissions from both agricultural and forest soils. Such pulses of emissions can contribute significantly to annual NO and N2O emissions, but currently do not receive adequate attention amongst the measurement and modeling communities.

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Non-growing season nitrous oxide fluxes from an agricultural soil as affected by application of liquid and composted swine manure

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss2011-059 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 315-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kumudinie A. Kariyapperuma ◽

Adriana Furon ◽

Claudia Wagner-Riddle

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Agricultural Soil ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Stratospheric Ozone ◽

Swine Manure ◽

Growing Season ◽

Field Application ◽

Soil Freezing ◽

Research Station ◽

Soil N

Kariyapperuma, K. A., Furon, A. and Wagner-Riddle, C. 2012. Non-growing season nitrous oxide fluxes from an agricultural soil as affected by application of liquid and composted swine manure. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 315–327. Agricultural soils have been recognized as a significant source of anthropogenic nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, an important greenhouse gas and contributor to stratospheric ozone destruction. Application of liquid swine manure (LSM) has been reported to increase direct N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Composting of LSM with straw under forced aeration has been suggested as a mitigation practice for emissions of N2O. In cold climates, up to 70% of total annual soil N2O emissions have been observed during winter and spring thaw. Non-growing season soil N2O emissions after field application of composted swine manure (CSM) versus LSM have not been directly compared in past studies. A 2-yr field experiment was conducted at the Arkell Research Station, Ontario, Canada, as a part of a larger study to evaluate composting as a mitigation strategy for greenhouse gases (GHGs). The objectives were to quantify and compare non-growing season N2O fluxes from agricultural soils after fall application of LSM and CSM. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured using the flux-gradient method. Compared with LSM, CSM resulted in 57% reduction of soil N2O emissions during February to April in 2005, but emissions during the same period in 2006 were not affected by treatments. This effect was related to fall and winter weather conditions with the significant reduction occurring in the year when soil freezing was more pronounced. Compared with LSM, CSM resulted in a reduction of 37% (CO2-eq) of estimated N2O emissions per liter of treated manure and of 50% in the emission factor for the non-growing season.

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