Temporal and spatial patterns of denitrification enzyme activity and nitrous oxide fluxes in three adjacent vegetated riparian buffer zones

The aim of this study was to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes in three adjacent riparian sites (mixed vegetation, forest and grass). The highest DEA was found in the surface (0–30 cm) soil and varied between 0.7±0.1 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 5°C and 5.9±0.4 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 15°C. There was no significant difference (P >0.05) between the DEA in the uppermost (0–30 cm and 60–90 cm) soil depths under different vegetation covers. In the two deepest (120–150 cm and 180–210 cm) soil depths the DEA varied between 0.0±0.0 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 5°C and 4.4±0.9 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 15°C and was clearly associated with the accumulation of buried organic carbon (OC). Two threshold values of OC were observed before DEA started to increase significantly, namely 5 and 25 g OC kg^–1 soil at 10–15°C and 5°C, respectively. In the three riparian sites N₂O fluxes varied between a net N₂O uptake of –0.6±0.4 mg N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1 and a net N₂O emission of 2.5±0.3 mg N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1. The observed N₂O emission did not lead to an important pollution swapping (from water pollution to greenhouse gas emission). Especially in the mixed vegetation and forest riparian site highest N₂O fluxes were observed upslope of the riparian site. The N₂O fluxes showed no clear temporal trend.     

Effects of rate and depth of fertilizer application on emission of nitrous oxide from soil fertilized with anhydrous ammonia

Summary Field studies to determine the effect of different rates of fertilization on emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soil fertilized with anhydrous ammonia showed that the fertilizer-induced emission of N₂O-N in 116 days increased from 1.22 to 4.09 kg ha^–1 as the rate of anhydrous ammonia N application was increased from 75 to 450 kg ha^–1. When expressed as a percentage of the N applied, the fertilizer-induced emission of N₂O-N in 116 days decreased from 1.6% to 0.9% as the rate of fertilizer N application was increased from 75 to 450 kg N ha^–1. The data obtained showed that a 100% increase in the rate of application of anhydrous ammonia led to about a 60% increase in the fertilizer-induced emission of N₂O.Field studies to determine the effect of depth of fertilizer injection on emission of N₂O from soil fertilized with anhydrous ammonia showed that the emission of N₂O-N in 156 days induced by injection of 112 kg anhydrous ammonia N ha^–1 at a depth of 30 cm was 107% and 21 % greater than those induced by injection of the same amount of N at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm, respectively. The effect of depth of application of anhydrous ammonia on emission of N₂O was less when this fertilizer was applied at a rate of 225 kg N ha^–1.     

Contribution of denitrification and autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification to nitrous oxide production in andosols

To quantify the contribution of denitrification and autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification to N₂O production in Andosols with a relatively high organic matter content, we first examined the effect of C₂H₂ concentrations on N₂O production and on changes in mineral N contents. The optimum C₂H₂ concentration for inhibiting autotrophic nitrification was 10 Pa. Secondly, and Andosol taken from an arable field was incubated for 32 days at 30°C at 60, 80, and 100% water-holding capacity with or without the addition of NH ₄ ⁺ or NO _inf3 ^sup- (200 mg N kg^-1), and subsamples collected every 4–8 days were further incubated for 24 h with or without C₂H₂ (10 Pa). At 60 and 80% water-holding capacity with NH ₄ ⁺ added, 87–92% of N₂O produced (200–250 g N₂O–N kg^-1) was derived from autotrophic nitrification. In contrast, at 100% water-holding capacity with or without added NO _inf3 ^sup- , enormous amounts of N₂O (29–90 mg N₂O–N kg^-1) were produced rapidly, mostly by denitrification (96–98% of total production). Thirdly, to examine N₂O production by heterotrophic nitrification, the Andosol was amended with peptone or NH ₄ ⁺ (both 1000 mg N kg^-1)+citric acid (20 g C kg^-1) and with or without dicyandiamide (200 mg N kg^-1). Treatment with citric acid alone or with citric acid+dicyandiamide suppressed N₂O production. In contrast, peptone increased N₂O production (5.66 mg N₂O–N kg^-1) mainly by denitrification (80% of total production). However, dicyandiamide reduced N₂O production to 1.1 mg N₂O–N kg^-1. These results indicate that autotrophic nitrification was the main process for N₂O production except at 100% water-holding capacity where denitrification became dominant and that heterotrophic nitrification had a lesser importance in the soils examine.Dedicated to Professor J. C. G. Ottow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

施肥方式对冬小麦—夏玉米轮作土壤N_2O排放的影响

氧化亚氮(N_2O)是一种重要的农田温室气体,本研究利用紫色土长期施肥试验平台,采用静态箱/气相色谱法对紫色土旱作农田冬小麦—夏玉米轮作系统的N_2O排放进行了定位观测(2012年11月至2013年9月),研究单施氮肥(N)、常规氮磷钾肥(NPK)、猪厩肥(OM)、猪厩肥配施氮磷钾肥(OMNPK)和秸秆还田配施氮磷钾肥(ICRNPK)等施肥方式对紫色土N_2O排放特征的影响;不施肥(NF)作为对照计算排放系数,以探寻紫色土地区可操作性强、环境友好的施肥方式。结果表明,所有施肥方式的N_2O排放均呈现双峰排放,峰值出现在施肥初期;玉米季N_2O排放峰值显著高于小麦季(p0.05)。在相同的施氮水平(小麦季130 kg hm~(~(-2)),玉米季150 kg hm~(~(-2)))下,施肥方式对N_2O排放和作物产量均有显著影响(p0.05)。N、OM、NPK、OMNPK和ICRNPK处理的土壤N_2O周年累积排放量分别为1.93、1.96、1.12、1.50和0.79 kg hm~(~(-2)),排放系数分别为0.62%、0.63%、0.33%、0.47%和0.21%,全年作物产量分别为4.35、11.95、8.39、9.77、10.93 t hm~(~(-2))。施用猪厩肥显著增加N_2O排放量,而秸秆还田在保证作物产量的同时显著降低N_2O排放量,可作为紫色土地区环境友好的施肥方式。土壤无机氮(NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N)是N_2O排放的主要限制因子。因此,在施氮水平相同时,施肥方式对紫色土活性氮含量的影响导致N_2O排放差异显著,是土壤N_2O排放差异的根本原因。土壤孔隙充水率也是影响N_2O排放的重要环境因子,并且其对N_2O排放的影响存在阈值效应。     

The effect of reduced tillage on nitrous oxide emissions of silt loam soils

The effect of reduced tillage (RT) on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions of soils from fields with root crops under a temperate climate was studied. Three silt loam fields under RT agriculture were compared with their respective conventional tillage (CT) field with comparable crop rotation and manure application. Undisturbed soil samples taken in September 2005 and February 2006 were incubated under laboratory conditions for 10 days. The N₂O emission of soils taken in September 2005 varied from 50 to 1,095 μg N kg⁻¹ dry soil. The N₂O emissions of soils from the RT fields taken in September 2005 were statistically (P < 0.05) higher or comparable than the N₂O emissions from their respective CT soil. The N₂O emission of soils taken in February 2006 varied from 0 to 233 μg N kg⁻¹ dry soil. The N₂O emissions of soils from the RT fields taken in February 2006 tended to be higher than the N₂O emissions from their respective CT soil. A positive and significant Pearson correlation of the N₂O–N emissions with nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ⁻–N) content in the soil was found (P < 0.01). Leaving the straw on the field, a typical feature of RT, decreased NO₃ ⁻–N content of the soil and reduced N₂O emissions from RT soils.     

Daytime,Temporal, and Seasonal Variations of N2O Emissions in an Upland Cropping System of the Humid Tropics

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) contributes to global climate change, and its emission from soil–crop systems depend on soil, environmental, and anthropogenic factors. Thus, we evaluated the variability of N₂O emissions measured by microchambers (cross section: 184 cm²) from a groundnut–fallow–maize–fallow cropping system of the humid tropics. The crops received inorganic nitrogen (N) plus crop residues (NC), inorganic N alone as ammonium sulfate (RN), and half of the inorganic N along with crop residues and chicken manure (N_1/2CM), amounting for the crop rotation to 322, 180, and 400 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. The N₂O fluxes during the groundnut–maize crop rotation were log‐normally distributed, and the frequency distributions were positively skewed. Daytime changes in N₂O fluxes were inconsistent, and the 50% of total N₂O emission during the 12 h measurement periods was attained earlier under maize (～11∶00 h) than groundnut covers (～13∶00 h). Spatial variability in each treatment with eight gas chambers was large but smaller during the cropping periods than the fallow, indicating masking efficiency of crop covers for the soil heterogeneity that was accelerated presumably by antecedent climatic variables. The temporal variability of N₂O emissions was also large (coefficients of variation, CV, ranged from 60 to 81%), involving both input differences between treatments and measurement periods. As such, the relative deviation from the annual mean of total N₂O emission was high during the period after a large N application with a maximum of +480%, due to addition of chicken manure. The seasonal contribution of summer and monsoon to N₂O emissions was insignificant. However, intensive rainfall negatively (?0.65**) and the amount of added N from either source positively (0.83***) correlated with the integrated N₂O emissions, and those were exponential. Results suggest that around noon (12∶00 h) gas collection could represent well the daily N₂O fluxes, increasing the number or size of the gas chambers could minimize the large variability, and mainly the rainfall and N inputs regulated its emissions in the humid tropics of Malaysia.     

Dinitrogen emissions and the N2:N2O emission ratio of a Rendzic Leptosol as influenced by pH and forest thinning

Reduction of nitrous oxide (N₂O) to dinitrogen (N₂) by denitrification in soils is of outstanding ecological significance since it is the prevailing natural process converting reactive nitrogen back into inert molecular dinitrogen. Furthermore, the extent to which N₂O is reduced to N₂ via denitrification is a major regulating factor affecting the magnitude of N₂O emission from soils. However, due to methodological problems in the past, extremely little information is available on N₂ emission and the N₂:N₂O emission ratio for soils of terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we simultaneously determined N₂ and N₂O emissions from intact soil cores taken from a mountainous beech forest ecosystem. The soil cores were taken from plots with distinct differences in microclimate (warm-dry versus cool-moist) and silvicultural treatment (untreated control versus heavy thinning). Due to different microclimates, the plots showed pronounced differences in pH values (range: 6.3–7.3). N₂O emission from the soil cores was generally very low (2.0 ± 0.5–6.3 ± 3.8 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ at the warm-dry site and 7.1 ± 3.1–57.4 ± 28.5 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ at the cool-moist site), thus confirming results from field measurements. However, N₂ emission exceeded N₂O emission by a factor of 21 ± 6–220 ± 122 at the investigated plots. This illustrates that the dominant end product of denitrification at our plots and under the given environmental conditions is N₂ rather than N₂O. N₂ emission showed a huge variability (range: 161 ± 64–1070 ± 499 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹), so that potential effects of microclimate or silvicultural treatment on N₂ emission could not be identified with certainty. However, there was a significant effect of microclimate on the magnitude of N₂O emission as well as on the mean N₂:N₂O emission ratio. N₂:N₂O emission ratios were higher and N₂O emissions were lower for soil cores taken from the plots with warm-dry microclimate as compared to soil cores taken from the cool-moist microclimate plots. We hypothesize that the increase in the N₂:N₂O emission ratio at the warm-dry site was due to higher N₂O reductase activity provoked by the higher soil pH value of this site. Overall, the results of this study show that the N₂:N₂O emission ratio is crucial for understanding the regulation of N₂O fluxes of the investigated soil and that reliable estimates of N₂ emissions are an indispensable prerequisite for accurately calculating total N gas budgets for the investigated ecosystem and very likely for many other terrestrial upland ecosystems as well.     

Transitioning from standard to minimum tillage: Trade-offs between soil organic matter stabilization, nitrous oxide emissions, and N availability in irrigated cropping systems

Few studies address nutrient cycling during the transition period (e.g., 1–4 years following conversion) from standard to some form of conservation tillage. This study compares the influence of minimum versus standard tillage on changes in soil nitrogen (N) stabilization, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, short-term N cycling, and crop N use efficiency 1 year after tillage conversion in conventional (i.e., synthetic fertilizer-N only), low-input (i.e., alternating annual synthetic fertilizer- and cover crop-N), and organic (i.e., manure- and cover crop-N) irrigated, maize–tomato systems in California. To understand the mechanisms governing N cycling in these systems, we traced ¹⁵N-labeled fertilizer/cover crop into the maize grain, whole soil, and three soil fractions: macroaggregates (>250 μm), microaggregates (53–250 μm) and silt-and-clay (<53 μm). We found a cropping system effect on soil N_new (i.e., N derived from ¹⁵N-fertilizer or -¹⁵N-cover crop), with 173 kg N_new ha⁻¹ in the conventional system compared to 71.6 and 69.2 kg N_new ha⁻¹ in the low-input and organic systems, respectively. In the conventional system, more N_new was found in the microaggregate and silt-and-clay fractions, whereas, the N_new of the organic and low-input systems resided mainly in the macroaggregates. Even though no effect of tillage was found on soil aggregation, the minimum tillage systems showed greater soil fraction-N_new than the standard tillage systems, suggesting greater potential for N stabilization under minimum tillage. Grain-N_new was also higher in the minimum versus standard tillage systems. Nevertheless, minimum tillage led to the greatest N₂O emissions (39.5 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) from the conventional cropping system, where N turnover was already the fastest among the cropping systems. In contrast, minimum tillage combined with the low-input system (which received the least N ha⁻¹) produced intermediate N₂O emissions, soil N stabilization, and crop N use efficiency. Although total soil N did not change after 1 year of conversion from standard to minimum tillage, our use of stable isotopes permitted the early detection of interactive effects between tillage regimes and cropping systems that determine the trade-offs among N stabilization, N₂O emissions, and N availability.     

施肥方式对紫色土农田生态系统N2O和NO排放的影响

依托紫色土施肥方式与养分循环长期试验平台(2002年—),采用静态箱-气相色谱法开展紫色土冬小麦-夏玉米轮作周期(2013年10月至2014年10月)农田生态系统N_2O和NO排放的野外原位观测试验。长期施肥方式包括单施氮肥(N)、传统猪厩肥(OM)、常规氮磷钾肥(NPK)、猪厩肥配施氮磷钾肥(OMNPK)和秸秆还田配施氮磷钾肥(RSDNPK)等5种,氮肥用量相同[小麦季130 kg(N)×hm~(-2),玉米季150 kg(N)×hm~(-2)],不施肥对照(CK)用于计算排放系数,对比不同施肥方式对紫色土典型农田生态系统土壤N_2O和NO排放的影响,以期探寻紫色土农田生态系统N_2O和NO协同减排的施肥方式。结果表明,所有施肥方式下紫色土N_2O和NO排放速率波动幅度大,且均在施肥初期出现峰值;强降雨激发N_2O排放,但对NO排放无明显影响。在整个小麦-玉米轮作周期,N、OM、NPK、OMNPK和RSDNPK处理的N_2O年累积排放量分别为1.40 kg(N)×hm~(-2)、4.60 kg(N)×hm~(-2)、0.95 kg(N)×hm~(-2)、2.16kg(N)×hm~(-2)和1.41 kg(N)×hm~(-2),排放系数分别为0.41%、1.56%、0.25%、0.69%、0.42%;NO累积排放量分别为0.57 kg(N)×hm~(-2)、0.40 kg(N)×hm~(-2)、0.39 kg(N)×hm~(-2)、0.46 kg(N)×hm~(-2)和0.17 kg(N)×hm~(-2),排放系数分别为0.21%、0.15%、0.15%、0.17%、0.07%。施肥方式对紫色土N_2O和NO累积排放量具有显著影响(P0.05),与NPK处理比较,OM和OMNPK处理的N_2O排放分别增加384%和127%,同时NO排放分别增加3%和18%;RSDNPK处理的NO排放减少56%。表明长期施用猪厩肥显著增加N_2O和NO排放,而秸秆还田有效减少NO排放。研究表明,土壤温度和水分条件均显著影响小麦季N_2O和NO排放(P0.01),对玉米季N_2O和NO排放没有显著影响(P0.05),土壤无机氮含量则是在小麦-玉米轮作期N_2O和NO排放的主要限制因子(P0.01)。全量秸秆还田与化肥配合施用是紫色土农田生态系统N_2O和NO协同减排的优化施肥方式。     

Seasonal variations of nitrous oxide emission in relation to nitrogen fertilization and energy crop types in sandy soil

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas and agricultural soils are major sources of atmospheric N₂O. Its emissions from soils make up the largest part in the global N₂O budget. Research was carried out at the experimental fields of the Leibniz-Institute of Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB). Different types (mineral and wood ash) and levels (0, 75 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹) of fertilization were applied to annual (rape, rye, triticale and hemp) and perennial (poplar and willow) plants every year. N₂O flux measurements were performed 4 times a week by means of gas flux chambers and an automated gas chromatograph between 2003 and 2005. Soil samples were also taken close to the corresponding measuring rings. Soil nitrate and ammonium were measured in soil extracts.N₂O emissions had a peak after N fertilization in spring, after plant harvest in summer and during the freezing–thawing periods in winter. Both fertilization and plant types significantly altered N₂O emission. The maximum N₂O emission rate detected was 1081 μg N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹ in 2004. The mean annual N₂O emissions from the annual plants were more than twofold greater than those of perennial plants (4.3 kg ha⁻¹ vs. 1.9 kg ha⁻¹). During January, N₂O fluxes considerably increased in all treatments due to freezing–thawing cycles. Fertilization together with annual cropping doubled the N₂O emissions compared to perennial crops indicating that N use efficiency was greater for perennial plants. Fertilizer-derived N₂O fluxes constituted about 32% (willow) to 67% (rape/rye) of total soil N₂O flux. Concurrent measurements of soil water content, NO₃ and NH₄ support the conclusion that nitrification is main source of N₂O loss from the study soils. The mean soil NO₃-N values of soils during the study for fertilized soils were 1.6 and 0.9 mg NO₃-N kg⁻¹ for 150 and 75 kg N ha⁻¹ fertilization, respectively. This value reduced to 0.5 mg NO₃-N kg⁻¹ for non-fertilized soils.     

施肥方式对冬小麦季紫色土N2O排放特征的影响

利用紫色土养分循环长期定位施肥试验平台,通过静态箱-气相色谱法,于2012年11月至2013年5月,研究了单施氮肥(N)、猪厩肥(OM)、常规氮磷钾肥(NPK)、猪厩肥配施氮磷钾肥(OMNPK)、秸秆还田配施氮磷钾肥(CRNPK)及对照不施肥(NF)6种施肥方式下,紫色土冬小麦季土壤N2O的排放特征。结果表明,在相同施氮水平[130 kg(N)·hm-2]下,施肥方式对N2O排放量有显著影响(P0.05)。N、OM、NPK、OMNPK和CRNPK处理下,土壤N2O排放量[kg(N)·hm-2]分别为0.38、0.36、0.29、0.33和0.19,N2O排放系数分别为0.25%、0.23%、0.18%、0.21%和0.10%。NF的土壤N2O排放量为0.06 kg(N)·hm-2。土壤无机氮含量(NO3--N和NH4+-N)是N2O排放的主要影响因子,降雨能有效激发N2O排放。基于小麦产量评价不同施肥方式下的N2O排放,结果表明,N、OM、NPK、OMNPK和CRNPK单位小麦产量N2O的GWP值[yield-scaled GWP,kg(CO2 eq)·t-1]分别为132.57、45.70、49.07、48.92和26.41。CRNPK的小麦产量与6种施肥方式中获得最大产量的OM间没有显著差异,但显著高于其他处理。而且,CRNPK的yield-scaled GWP比紫色土地区冬小麦种植中常规施肥方式(NPK)显著减少46%,并显著低于其他4种施肥方式。可见,秸秆还田配施氮磷钾肥在保证小麦产量的同时,能有效减少因施肥引发的N2O排放,可作为紫色土地区推荐的最佳施肥措施。     

Nitrous oxide emission from feedlot manure and green waste compost applied to Vertisols

Application of feedlot manure (FLM) to cropping and grazing soils could provide a valuable N nutrient resource. However, because of its high but variable N concentration, FLM has the potential for environmental pollution of water bodies and N₂O emission to the atmosphere. As a potential management tool, we utilised the low-nutrient green waste compost (GWC) to assess its effectiveness in regulating N release and the amount of N₂O emission from two Vertisols when both FLM and GWC were applied together. Cumulative soil N₂O emission over 32 weeks at 24°C and field capacity (70% water-filled pore space) for a black Vertisol (Udic Paleustert) was 45 mg N₂O m⁻² from unamended soil. This increased to 274 mg N₂O m⁻² when FLM was applied at 1 kg m⁻² and to 403 mg N₂O m⁻² at 2 kg m⁻². In contrast, the emissions of 60 mg N₂O m⁻² when the soil was amended with GWC 1 kg m⁻² and 48 mg N₂O m⁻² at 2 kg m⁻² were not significantly greater than the unamended soil. Emission from a mixture of FLM and GWC applied in equal amounts (0.5 kg m⁻²) was 106 mg N₂O m⁻² and FLM applied at 0.5 kg m⁻² and GWC at 1.5 kg GWC m⁻² was 117 mg N₂O m⁻². Although cumulative N₂O emissions from an unamended grey Vertisol (Typic Chromustert) were only slightly higher than black Vertisol (57 mg N₂O m⁻²), FLM application at 1 kg m⁻² increased N₂O emissions by 14 times (792 mg N₂O m⁻²) and at 2 kg m⁻² application by 22 times (1260 mg N₂O m^-2). Application of GWC did not significantly increase N₂O emission (99 mg N₂O m⁻² at 1 kg m⁻² and 65 mg N₂O m⁻² at 2 kg m⁻²) above the unamended soil. As observed for the black Vertisol, a mixture of FLM (0.5 kg m⁻²) and GWC (0.5 or 1.5 kg m⁻²) reduced N₂O emission by >50% of that from the FLM alone, most likely by reducing the amount of mineral N (NH₄⁺–N and NO₃⁻–N) in the soil, as mineral N in soil and the N₂O emission were closely correlated.     

Determinants of annual fluxes of CO2 and N2O in long-term no-tillage and conventional tillage systems in northern France

The greenhouse gases CO₂ and N₂O emissions were quantified in a long-term experiment in northern France, in which no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) had been differentiated during 32 years in plots under a maize–wheat rotation. Continuous CO₂ and periodical N₂O soil emission measurements were performed during two periods: under maize cultivation (April 2003–July 2003) and during the fallow period after wheat harvest (August 2003–March 2004). In order to document the dynamics and importance of these emissions, soil organic C and mineral N, residue decomposition, soil potential for CO₂ emission and climatic data were measured. CO₂ emissions were significantly larger in NT on 53% and in CT on 6% of the days. From April to July 2003 and from November 2003 to March 2004, the cumulated CO₂ emissions did not differ significantly between CT and NT. However, the cumulated CO₂ emissions from August to November 2003 were considerably larger for NT than for CT. Over the entire 331 days of measurement, CT and NT emitted 3160 ± 269 and 4064 ± 138 kg CO₂-C ha⁻¹, respectively. The differences in CO₂ emissions in the two tillage systems resulted from the soil climatic conditions and the amounts and location of crop residues and SOM. A large proportion of the CO₂ emissions in NT over the entire measurement period was probably due to the decomposition of old weathered residues. NT tended to emit more N₂O than CT over the entire measurement period. However differences were statistically significant in only half of the cases due to important variability. N₂O emissions were generally less than 5 g N ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, except for a few dates where emission increased up to 21 g N ha⁻¹ day⁻¹. These N₂O fluxes represented 0.80 ± 0.15 and 1.32 ± 0.52 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for CT and NT, respectively. Depending on the periods, a large part of the N₂O emissions occurred was probably induced by nitrification, since soil conditions were not favorable for denitrification. Finally, for the period of measurement after 32 years of tillage treatments, the NT system emitted more greenhouses gases (CO₂ and N₂O) to the atmosphere on an annual basis than the CT system.     

Phytotron studies to compare nitrogen losses from corn-planted soil by the 15-N balance or direct dinitrogen and nitrous oxide measurements

Summary Containers filled with soil mixed with potassium nitrate highly enriched in ¹⁵N were planted with corn (Zea mays L.) and kept in a phytotron under controlled conditions for 79 days. Soil water content was normally maintained at exactly 60% water-holding capacity (–33 kPa), but it was increased several times to 85% (–5 kPa) for short periods to favour denitrification. The soil headspace was sealed from the phytotron atmosphere and aerated by a continuous stream of air. Nitrous oxide emission was measured by estimating the N₂O concentration differences in the air entering and leaving the containers. Emission of N₂ was estimated by mass spectroscopy from changes in the N₂ composition in the temporarily enclosed soil headspace. Both methods were carefully checked for accuracy by different tests. At specific times during the experiment the distribution of ¹⁵N between plants and soil was determined and a ¹⁵N balance established. Emission of N gases peaked at times of increased water content and reached maxima of 149 and 142 g N pot^–1 day^–1 for N₂O and N₂, respectively. While N losses of 5% ± 2% were indicated by the ¹⁵N balance, only 1.1% ± 0.3% loss from 2.7 g applied N was estimated from the N₂O and N₂ measurements after 79 days. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.     

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.     

The influence of crop residues with different C: N ratios on the N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emission from a loamy sand soddy-podzolic soil

The influence of crop residues with different C: N ratios on the N₂O emission from differently managed loamy sand soddy-podzolic soils was studied in a 50-day laboratory experiment. The application of crop residues into the soil increased the N₂O emission from the soil. The N₂O emission was lower from the poorly managed soil as compared to the soil with the high degree of cultivation. The crop residues form the following decreasing sequence in terms of their effect on the cumulative N₂O flow: cabbage > red clover > perennial grasses > straw of spring wheat. The composting of crop residues with a wide C: N ratio for 50 days did not exceed the critical value of the emission factor (1.25%), whereas, in the composting of crop residues with a narrow C: N ratio, the critical value of the emission factor was 1.3–2.0 times higher.     

Effects of various nitrogen fertilizers on emission of nitrous oxide from soils

Summary Field studies of the effects of different N fertilizers on emission of nitrous oxide (N20) from three Iowa soils showed that the N₂O emissions induced by application of 180 kg ha^–1 fertilizer N as anhydrous ammonia greatly exceeded those induced by application of the same amount of fertilizer N as aqueous ammonia or urea. On average, the emission of N₂O-N induced by anhydrous ammonia was more than 13 times that induced by aqueous ammonia or urea and represented 1.2% of the anhydrous ammonia N applied. Experiments with one soil showed that the N₂O emission induced by anhydrous ammonia was more than 17 times that induced by the same amount of N as calcium nitrate. These findings confirm indications from previous work that anhydrous ammonia has a much greater effect on emission of N₂O from soils than do other commonly used N fertilizers and merits special attention in research relating to the potential adverse climatic effect of N fertilization of soils.Laboratory studies of the effect of different amounts of NH₄OH on emission of N₂O from Webster soil showed that the emission of N₂O-N induced by addition of 100 g NH₄OH-N g^–1 soil represented only 0.18% of the N applied, whereas the emissions induced by additions of 500 and 1 000 g NH4OH-N g^–1 soil represented 1.15% and 1.19%, respectively, of the N applied. This suggests that the exceptionally large emissions of N₂O induced by anhydrous ammonia fertilization are due, at least in part, to the fact that the customary method of applying this fertilizer by injection into soil produces highly alkaline soil zones of high ammonium-N concentration that do not occur when urea or aqueous ammonia fertilizers are broadcast and incorporated into soil.     

施肥对夏玉米季紫色土N2O排放及反硝化作用的影响

采用原状土柱-乙炔抑制培养法研究了施肥对紫色土玉米生长季土壤N2O排放通量和反硝化作用的影响.结果表明:玉米季施肥显著增加土壤N2O排放和反硝化损失,同时,各施肥处理间N2O排放与反硝化损失量差异显著.猪厩肥、猪厩肥配施氮磷钾肥、氮肥、氮磷钾肥和秸秆配施氮磷钾肥等处理的土壤N,O排放量分别为3.01、2.86、2.51、2.19和1.88 kg hm-2,分别占当季氮肥施用量的1.63％、1.53％、1.30％、1.09％和0.88％,反硝化损失量分别为6.74、6.11、5.23、4.69和4.12 kg hm-2,分别占当季氮肥施用量的3.97％、3.55％、2.97％、2.61％和2.23％,不施肥土壤的N2O排放量和反硝化损失量仅为0.56和0.78 kg hm-2.施肥是紫色土玉米生长前期(2周内)土壤N2O排放和反硝化速率出现高峰的主要驱动因子,土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量是影响土壤N2O排放、土壤硝化和反硝化作用的限制因子,土壤含水量是重要影响因子,降雨是主要促发因素.土壤N2O排放量与反硝化损失量的比值介于0.45 ～0.72之间,土壤反硝化损失量极显著高于土壤N2O排放量,说明土壤反硝化作用是紫色土玉米生长季氮肥损失的重要途径.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from vegetables grown in a polytunnel treated with high rates of applied nitrogen fertilizers in Southern China

Soils under intensive agricultural practices such as those for growing vegetables in plastic greenhouses are an important anthropogenic source of nitrous oxide (N₂O). Nitrous oxide emissions and measures to mitigate them through fertilizer N management have been less frequently studied than open field systems. The objectives of this study were to measure N₂O emissions from vegetables under greenhouse conditions in Southern China and to investigate the effect of reducing the amount of applied synthetic N fertilizer compared with local practice. Results indicate that the average N₂O‐N flux during the growth of four vegetables (tomato, cucumber, celery and a second tomato crop) was 117.4 ± 9 μg N/m²/h, and the annual emission rate was 8.1 ± 0.6 kg/N/ha for local farms. Temperature was important with much lower emissions during the celery‐growing season when soil and air temperatures were frequently <10 °C. Nitrous oxide emissions from the greenhouse vegetables were seven times greater than from the rice–wheat system in the same area and soils. Reducing the amount of applied synthetic N fertilizer by 40% relative to local farmers’ normal usage could reduce annual cumulative N₂O emissions by 33% without any impact on crop yields.     

Interactive effects from combining fertilizer and organic residue inputs on nitrogen transformations

Concerns about sustainability of agroecosystems management options in developed and developing countries warrant improved understanding of N cycling. The Integrated Soil Fertility Management paradigm recognizes the possible interactive benefits of combining organic residues with mineral fertilizer inputs on agroecosystem functioning. However, these beneficial effects may be controlled by residue quality. This study examines the controls of inputs on N cycling across a gradient of (1) input, (2) residue quality, and (3) texture. We hypothesized that combining organic residue and mineral fertilizers would enhance potential N availability relative to either input alone. Residue and fertilizer inputs labeled with ¹⁵N (40–60 atom% ¹⁵N) were incubated with 200 g soil for 545 d in a microcosm experiment. Input treatments consisted of a no-input control, organic residues (3.65 g C kg⁻¹ soil, equivalent to 4 Mg C ha⁻¹), mineral N fertilizer (100 mg N kg⁻¹ soil, equivalent to 120 kg N ha⁻¹), and a combination of both with either the residue or fertilizer ¹⁵N-labeled. Zea mays stover inputs were added to four differently textured soils (sand, sandy loam, clay loam, and clay). Additionally, inputs of three residue quality classes (class I: Tithonia diversifolia, class II: Calliandra calothyrsus, class III: Z. mays stover) were applied to the clay soil. Available N and N₂O emissions were measured as indicators for potential plant N uptake and N losses. Combining residue and fertilizer inputs resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) negative interactive effect on total extractable mineral N in all soils. This interactive effect decreased the mineral N pool, due to an immobilization of fertilizer-derived N and was observed up to 181 d, but generally became non-significant after 545 d. The initial reduction in mineral N might lead to less N₂O losses. However, a texture effect on N₂O fluxes was observed, with a significant interactive effect of combining residue and fertilizer inputs decreasing N₂O losses in the coarse textured soils, but increasing N₂O losses in the fine textured soils. The interactive effect on mineral N of combining fertilizer with residue changed from negative to positive with increasing residue quality. Our results indicate that combining fertilizer with medium quality residue has the potential to change N transformations through a negative interactive effect on mineral N. We conclude that capitalizing on interactions between fertilizer and organic residues allows for the development of sustainable nutrient management practices.