Spatial variations in nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emission potential on a slope of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forest

To quantify the spatial variation and spatial structure of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) emission from forest soils, we measured N₂O and NO emission rates from surface soil cores taken at 1 m intervals on a cross-line transect (65 m × 20 m) on a slope of Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica ) forest in a temperate region of central Japan and analyzed the spatial dependency of N oxide gas emissions using geostatistics. We divided N₂O emission into N₂O from denitrification and N₂O from nitrification using the acetylene inhibition method. According to the geostatistical analysis, N₂O emission rates on the slope had large spatial variation and weak spatial dependency. This weak spatial dependency was caused by the inordinately high N₂O emissions on the slope, which were derived mainly from denitrification. In contrast, NO emission rate on the slope had large spatial variation, but strong spatial dependency and a distinct spatial distribution related to slope position, that is, high in the middle of the slope and low in the shoulder and the foot of the slope. The CN ratio and water-filled pore space were the dominant factors controlling NO emission rate on a slope. Our results suggest that spatial information about topographic factors helps to improve the estimation of both N₂O emission and NO emission from forest soils.     

Mitigation of N2O emissions from grassland by nitrification inhibitor and Actilith F2 applied with fertilizer and cattle slurry

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is involved in both ozone destruction and global warming. In agricultural soils it is produced by nitrification and denitrification mainly after fertilization. Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as one of the management tools for the reduction of the potential hazards of fertilizer-derived N₂O. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers maintains soil N in ammonium form, thereby gaseous N losses by nitrification and denitrification are less likely to occur and there is increased N utilization by the sward. We present a study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and of the slurry additive Actilith F2 on N₂O emissions following application of calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry to a mixed clover/ryegrass sward in the Basque Country. The results indicate that large differences in N₂O emission occur depending on fertilizer type and the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor. There is considerable scope for immediate reduction of emissions by applying DCD with calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry. DCD, applied at 25 kg ha^–1, reduced the amount of N lost as N₂O by 60% and 42% when applied with cattle slurry and calcium ammonium nitrate, respectively. Actilith F2 did not reduce N₂O emissions and it produced a long lasting mineralization of previously immobilized added N.     

The influence of tillage on NO and N2O fluxes under spring and winter barley

Abstract. There is a lack of information about the influence of tillage and time of sowing on N₂O and NO emission in cereal production. Both factors influence crop growth and soil conditions and thereby can affect trace gas emissions from soils. We measured fluxes of NO and N₂O in a tillage experiment where grassland on clay loam soil was converted to arable by either direct drilling or ploughing to 30 cm depth. We made measurements in spring for 20 days after fertilizer application to spring-sown and to winter-sown barley. Both were the second barley crop after grass. Direct drilling enhanced N₂O emission primarily as a result of restricted gas diffusivity causing poor aeration after rainfall. Deep ploughing enhanced NO emission, because of the large air-filled porosity in the topsoil. NO and N₂O emissions were smaller from winter sown crops than from spring sown crops.   The three rates of N fertilizer application (40, 80 or 120 kg N ha^–1) did not produce the expected linear response in either soil available N concentrations or in NO and N₂O fluxes. We attributed this to the lack of rainfall in the ten-day period after fertilizer application and therefore very slow incorporation and movement of fertilizer into and through the soil.     

Denitrification in drained and undrained arable clay soil

Emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitrogen gas (N₂) from denitrification were measured using the acetylene inhibition method on drained and undrained clay soil during November 1980-June 1981. Drainage limited denitrification to about 65% of losses from undrained soil. Emissions from the undrained soil were in the range 1 to 12 g N ha^–1 h^–1 while those from the drained soil ranged from 0.5 to 6 g N ha^–1 h^–1 giving estimated total losses (N₂O + N₂) of 14 and 9 kgN ha^–1.
Drainage also changed the fraction of nitrous oxide in the total denitrification product. During December, emissions from the drained soil (1.8±0.6 gN ha^–1 h^–1) were composed entirely of nitrous oxide, but losses from the undrained soil (2.7 ± 1.1 g N ha^–1 h^–1) were almost entirely in the form of nitrogen gas (the fraction of N₂O in the total loss was 0.02). In February denitrification declined in colder conditions and the emission of nitrous oxide from drained soil declined relative to nitrogen gas so that the fraction of N₂O was 0.03 on both drainage treatments. The delayed onset of N₂O reduction in the drained soil was related to oxygen and nitrate concentrations. Fertilizer applications in the spring gave rise to maximum rates of emission (5–12g N ha^–1 h^–1) with the balance shifting towards nitrous oxide production, so that the fraction of N₂O was 0.2–0.8 in April and May.     

Effect of Inorganic N Composition of Fertilizers on Nitrous Oxide Emission Associated with Nitrification and Denitrification

We studied the effect of repeated application (once every 2 d) of a fertilizer solution with different ratios of NH₄⁺ - and NO₃⁻-N on N₂O emission from soil. After the excess fertilizer solution was drained from soil, the water content of soil was adjusted to 50% of the maximum water-holding capacity by suction at 6 × 10³ Pa. Repeated application of NH₄⁺- rich fertilizer solution stimulated nitrification in soil more than NO₃⁻-rich fertilizer. Although the evolution of N₂O through nitrifier denitrification tended to increase with the repeated addition of a fertilizer solution rich in NH₄⁺ rather than in NO₃⁻, the contribution of nitrifier denitrification remained at levels of 20 to 36% of the total emission regardless of the inorganic N composition. The total emission of N₂O also tended to increase with the application of NH₄⁺- rather than NO₃⁻-rich fertilizer. It was suggested that the coupled process of nitrification and denitrification at micro-aerobic sites became important when fertilizer rich in NH₄⁺ was applied to soil under relatively aerobic conditions.     

The effect of soil texture and soil drainage on emissions of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide

Abstract. Agricultural soils are important sources of the tropospheric ozone precursor NO and the greenhouse gas N₂O. Emissions are controlled primarily by parameters that vary the soil mineral N supply, temperature and soil aeration. In this field experiment, the importance of soil physical properties on emissions of NO and N₂O are identified. Fluxes were measured from 13 soils which belonged to 11 different soil series, ranging from poorly drained silty clay loams to freely drained sandy loams. All soils were under the same soil management regime and crop type (winter barley) and in the same maritime climate zone. Despite this, emissions of NO and N₂O ranged over two orders of magnitude on all three measurement occasions, in spring before and after fertilizer application, and in autumn after harvest. NO emissions ranged from 0.3 to 215 μg NO-N m^–2 h^–1, with maximum emissions always from the most sandy, freely drained soil. Nitrous oxide emissions ranged from 0 to 193 μg N₂O-N m^–2 h^–1. Seasonal shifts in soil aeration caused maximum N₂O emissions to switch from freely drained sandy soils in spring to imperfectly drained soils with high clay contents in autumn. Although effects of soil type on emissions were not consistent, N₂O emission was best related to a combination of bulk density and clay content and the NO/N₂O ratio decreased logarithmically with increasing water filled pore space.     

Nitrous oxide emission from soils after incorporating crop residues

Abstract. Emissions of N₂O were measured from different agricultural systems in SE Scotland. N₂O emissions increased temporarily after fertilization of arable crops, cultivation of bare soil, ploughing up of grassland and incorporation of arable and horticultural crop residues, but the effect was short-lived. Most of the emission occurred during the first two weeks, returning to 'background' levels after 30–40 days. The highest flux was from N-rich lettuce residues, 1100 g N₂O-N ha⁻¹ being emitted over the first 14 days after incorporation by rotary tillage. The magnitude and pattern of emissions was strongly influenced by rainfall, soil mineral N, cultivation technique and C:N ratio of the residue. Comparatively large emissions were measured after incorporation of material with low C:N ratios. Management practices are recommended that would increase N-use efficiency and reduce N₂O emissions from agricultural soils.     

Mineralization of Nitrogen and N2O Production Potentials in Acid Forest Soils under Controlled Aerobic Conditions

Some acid surface mineral soils from different forest vegetations and sites in central Japan were taken during April and October in 2003 to study the net N mineralization and N₂O production potentials in the laboratory. Under the controlled aerobic conditions, 50 Pa C₂H₂ in the headspace can be used to study total gaseous-N losses during the aerobic mineralization and heterotrophic N₂O production in acid forest soils. The net N mineralization of these acid forest soils and N₂O-N production was variable with forest stands and with seasons, probably because of the quality of the litters and the variations of soil attributes. Three deciduous forest soils during two sampling reveal a higher potential for the total gaseous-N loss during the aerobic mineralization as compared with two coniferous forest soils. Heterotrophic nitrification among these acid forest soils accounted for the range from 37.0 to 76.3% of the total N₂O production under the experimental conditions, and was variable with forest stands and with seasons. Some factors regulating the net N mineralization and N₂O-N production were discussed in these acid forest soils.     

Nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from grassland amended with sewage sludge

Abstract. Land disposal of sewage sludge in the UK is set to increase markedly in the next few years and much of this will be applied to grassland. Here we applied high rates of digested sludge cake (1–1.5×10³ kg total N ha⁻¹) to grassland and incorporated it prior to reseeding. Using automated chambers, nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes from the soil were monitored 2–4 times per day, for 6 months after sludge incorporation. Peaks of N₂O emission were up to 1.4 kg N ha⁻¹ d⁻¹ soon after incorporation, and thereafter were regularly detected following significant rainfalls. Gas emissions reflected diurnal temperature variations, though N₂O emissions were also strongly affected by rainfall. Although emissions decreased in the winter, temperatures below 4 °C stimulated short, sharp fluxes of both CO₂ and N₂O as temperature increased. The aggregate loss of nitrogen and carbon over the measurement period was up to 23 kg N ha⁻¹ and 5.1 t C ha⁻¹. Losses of N₂O in the sludge-amended soil were associated with good microbial conditions for N mineralization, and with high carbon and water contents. Since grassland is an important source of greenhouse gases, application of sewage sludge can be at least as significant as fertilizer in enhancing these emissions.     

Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes from a farmed Swedish Histosol

Fluxes of the greenhouse gases methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from histosolic soils (which account for approximately 10% of Swedish agricultural soils) supporting grassley and barley production in Sweden were measured over 3 years using static chambers. Emissions varied both over area and time. Methane was both produced and oxidized in the soil: fluxes were small, with an average emission of 0.12 g CH₄ m⁻² year⁻¹ at the grassley site and net uptake of −0.01 g CH₄ m⁻² year⁻¹ at the barley field. Methane emission was related to soil water, with more emission when wet. Nitrous oxide emissions varied, with peaks of emission after soil cultivation, ploughing and harrowing. On average, the grassley and barley field had emissions of 0.20 and 1.51 g N₂O m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. We found no correlation between N₂O and soil factors, but the greatest N₂O emission was associated with the driest areas, with < 60% average water-filled pore space. We suggest that the best management option to mitigate emissions is to keep the soil moderately wet with permanent grass production, which restricts N₂O emissions whilst minimizing those of CH₄.     

Nitrous oxide emissions after application of inorganic fertilizer and incorporation of green manure residues

Abstract. Emissions of N₂O were measured after application of NH₄NO₃ fertilizer and incorporation of winter wheat and rye green manures in two field experiments in southeast England. Incorporation of green manure alone resulted in temporary immobilization of soil N, small N₂O emissions and also low availability of N for the following crop. Emissions were increased after application of inorganic fertilizer, and were further increased from integrated management treatments whereby green manure residues were incorporated after fertilizer application. The highest emission was from the incorporated winter wheat green manure plus fertilizer treatment, with 1.5 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ (0.6% of N applied) being emitted over the first 55 days after incorporation. This high emission was attributed to the supply of C in the residues providing the energy for denitrification in the presence of large amounts of mineral N and the creation of anaerobic microsites during microbial respiration.     

Impacts of land management on fluxes of trace greenhouse gases

Abstract. Land use change and land management practices affect the net emissions of the trace gases methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), as well as carbon sources and sinks. Changes in CH₄ and N₂O emissions can substantially alter the overall greenhouse gas balance of a system. Drainage of peatlands for agriculture or forestry generally increases N₂O emission as well as that of CO₂, but also decreases CH₄ emission. Intermittent drainage or late flooding of rice paddies can greatly diminish the seasonal emission of CH₄ compared with continuous flooding. Changes in N₂O emissions following land use change from forest or grassland to agriculture vary between climatic zones, and the net impact varies with time. In many soils, the increase in carbon sequestration by adopting no-till systems may be largely negated by associated increases in N₂O emission. The promotion of carbon credits for the no-till system before we have better quantification of its net greenhouse gas balance is naïve. Applying nitrogen fertilizers to forests could increase the forest carbon sink, but may be accompanied by a net increase in N₂O; conversely, adding lime to acid forest soils can decrease the N₂O emission.     

3, 4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate reduces nitrous oxide emissions from grassland after slurry application

Abstract. A field study was conducted to assess the effect of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), applied at a rate of 1 kg ha⁻¹, on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, forage production and N extraction from a grassland soil after cattle slurry applications in autumn and spring. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured daily or weekly using the closed chamber technique. DMPP efficiency after slurry application was lower in spring (16.7 °C mean soil temperature) than in autumn (11.4 °C mean soil temperature). Thus, DMPP was able to maintain soil mineral N in the ammonium form for 22 days and reduce cumulative N₂O emissions by 69% in autumn, while in spring its effect on soil mineral N lasted for 7–14 days, reducing cumulative N₂O losses by 48%. Furthermore, application of DMPP after slurry did not decrease biomass yield or N uptake.     

Assessment of N2O, NOx and NH3 emissions from a typical rural catchment in Eastern China

To evaluate the atmospheric load of reactive gaseous nitrogen in the fast-developing Eastern China region, we compiled inventories of nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrogen oxide (NO_x) and ammonia (NH₃) emissions from a typical rural catchment in Jiangsu province, China, situated at the lower reach of the Yangtze River. We considered emissions from synthetic N fertilizer, human and livestock excreta, decomposition of crop residue returned to cropland and residue burning, soil background and household energy consumption. The results showed that, for the 45.5 km² catchment, the annual reactive gaseous emission was 279 ton N, of which 7% was N₂O, 16% was NO_x and 77% was NH₃. Synthetic N fertilizer application was the dominant source of N₂O and NH₃ emissions and crop residue burning was the dominant source of NO_x emission. Sixty-seven percent of the total reactive gaseous N was emitted from croplands, but on a per unit area basis, NO_x and NH₃ emissions in residential areas were higher than in croplands, probably as a result of household crop residue burning and extensive human and livestock excreta management systems. Emission per capita was estimated to be 18.2 kg N year⁻¹ in the rural catchment, and emission per unit area was 56.9 kg N ha⁻¹year⁻¹ for NH₃ + NO_x, which supports the observed high atmospheric N deposition in the catchment. Apparently, efficient use of N fertilizer and biological utilization of crop straw are important measures to reduce reactive gases emissions in this rural catchment.     

Respiration of nitrous oxide in suboxic soil

Reduction of nitrous oxide (N₂O) is an autonomous respiratory pathway. Nitrous oxide is an alternative electron acceptor to O₂ when intensive biological activity and reduced diffusivity result in an O₂ deficit. Hypoxic or anoxic micro sites may form even in well-aerated soils, and provide a sink for N₂O diffusing through the gas-filled pore space. We reproduced similar in vitro conditions in suboxic (0.15% O₂) flow-through incubation experiments with samples from a Stagnosol and from a Histosol. Apparent half-saturation constants ( k _m) for N₂O reduction were similar for both soils and were, on average, 3.8 μmol mol⁻¹ at 5°C, 5.1 μmol mol⁻¹ at 10°C, and 6.9 μmol mol⁻¹ at 20°C. Respiration of N₂O was estimated to contribute a maximum proportion of 1.7% to total respiration in the Stagnosol (pH 7.0) and 0.9% in the Histosol (pH 2.9).     

Mitigation options for N2O emission from a corn field in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Field experiments were designed to quantify N₂O emissions from corn fields after the application of different types of nitrogen fertilizers. Plots were established in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, and given either urea (200 kg ha⁻¹), urea (170 kg ha⁻¹) + dicyandiamide ([DCD] 20 kg ha⁻¹) or controlled-release fertilizer LP-30 (214 kg ha⁻¹) prior to the plantation of corn seeds (variety BISI 2). Each fertilizer treatment was equivalent to 90 kg N ha⁻¹. Plots without chemical N fertilizer were also prepared as a control. The field was designed to have three replicates for each treatment with a randomized block design. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured at 4, 8, 12, 21, 31, 41, 51, 72 and 92 days after fertilizer application (DAFA). Total N₂O emission was the highest from the urea plots, followed by the LP-30 plots. The emissions from the urea + DCD plots did not differ from those from the control plots. The N₂O emission from the urea + DCD plots was approximately one thirtieth of that from the urea treatment. However, fertilizer type had no effect on grain yield. Thus, the use of urea + DCD is considered to be the best mitigation option among the tested fertilizer applications for N₂O emission from corn fields in Kalimantan, Indonesia.     

Production and Emission of Nitrous Oxide and Responsible Microorganisms in Upland Acid Soil in Indonesia

Incubation and field experiments were conducted to determine emission and production of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and responsible microorganisms in an upland acid soil of Indonesia. The results showed that N₂O productions in the soil samples were affected by ammonium and urea amendments compared with control. N₂O production reached the highest peak at the first week then decreased until 4 weeks incubation in the potato and tea soil samples. However, more N₂O production was found in tea soil than potato soil. Pine forest soil produced N₂O more at second week incubation than first week, then decreased until 4 weeks. These results further confirmed that the N₂O emitted in the field, which was higher in tea garden than other fields. The both ammonium and nitrate contents in the tea soil were higher than potato and pine soils. The number of ammonium oxidizers in the pine and potato soils was not significantly different, but it was lower in the tea soil. Number of nitrite oxidizers was almost the same in the potato and tea soils, however it was lower in the pine soil. The number of denitrifiers was 1–3 orders magnitude higher in the tea soil than the potato and pine soils.     

Relationship between nitrifier and denitrifier community composition and abundance in predicting nitrous oxide emissions from ephemeral wetland soils

The link between differences in the community composition of nitrifiers and denitrifiers to differences in the emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soils remains unclear. Nitrifier and denitrifier community composition, abundance and N₂O emission activity were determined for two common landscapes characteristic of the North American “prairie pothole region”: cultivated wetlands (CW) vs. uncultivated wetlands (UW). The hypotheses of this study were: (1) landscape selects for different nitrifier and denitrifier communities, (2) denitrification was the dominant N₂O emitting process, and (3) a relationship exists between nitrifier and denitrifier community composition, their abundance, and N₂O emission. Comparisons were made among soils from three CW and three UW at the St. Denis National Wildlife Area. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to compare community composition, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to estimate community size. Incubation experiments on re-packed soil cores with ¹⁵N-labeled nitrate were performed to assess the relative contributions of nitrification and denitrification to total N₂O emission. Results indicate: (1) nitrification was the primary source of N₂O emission, (2) cultivation increased nitrifier abundance but decreased nitrifier richness, (3) denitrifier abundance was not affected by cultivation but richness was increased by cultivation, and (4) differences in nitrifier and denitrifier communities composition and abundance between land-use and landform did not correspond to differences in N₂O emission.     

Emission of NH3 and N2O after spreading of pig slurry by broadcasting or band spreading

Abstract. The recommended method of reducing the emission of NH₃ while spreading manure is to plough or harrow the manure into the soil. This in turn increases the possibility of N₂O emission. At two sites in southern Sweden emissions of NH₃ and N₂O were measured after spreading pig slurry by broadcasting and band spreading. The band spreading technique can be used in growing crops i.e. when nitrogen is most needed, and it is thought that the NH₃ emission is smaller with this technique compared to broadcasting. The average NH₃ loss was 50% of applied NH₄⁺ during warm/dry conditions and 10% during cold/wet conditions. The N₂O emission was always less than 1% of applied NH₄⁺. When the NH₃ emission decreased, the direct N₂O emission increased. However, when taking into account the indirect N₂O emission due to deposition of NH₃ outside the field, the spreading techniques all produced similar total N₂O emissions. The ammonia emission was not much lower for the band spreading technique compared to broadcasting, when compared on seven occasions.     

The contribution of agricultural practices to nitrous oxide emissions in semi-arid Mali

The yield and flux of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emitted from continuous cereals (with and without urea), legumes/cereal in rotation and cereal/legume in rotation all with or without organic manure was monitored from January 2004 to February 2005. All treatments except continuous cereals had phosphate added. The cereal grown July–October in 2003 and 2004 was pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum) and the legume was a bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). The 10 m × 10 m plots were established in a semi-arid climate in Mali. The addition of organic manure and both inorganic fertilizers increased yield and N₂O emissions. Continuous cereals treated with both organic manure and urea emitted significantly less N₂O (882 g N/ha per year) than plots receiving no organic manure(1535 g N/ha per year). Growing N-fixing crops in rotation did not significantly increase N₂O emissions. This study supports the new practice of growing cereal and legumes in rotation as an environmentally sustainable system in semi-arid Mali.