Fluxes and production pathways of nitrous oxide in different types of tropical forest soils in Thailand

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from the soil surface of five different forest types in Thailand were measured using the closed chamber method. Soil samples were also taken to study the N₂O production pathways. The monthly average emissions (±SD, n?=?12) of N₂O from dry evergreen forest (DEF), hill evergreen forest (HEF), moist evergreen forest (MEF), mixed deciduous forest (MDF) and acacia reforestation (ARF) were 13.0?±?8.2, 5.7?±?7.1, 1.2?±?12.1, 7.3?±?8.5 and 16.7?±?9.2?µg N m^?2 h^?1, respectively. Large seasonal variations in fluxes were observed. Emission was relatively higher during the wet season than during the dry season, indicating that soil moisture and denitrification were probably the main controlling factors. Net N₂O uptake was also observed occasionally. Laboratory studies were conducted to further investigate the influence of moisture and the N₂O production pathways. Production rates at 30% water holding capacity (WHC) were 3.9?±?0.2, 0.5?±?0.06 and 0.87?±?0.01?ng N₂O-nitrogen (N) g-dw^?1day^?1 in DEF, HEF and MEF respectively. At 60% WHC, N₂O production rates in DEF, HEF and MEF soils increased by factors of 68, 9 and 502, respectively. Denitrification was found to be the main N₂O production pathway in these soils except in MEF.     

Influence of increasing temperature and nitrogen input on greenhouse gas emissions from a desert steppe soil in Inner Mongolia

We investigated the effect of increasing soil temperature and nitrogen on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O)] from a desert steppe soil in Inner Mongolia, China. Two temperature levels (heating versus no heating) and two nitrogen (N) fertilizer application levels (0 and 100?kg?N?ha^?1?year^?1) were examined in a complete randomized design with six replications. The GHG surface fluxes and their concentrations in soil (0 to 50?cm) were collected bi-weekly from June 2006 to November 2007. Carbon dioxide and N₂O emissions were not affected by heating or N treatment, but compared with other seasons, CO₂ was higher in summer [average of 29.6 versus 8.6?mg carbon (C) m^?2?h^?1 over all other seasons] and N₂O was lower in winter (average of 2.6 versus 4.0?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1 over all other seasons). Desert steppe soil is a CH₄ sink with the highest rate of consumption occurring in summer. Heating decreased CH₄ consumption only in the summer. Increasing surface soil temperature by 1.3°C or applying 100?kg?ha^?1?year^?1 N fertilizer had no effect on the overall GHG emissions. Seasonal variability in GHG emission reflected changes in temperature and soil moisture content. At an average CH₄ consumption rate of 31.65?µg?C?m^?2?h^?1, the 30.73 million ha of desert steppe soil in Inner Mongolia can consume (sequestrate) about 85?×?10^6?kg CH₄-C, an offset equivalent to 711?×?10^6?kg CO₂-C emissions annually. Thus, desert steppe soil should be considered an important CH₄ sink and its potential in reducing GHG emission and mitigating climate change warrants further investigation.     

Methane uptake and nitrous oxide emission in Japanese forest soils and their relationship to soil and vegetation types

Abstract

To determine the means and variations in CH₄ uptake and N₂O emission in the dominant soil and vegetation types to enable estimation of annual gases fluxes in the forest land of Japan, we measured monthly fluxes of both gases using a closed-chamber technique at 26 sites throughout Japan over 2 years. No clear seasonal changes in CH₄ uptake rates were observed at most sites. N₂O emission was mostly low throughout the year, but was higher in summer at most sites. The annual mean rates of CH₄ uptake and N₂O emission (all sites combined) were 66 (2.9–175) µg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1 and 1.88 (0.17–12.5) µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1, respectively. Annual changes in these fluxes over the 2 years were small. Significant differences in CH₄ uptake were found among soil types (P < 0.05). The mean CH₄ uptake rates (µg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1) were as follows: Black soil (95 ± 39, mean ± standard deviation [SD]) > Brown forest soil (60 ± 27) ≥ other soils (20 ± 24). N₂O emission rates differed significantly among vegetation types (P < 0.05). The mean N₂O emission rates (µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1) were as follows: Japanese cedar (4.0 ± 2.3) ≥ Japanese cypress (2.6 ± 3.4) > hardwoods (0.8 ± 2.2) = other conifers (0.7 ± 1.4). The CH₄ uptake rates in Japanese temperate forests were relatively higher than those in Europe and the USA (11–43 µg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1), and the N₂O emission rates in Japan were lower than those reported for temperate forests (0.23–252 µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1). Using land area data of vegetation cover and soil distribution, the amount of annual CH₄ uptake and N₂O emission in the Japanese forest land was estimated to be 124 Gg CH₄-C year^?1 with 39% uncertainty and 3.3 Gg N₂O-N year^?1 with 76% uncertainty, respectively.     

Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes of soils in pure and mixed stands of European beech and Norway spruce

Tree species can affect the sink and source strength of soils for atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide. Here we report soil methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes of adjacent pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce at Solling, Germany. Mean CH₄ uptake rates ranged between 18 and 48 μg C m^?2 hour^?1 during 2.5 years and were about twice as great in both mixed and the pure beech stand as in the pure spruce stand. CH₄ uptake was negatively correlated with the dry mass of the O horizon, suggesting that this diminishes the transport of atmospheric CH₄ into the mineral soil. Mean N₂O emission was rather small, ranging between 6 and 16 μg N m^?2 hour^?1 in all stands. Forest type had a significant effect on N₂O emission only in one mixed stand during the growing season. We removed the O horizon in additional plots to study its effect on gas fluxes over 1.5 years, but N₂O emissions were not altered by this treatment. Surprisingly, CH₄ uptake decreased in both mixed and the pure beech stands following the removal of the O horizon. The decrease in CH₄ uptake coincided with an increase in the soil moisture content of the mineral soil. Hence, O horizons may maintain the gas diffusivity within the mineral soil by storing water which cannot penetrate into the mineral soil after rainfall. Our results indicate that conversion of beech forests to beech–spruce and pure spruce forests could decrease soil CH₄ uptake, while the long‐term effect on N₂O emissions is expected to be rather small.     

Seasonal variation and fire effects on CH4, N2O and CO2 exchange in savanna soils of northern Australia

Tropical savanna ecosystems are a major contributor to global CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O greenhouse gas exchange. Savanna fire events represent large, discrete C emissions but the importance of ongoing soil-atmosphere gas exchange is less well understood. Seasonal rainfall and fire events are likely to impact upon savanna soil microbial processes involved in N₂O and CH₄ exchange. We measured soil CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes in savanna woodland (Eucalyptus tetrodonta/Eucalyptus miniata trees above sorghum grass) at Howard Springs, Australia over a 16 month period from October 2007 to January 2009 using manual chambers and a field-based gas chromatograph connected to automated chambers. The effect of fire on soil gas exchange was investigated through two controlled burns and protected unburnt areas. Fire is a frequent natural and management action in these savanna (every 1-2 years). There was no seasonal change and no fire effect upon soil N₂O exchange. Soil N₂O fluxes were very low, generally between −1.0 and 1.0 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹, and often below the minimum detection limit. There was an increase in soil NH₄⁺ in the months after the 2008 fire event, but no change in soil NO₃⁻. There was considerable nitrification in the early wet season but minimal nitrification at all other times.Savanna soil was generally a net CH₄ sink that equated to between −2.0 and −1.6 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ with no clear seasonal pattern in response to changing soil moisture conditions. Irrigation in the dry season significantly reduced soil gas diffusion and as a consequence soil CH₄ uptake. There were short periods of soil CH₄ emission, up to 20 μg C m⁻² h⁻¹, likely to have been caused by termite activity in, or beneath, automated chambers. Soil CO₂ fluxes showed a strong bimodal seasonal pattern, increasing fivefold from the dry into the wet season. Soil moisture showed a weak relationship with soil CH₄ fluxes, but a much stronger relationship with soil CO₂ fluxes, explaining up to 70% of the variation in unburnt treatments. Australian savanna soils are a small N₂O source, and possibly even a sink. Annual soil CH₄ flux measurements suggest that the 1.9 million km² of Australian savanna soils may provide a C sink of between −7.7 and −9.4 Tg CO₂-e per year. This sink estimate would offset potentially 10% of Australian transport related CO₂-e emissions. This CH₄ sink estimate does not include concurrent CH₄ emissions from termite mounds or ephemeral wetlands in Australian savannas.     

Contribution of fallow periods between rice crops to seasonal GHG emissions: effect of water and tillage management

ABSTRACT

Irrigated rice cultivation is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are emitted not only throughout the growing season but also in the fallow period between crops. A study was conducted for two transition periods between rice crops (dry to wet season transition and wet to dry season transition) in the Philippines to investigate the effect of water and tillage management on CH₄ and N₂O emissions as well as on soil nitrate and ammonium. Management treatments between rice crops included (1) continuous flooding (F), (2) soil drying (D), (3) soil drying with aerobic tillage (D + T), and (4) soil drying and wetting (D + W). The static closed chamber method was used to measure CH₄ and N₂O fluxes.

Soil nitrate accumulated and N₂O was emitted in treatments with soil drying. Nitrate disappeared while ammonium gradually increased after the soil was flooded during land preparation, indicating net nitrogen mineralization. N₂O emissions were highest in both transition periods in D + W (437 and 645 µg N₂O m^?2 h^?1). Methane emissions were significant in only the F treatment. The highest global warming potential (GWP) in the transition between rice crops occurred in F, with CH₄ contributing almost 100% to the GWP. The GWP from other treatments was lower than F, with about 60–99% of the GWP attributed to N₂O emissions in treatments with soil drying. The GWP in the transition between rice crops represented up to 26% of the total GWP from harvest to harvest. This study demonstrates that the transition period can be an important source of GHG emissions with relative importance of CH₄ and N₂O depending on the soil water regime. Therefore, the transition period should not be disregarded when estimating GHG emissions for rice cropping systems.     

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Newly Created Littoral Marshes in the Drawdown Area of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

This study aimed to understand the seasonal and spatial variations of N₂O emissions from newly created littoral marshes in the drawdown area of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China. We measured N₂O emissions at 10-day intervals during the growing season (early July to late September) in 2008. N₂O emissions were measured with static chambers in four typical vegetation stands. The results showed great spatial variations of N₂O emissions among the four stands. The greatest N₂O emissions (0.052?±?0.063 mg N₂O m^?2?h^?1) were from Scirpus triqueter stand, while the lowest N₂O emissions (0.020?±?0.020 mg N₂O m^?2?h^?1) were from Typha angustifolia stand. To such spatial variations in N₂O emissions, standing water depths and soil water content may be important explaining factors. Besides spatial variations, we also found significant temporal variations of N₂O emissions in this area. The temporal variation of N₂O emissions in the growing season was not found significantly related to any measured factor in the study. However, based on principal component analysis, we consider it partly caused by thermal conditions and the marked temporal variation of the standing water depth in the growing season, which to some degree influenced the process of denitrification and N₂O emissions. These results about TGR enable us to make a more reasonable estimate of N₂O emissions from large dam reservoirs, particularly those with a large drawdown area in the growing season in an agricultural landscape.     

基于DNDC模型模拟江汉平原稻田不同种植模式条件下温室气体排放

稻田被认为是温室气体CH_4和N_2O的主要排放源之一。湖北省江汉平原地区水稻常年种植面积约8×105 hm2,占湖北省水稻种植面积的40%左右。研究江汉平原地区稻田温室气体排放特征,对于评估区域稻田温室气体排放以及稻田温室气体减排具有重要意义。目前,DNDC模型已被广泛应用于模拟和估算田间尺度的温室气体排放,DNDC模型与地理信息系统(Arc GIS)结合,可进行区域尺度的温室气体排放模拟与估算。本研究以湖北省典型稻作区江汉平原为研究区域,运用DNDC模型模拟和估算江汉平原稻田区域尺度的温室气体排放。设置大田定点观测试验,监测中稻-小麦(RW)、中稻-油菜(RR)、中稻-冬闲(RF)3种种植模式下稻田温室气体CH_4和N_2O的周年排放特征。通过田间观测值与DNDC模拟值的比较进行模型验证,并利用获取DNDC模型所需的气象、土壤、作物及田间管理等区域数据,模拟江汉平原稻田不同种植模式下温室气体CH_4和N_2O的排放量。田间试验表明,江汉平原稻田RW、RR和RF模型的CH_4排放通量为-2.80~39.78 mg·m-2·h-1、-1.74~42.51 mg·m-2·h-1和-1.57~55.64 mg·m-2·h-1,N_2O周年排放通量范围分别为0~1.90 mg·m-2·h-1、0~1.76mg·m-2·h-1和0~1.49 mg·m-2·h-1;CH_4排放量RW和RR模式显著高于RF模式,N_2O排放量为RF显著低于RW和RR模式。模型验证结果表明,不同种植模式温室气体排放实测值与模拟值比较的决定系数(R2)为0.85~0.98,相对误差绝对值(RAE)为8.29%~16.42%。根据DNDC模型模拟和估算的结果,江汉平原区域稻田CH_4周年的排放量为0.292 9 Tg C,N_2O周年的排放量为0.009 2 Tg N,不同种植模式稻田CH_4排放量表现为RWRRRF,N_2O排放量表现为RWRFRR,增温潜势(GWP)表现为RWRRRF。不同地区稻田CH_4排放量表现为监利县荆门市公安县天门市仙桃市洪湖市松滋市汉川市潜江市石首市荆州市江陵县赤壁市嘉鱼县,N_2O排放量表现为监利县荆门市公安县洪湖市仙桃市天门市汉川市潜江市松滋市荆州市江陵县赤壁市石首市嘉鱼县。本研究结果表明DNDC模型能较好地应用于模拟江汉平原稻田温室气体排放,RR和RF模式相比RW模式可有效减少温室气体CH_4和N_2O的排放。     

CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes of upland black spruce (Picea mariana) forest soils after forest fires of different intensity in interior Alaska

Abstract

Forest fires can change the greenhouse gase (GHG) flux of borea forest soils. We measured carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes with different burn histories in black spruce (Picea mariana) stands in interior Alaska. The control forest (CF) burned in 1920; partially burned (PB) in 1999; and severely burned (SB1 and SB2) in 2004. The thickness of the organic layer was 22 ± 6 cm at CF, 28 ± 10 cm at PB, 12 ± 6 cm at SB1 and 4 ± 2 cm at SB2. The mean soil temperature during CO₂ flux measurement was 8.9 ± 3.1, 6.4 ± 2.1, 5.9 ± 3.4 and 5.0 ± 2.4°C at SB2, SB1, PB and CF, respectively, and differed significantly among the sites (P < 0.01). The mean CO₂ flux was highest at PB (128 ± 85 mg CO₂-C m^?2 h^?1) and lowest at SB1 (47 ± 19 mg CO₂-C m^?2 h^?1) (P < 0.01), and within each site it was positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.01). The CO₂ flux at SB2 was lower than that at CF when the soil temperature was high. We attributed the low CO₂ flux at SB1 and SB2 to low root respiration and organic matter decomposition rates due to the 2004 fire. The CH₄ uptake rate was highest at SB1 [–91 ± 21 μg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1] (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.01) but not soil moisture. The CH₄ uptake rate increased with increasing soil temperature because methanotroph activity increased. The N₂O flux was highest [3.6 ± 4.7 μg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1] at PB (P < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the soil temperature and moisture are important factors of GHG dynamics in forest soils with different fire history.     

Spatiotemporal Variations in Nitrous Oxide Emissions from an Open Fen on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau: a 3-Year Study

To understand spatial and temporal variations of nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes, we chose to measure N₂O emissions from three plant stands (Kobresia tibetica, Carex muliensis, and Eleocharis valleculosa stands) in an open fen on the northeastern Qinghai?CTibetan plateau during the growing seasons from 2005 to 2007. The overall mean N₂O emission rate was about 0.018?±?0.056?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1 during the growing seasons from 2005 to 2007, with highly spatiotemporal variations. The hummock (K. tibetica stand) emitted N₂O at the highest rate about 0.025?±?0.051?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1, followed by the hollow stands: the E. valleculosa stand about 0.012?±?0.046?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1 and the C. muliensis stand about 0.017?±?0.068?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1. Within each stand, we also noted significant variations of N₂O emission. We also observed the significant seasonal and inter-annual variation of N₂O fluxes during the study period. The highest N₂O emission rate was all recorded in July or August in each year from 2005 to 2007. Compared with the mean value of 2005, we found the drought of 2006 significantly increased N₂O emissions by 104 times in the E. valleculosa stand, 45 times in K. tibetica stand, and 18 times in the C. muliensis stand. Though there was no significant relation between standing water depths and N₂O emissions, we still considered it related to the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil water regime under climate change.     

N2O and NO fluxes between a Norway spruce forest soil and atmosphere as affected by prolonged summer drought

Global change scenarios predict an increasing frequency and duration of summer drought periods in Central Europe especially for higher elevation areas. Our current knowledge about the effects of soil drought on nitrogen trace gas fluxes from temperate forest soils is scarce. In this study, the effects of experimentally induced drought on soil N₂O and NO emissions were investigated in a mature Norway spruce forest in the Fichtelgebirge (northeastern Bavaria, Germany) in two consecutive years. Drought was induced by roof constructions over a period of 46 days. The experiment was run in three replicates and three non-manipulated plots served as controls. Additionally to the N₂O and NO flux measurements in weekly to monthly intervals, soil gas samples from six different soil depths were analysed in time series for N₂O concentration as well as isotope abundances to investigate N₂O dynamics within the soil. N₂O fluxes from soil to the atmosphere at the experimental plots decreased gradually during the drought period from 0.2 to −0.0 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively, and mean cumulative N₂O emissions from the manipulated plots were reduced by 43% during experimental drought compared to the controls in 2007. N₂O concentration as well as isotope abundance analysis along the soil profiles revealed that a major part of the soil acted as a net sink for N₂O, even during drought. This N₂O sink, together with diminished N₂O production in the organic layers, resulted in successively decreased N₂O fluxes during drought, and may even turn this forest soil into a net sink of atmospheric N₂O as observed in the first year of the experiment. Enhanced N₂O fluxes observed after rewetting up to 0.1 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹ were not able to compensate for the preceding drought effect. During the experiment in 2006, with soil matric potentials in 20 cm depth down to −630 hPa, cumulative NO emissions from the throughfall exclusion plots were reduced by 69% compared to the controls, whereas cumulative NO emissions from the experimental plots in 2007, with minimum soil matric potentials of −210 hPa, were 180% of those of the controls. Following wetting, the soil of the throughfall exclusion plots showed significantly larger NO fluxes compared to the controls (up to 9 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹ versus 2 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹). These fluxes were responsible for 44% of the total emission of NO throughout the whole course of the experiment. NO emissions from this forest soil usually exceeded N₂O emissions by one order of magnitude or more except during wintertime.     

Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes, and carbon dioxide production in boreal forest soil fertilized with wood ash and nitrogen

Wood ash has been used to alleviate nutrient deficiencies and acidification in boreal forest soils. However, ash and nitrogen (N) fertilization may affect microbial processes producing or consuming greenhouse gases: methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Ash and N fertilization can stimulate nitrification and denitrification and, therefore, increase N₂O emission and suppress CH₄ uptake rate. Ash may also stimulate microbial respiration thereby enhancing CO₂ emission. The fluxes of CH₄, N₂O and CO₂ were measured in a boreal spruce forest soil treated with wood ash and/or N (ammonium nitrate) during three growing seasons. In addition to in situ measurements, CH₄ oxidation potential, CO₂ production, net nitrification and N₂O production were studied in laboratory incubations. The mean in situ N₂O emissions and in situ CO₂ production from the untreated, N, ash and ash + N treatments were not significantly different, ranging from 11 to 17 μg N₂O m^?2 h^?1 and from 533 to 611 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1. However, ash increased the CH₄ oxidation in a forest soil profile which could be seen both in the laboratory experiments and in the CH₄ uptake rates in situ. The mean in situ CH₄ uptake rate in the untreated, N, ash and ash + N plots were 153 ± 5, 123 ± 8, 188 ± 10 and 178 ± 18 μg m^?2 h^?1, respectively.     

Drivers of nitrous oxide fluxes from the semi-arid Leymus chinensis grassland in Inner Mongolia,China

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) flux in the semi-arid Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. grassland in Inner Mongolia, China was measured for two years (from January 2005 to December 2006) with the enclosed chamber technique. The measurements were made twice per month in the growing season and once per month in the non-growing season. To evaluate the effect of aboveground vegetation on N₂O emission, the ecosystem N₂O flux over the grassland was measured, and concurrently soil N₂O flux was measured after the removal of all the aboveground biomass. The possible effect of water-heat factors on N₂O fluxes was statistically examined. The ecosystem N₂O flux ranged from 0.21 to 0.26?kg nitrous oxide-nitrogen (N₂O–N) ha^{? 1} year^{? 1}, indicating that the Leymus chinensis grassland of Inner Mongolia was a source for the atmospheric N₂O. There was no significant difference between the ecosystem N₂O flux and the soil N₂O flux. The ecosystem N₂O flux was under similar environmental control as the soil N₂O flux. Soil moisture was the primary driving factor of the N₂O fluxes in the growing season of both years; the changes in water–filled pore space (WFPS) of soil surface layers could explain 45–67% of the variations in N₂O fluxes. The high seasonal variation of the N₂O fluxes in the growing seasons was regulated by the distribution of effective rainfall, rather than the precipitation intensity. While in the non-growing season, the N₂O fluxes were restricted much more by air temperature or soil temperature, and 83–85% of the variations of the N₂O fluxes were induced by changes in temperature conditions.     

Greenhouse gas emissions in response to straw incorporation,water management and their interaction in a paddy field in subtropical central China

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of combination of straw incorporation and water management on fluxes of CH₄, N₂O and soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) in a paddy field in subtropical central China by using a static opaque chamber/gas chromatography method. Four treatments were set up: two rice straw incorporation rates at 0 (S1) and 6 (S2) t ha^?1 combined with two water managements of intermittent irrigation (W1, with mid-season drainage) and continuous flooding (W2, without mid-season drainage). The cumulative seasonal CH₄ emissions for the treatments of S1W2, S2W1 and S2W2 increased significantly by 1.84, 5.47 and 6.63 times, respectively, while seasonal N₂O emissions decreased by 0.67, 0.29 and 1.21 times, respectively, as compared to S1W1 treatment. The significant increase in the cumulative Rh for the treatments S1W1, S2W1 and S2W2 were 0.54, 1.35 and 0.52 times, respectively, in comparison with S1W2. On a seasonal basis, both the CO₂-equivalents (CO₂e) and yield-scaled CO₂e (GHGI) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions increased with straw incorporation and continuous flooding, following the order: S2W2>S2W1>S1W2>S1W1. Thus, the practices of in season straw incorporation should be discouraged, while mid-season drainage is recommended in paddy rice production from a point view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.     

Elevated CO2 concentration and nitrogen fertilisation effects on N2O and CH4 fluxes and biomass production of Phleum pratense on farmed peat soil

The effects of elevated CO₂ supply on N₂O and CH₄ fluxes and biomass production of Phleum pratense were studied in a greenhouse experiment. Three sets of 12 farmed peat soil mesocosms (10 cm dia, 47 cm long) sown with P. pratense and equally distributed in four thermo-controlled greenhouses were fertilised with a commercial fertiliser in order to add 2, 6 or 10 g N m⁻². In two of the greenhouses, CO₂ concentration was kept at atmospheric concentration (360 μmol mol⁻¹) and in the other two at doubled concentration (720 μmol mol⁻¹). Soil temperature was kept at 15 °C and air temperature at 20 °C. Natural lighting was supported by artificial light and deionized water was used to regulate soil moisture. Forage was harvested and the plants fertilised three times during the basic experiment, followed by an extra fertilisations and harvests. At the end of the experiment CH₄ production and CH₄ oxidation potentials were determined; roots were collected and the biomass was determined. From the three first harvests the amount of total N in the aboveground biomass was determined. N₂O and CH₄ exchange was monitored using a closed chamber technique and a gas chromatograph. The highest N₂O fluxes (on average, 255 μg N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹ during period IV) occurred just after fertilisation at high water contents, and especially at the beginning of the growing season (on average, 490 μg N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹ during period I) when the competition of vegetation for N was low. CH₄ fluxes were negligible throughout the experiment, and for all treatments the production and oxidation potentials of CH₄ were inconsequential. Especially at the highest rates of fertilisation, the elevated supply of CO₂ increased above- and below-ground biomass production, but both at the highest and lowest rates of fertilisation, decreased the total amount of N in the aboveground dry biomass. N₂O fluxes tended to be higher under doubled CO₂ concentrations, indicating that increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration may affect N and C dynamics in farmed peat soil.     

Water Management Influencing Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Rice Field in Relation to Soil Redox and Microbial Community

Abstract

Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from an irrigated rice field under continuous flooding and intermittent irrigation water management practices in northern China were measured in situ by the static chamber technique during May to October in 2000. The intermittent irrigation reduced total growing‐season CH₄ emission by 24.22% but increased N₂O emission by 23.72%, when compared with the continuous flooding. Soil Eh and four related bacterial groups were also measured to clarify their effects on gaseous emissions. Three ranges of soil redox potential were related to gas emissions: below ?100 mV with vigorous CH₄ emission, above +100 mV with significant N₂O emission, and +100 to ?100 mV with little CH₄ and N₂O emissions. Intermittently draining the field increased soil oxidation, with a decrease in CH₄ emission and an increase in N₂O emission. In general the mid‐season drainage slightly increased the populations of methanotrophs, nitrifiers, and denitrifiers but decreased that of methanogens.     

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM AN ALKALINE SALINE SOIL CULTIVATED WITH MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) AND AMENDED WITH ANAEROBICALLY DIGESTED COW MANURE: A GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT

Sludge derived from cow manure anaerobically digested to produce biogas (methane; CH₄) was applied to maize (Zea mays L.) cultivated in a nutrient-low, alkaline, saline soil with electrolytic conductivity 9.4 dS m^?1 and pH 9.3. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission increased 3.1 times when sludge was applied to soil, 1.6 times when cultivated with maize and 3.5 times in sludge-amended maize cultivated soil compared to the unamended uncultivated soil (1.51 mg C kg^?1 soil day^?1). Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from unamended soil was -0.0004 μg nitrogen (N) kg^?1 soil day^?1 and similar from soil cultivated with maize (0.27 μg N kg^?1 soil day^?1). Application of sludge increased the N₂O emission to 4.59 μg N kg^?1 soil day^?1, but cultivating this soil reduced it to 2.42 μg N kg^?1 soil day^?1. It was found that application of anaerobic digested cow manure stimulated maize development in an alkaline saline soil and increased emissions of CO₂ and N₂O.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from three ecosystems in tropical peatland of Sarawak,Malaysia

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions were measured monthly over 1 year in three ecosystems on tropical peatland of Sarawak, Malaysia, using a closed-chamber technique. The three ecosystems investigated were mixed peat swamp forest, sago (Metroxylon sagu) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations. The highest annual N₂O emissions were observed in the sago ecosystem with a production rate of 3.3 kg N ha^?1 year^?1, followed by the oil palm ecosystem at 1.2 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 and the forest ecosystem at 0.7 kg N ha^?1 year^?1. The N₂O emissions ranged from –3.4 to 19.7 µg N m^?2 h^?1 for the forest ecosystem, from 1.0 to 176.3 µg N m^?2 h^?1 for the sago ecosystem and from 0.9 to 58.4 µg N m^?2 h^?1 for the oil palm ecosystem. Multiple regression analysis showed that N₂O production in each ecosystem was regulated by different variables. The key factors influencing N₂O emissions in the forest ecosystem were the water table and the NH⁺ ₄ concentration at 25–50 cm, soil temperature at 5 cm and nitrate concentration at 0–25 cm in the sago ecosystem, and water-filled pore space, soil temperature at 5 cm and NH⁺ ₄ concentrations at 0–25 cm in the oil palm ecosystem. R² values for the above regression equations were 0.57, 0.63 and 0.48 for forest, sago and oil palm, respectively. The results suggest that the conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to agricultural crops, which causes substantial changes to the environment and soil properties, will significantly affect the exchange of N₂O between the tropical peatland and the atmosphere. Thus, the estimation of net N₂O production from tropical peatland for the global N₂O budget should take into consideration ecosystem type.     

Short-term effects of clearfelling on soil CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in a Sitka spruce plantation

We examined the effects of forest clearfelling on the fluxes of soil CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O in a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) plantation on an organic-rich peaty gley soil, in Northern England. Soil CO₂, CH₄, N₂O as well as environmental factors such as soil temperature, soil water content, and depth to the water table were recorded in two mature stands for one growing season, at the end of which one of the two stands was felled and one was left as control. Monitoring of the same parameters continued thereafter for a second growing season. For the first 10 months after clearfelling, there was a significant decrease in soil CO₂ efflux, with an average efflux rate of 4.0 g m⁻² d⁻¹ in the mature stand (40-year) and 2.7 g m⁻² d⁻¹ in clearfelled site (CF). Clearfelling turned the soil from a sink (−0.37 mg m⁻² d⁻¹) for CH₄ to a net source (2.01 mg m⁻² d⁻¹). For the same period, soil N₂O fluxes averaged 0.57 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the CF and 0.23 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the 40-year stand. Clearfelling affected environmental factors and lead to higher daily soil temperatures during the summer period, while it caused an increase in the soil water content and a rise in the water table depth. Despite clearfelling, CO₂ remained the dominant greenhouse gas in terms of its greenhouse warming potential.     

Effect of soil water status and mulching on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> emission from lowland rice field in China

Cultivation of rice in unsaturated soils covered with mulch is receiving more attention in China because of increasingly serious water shortage; however, greenhouse gas emission from this cultivation system is still poorly understood. A field experiment was conducted in 2001 to compare nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emission from rice cultivated in unsaturated soil covered with plastic or straw mulch and the traditional waterlogged production system. Trace gas fluxes from the soil were measured weekly throughout the entire growth period using a closed chamber method. Nitrous oxide emissions from unsaturated rice fields were large and varied considerably during the rice season. They were significantly affected by N fertilizer application rate. In contrast, N₂O emission from the waterlogged system was very low with a maximum of 0.28 mg N₂O m^–2 h^–1. However, CH₄ emission from the waterlogged system was significantly higher than from the unsaturated system, with a maximum emission rate of 5.01 mg CH₄ m^–2 h^–1. Our results suggested that unsaturated rice cultivation with straw mulch reduce greenhouse gas emissions.