Biochar mitigates N2O emissions by promoting complete denitrification in acidic and alkaline paddy soils

Biochar is an efficacious amendment for mitigating nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions in soils. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for reduced N₂O emissions by biochar in paddy soils remain inadequately elucidated. Here, using two typical paddy soils with contrasting pH values (5.40 and 7.56), the N₂ and N₂O fluxes and the associated functional genes were investigated in soil amended with varying amounts of biochar (0%, 0.5%, and 5%, weight/weight) via soil slurry incubation integrated with the N₂/Ar technique and qPCR analysis. The results showed that N₂O fluxes were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 0.65–3.64 times following biochar amendment, concomitant with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in N₂ fluxes (5.47–46.14%) in both acidic and alkaline paddy soils. As a result, the N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratios were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 1.53–4.65 fold in both soil types. In acidic paddy soils, the enhanced denitrification rates and the decreased N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratios exhibited a strong correlation with increased pH values. In alkaline paddy soil, these changes were ascribed to the enhanced nosZ Clade I gene abundance and nosZ/(nirS + nirK) ratio. Our findings reveal that biochar primarily mitigates N₂O emissions in paddy soils by promoting its reduction to N₂.     

Effect of calcareous and siliceous amendments on N2O emissions of a grassland soil

Liming of acidic agricultural soils has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, as increased soil pH reduces the N₂O/N₂ product ratio of denitrification. The capacity of different calcareous (calcite and dolomite) and siliceous minerals to increase soil pH and reduce N₂O emissions was assessed in a 2-year grassland field experiment. An associated pot experiment was conducted using homogenized field soils for controlling spatial soil variability. Nitrous oxide emissions were highly episodic with emission peaks in response to freezing–thawing and application of NPK fertilizer. Liming with dolomite caused a pH increase from 5.1 to 6.2 and reduced N₂O emissions by 30% and 60% after application of NPK fertilizer and freezing–thawing events, respectively. Over the course of the 2-year field trial, N₂O emissions were significantly lower in dolomite-limed than non-limed soil (p < .05), although this effect was variable over time. Unexpectedly, no significant reduction of N₂O emission was found in the calcite treatment, despite the largest pH increase in all tested minerals. We tentatively attribute this to increased N₂O production by overall increase in nitrogen turnover rates (both nitrification and denitrification) following rapid pH increase in the first year after liming. Siliceous materials showed little pH effect and had no significant effect on N₂O emissions probably because of their lower buffering capacity and lower cation content. In the pot experiment using soils taken from the field plots 3 years after liming and exposing them to natural freezing–thawing, both calcite (p < .01) and dolomite (p < .05) significantly reduced cumulative N₂O emission by 50% and 30%, respectively, relative to the non-limed control. These results demonstrate that the overall effect of liming is to reduce N₂O emission, although high lime doses may lead to a transiently enhanced emission.     

Nitrate enhances N2O emission more than ammonium in a highly acidic soil

Purpose

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is produced naturally in soils through microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification. In recent years, the long-term application of nitrogen-heavy fertilizers has led to the acidification of tea orchard soils with high N₂O emission. The present research aimed at finding out which process (nitrification or denitrification) dominates in N₂O production, whether certain fertilizer managements could reduce N₂O emission, and the effects of fertilizer management on the abundance of functional genes.

Materials and methods

Two nitrification inhibitors, 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and dicyandiamide (DCD), combined with different N fertilizers (ammonium sulfate and potassium nitrate) were applied to highly acidic tea orchard soil in an aerobic incubation experiment. Both amoA and nosZ gene abundances from different treatments were determined by quantitative PCR. An anaerobic nitrate effect test was carried out using C₂H₂ inhibition method.

Results and discussion

The application of nitrate fertilizers significantly (P?<?0.05) enhanced total N₂O emission. A linear regression analysis between total N₂O emission and average nitrate contents indicated that denitrification is the dominant source of N₂O in this tea orchard soil. In the anaerobic incubation, no significant difference of N₂O emission was observed between KNO₃ and no KNO₃ treatments before 96 h. Quantitative PCR revealed lower copy numbers of nosZ in nitrate-associated fertilizer-treated soils than the soils from other treatments. Compared with the control, ammonium fertilizers with DCD or DMPP significantly (P?<?0.05) inhibited nitrate production as well as N₂O.

Conclusions

These results showed that denitrification is the dominant source of N₂O in this highly acidic soil. Nitrate addition could significantly inhibit the abundance of nitrous oxide reductase, therefore causing high N₂O emission. The application of ammonium fertilizers with DCD or DMPP could significantly reduce N₂O emission, possibly due to the effective inhibition of nitrate production.     

Effect of land use on the denitrification, abundance of denitrifiers, and total nitrogen gas production in the subtropical region of China

The potential denitrification (PD) rate, NO, N₂O, and N₂ emission were determined after treatment with 50 mg NO₃ ^??N kg^?1 soil using the acetylene inhibition method, and meanwhile abundance of four denitrifying genes (i.e., narG, nirK, norB, nosZ) was also investigated in subtropical soils of China. Soil samples were collected from conifer forest (C), shrub forest, and farmland. These soils were derived from Quaternary red earth and granite. The PD rate and N gas emissions significantly (p?<?0.05) differed between forest and farmland soils; abundance of denitrifying genes was also significantly affected by the land-use change. Correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that the PD rate was significantly (p?<?0.05) and positively correlated with soil pH but not with soil organic C and total N contents (p?>?0.05). The norB gene copies in farmland soils were significantly higher than in conifer and shrub forest soils (p?<?0.01). Both norB and nosZ gene copies were linearly correlated with soil pH, and the PD rate and N₂ emission rate were significantly correlated with the abundance of norB (p?<?0.05). Probably, soil pH affected denitrifiers targeted by the norB gene, thus decreasing the reduction of NO and N₂O.     

生物质炭对土壤N2O消耗的影响及其微生物影响机理

生物质炭在温室气体减排方面具有很大的发展前景,它不仅能实现固碳,对于在大气中停留时间长且增温潜势大的N₂O也能发挥积极作用。本研究采用室内厌氧培养试验,按照生物质炭与土壤质量比（0、1%和5%）加入一定量生物质炭,土壤重量含水率控制在20%。利用Robotized Incubation平台实时检测N₂O和N₂浓度变化,通过测定土壤中反硝化功能基因丰度（nirK、nirS、nosZ）分析生物质炭对N₂O消耗的影响及其微生物方面的影响机理。结果表明：经过20 h厌氧培养后,0生物质炭处理的反硝化功能基因丰度（基因拷贝数·g^-1）分别为6.80×10⁷（nirK）、5.59×10⁸（nirS）和1.22×10⁸（nosZ）。与0生物质炭处理相比,1%生物质炭处理的nirS基因丰度由最初的2.65×10⁸基因拷贝数·g^-1升至7.43×10⁸基因拷贝数·g^-1,nosZ基因丰度则提高了一个数量级,由4.82×10⁷基因拷贝数·g^-1升至1.50×10⁸基因拷贝数·g^-1,然而nirK基因丰度并无明显变化;5%生物质炭处理的反硝化功能基因丰度并未发生显著变化。试验结束时,添加生物质炭处理的N₂/（N₂O+N₂）比值也明显高于0生物质炭处理。相关性分析结果表明,nirS基因丰度和nosZ基因丰度均与N₂O浓度在0.01水平上显著相关。试验末期nirS基因丰度和nosZ基因丰度均随着N₂O浓度的降低而升高。因此在本试验中,添加1%生物质炭可显著提高nirS和nosZ基因型反硝化细菌的丰度,增大N₂/（N₂O+N₂）比值,促进N₂O彻底还原成N₂。生物质炭对于N₂O主要影响机理是增大了可以还原氧化亚氮的细菌活性,促进完全反硝化。     

不同生物硝化抑制剂对红壤性水稻土N2O排放的影响及其机制

为揭示不同生物硝化抑制剂(BNIs)对红壤性水稻土N₂O排放的影响差异及作用机制,通过21 d的土柱淹水培养试验,比较了三种BNIs 1,9-癸二醇(1,9-D)、亚麻酸(LN)和3-(4-羟基苯基)丙酸甲酯(MHPP)与化学合成硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)对土壤N₂O排放及相关硝化、反硝化功能基因的影响。结果表明:不同BNIs(1,9-D、LN、MHPP)可以显著平均降低土壤N₂O日排放峰值40.1%;1,9-D和MHPP可分别抑制N₂O排放总量44.5%和43.9%,而DCD和LN对N₂O排放总量没有显著影响。1,9-D和MHPP对AOA(氨氧化古菌)、AOB(氨氧化细菌)硝化菌和nirS、nirK型反硝化菌的调控均有所不同,1,9-D可以同时抑制AOA、AOB和nirS微生物的生长;MHPP仅可以抑制AOA的生长;其中,AOA-amoA和nirS基因丰度与土壤N₂O的排放呈显著正相关关系。同时,1,9-D和MHPP均增加了nosZ基因丰度及其与AOA-...     

Do earthworms increase N2O emissions in ploughed grassland?

Earthworm activity has been reported to lead to increased production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O). This is due to emissions from worms themselves, their casts and drilosphere, as well as to general changes in soil structure. However, it remains to be determined how important this effect is on N₂O fluxes from agricultural systems under realistic conditions in terms of earthworm density, soil moisture, tillage activity and residue loads. We quantified the effect of earthworm presence on N₂O emissions from a pasture after simulated ploughing of the sod (‘grassland renovation’) for different soil moisture contents during a 62-day mesocosm study. Sod (with associated soil) and topsoil were separately collected from a loamy Typic Fluvaquent. Treatments included low (L), medium (M) and high (H) moisture content, in combination with: only soil (S); soil+incorporated sod (SG); soil+incorporated sod+the anecic earthworm Aporrectodea longa (SGE). Nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes were measured for 62 d. At the end of the incubation period, we determined N₂O production under water-saturated conditions, potential denitrification and potential mineralization of the soil after removing the earthworms. Cumulative N₂O and CO₂ fluxes over 62 d from incorporated sod were highest for treatment HSGE (973 μg N₂O-N and 302 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil) and lowest for LSG (64 μg N₂O-N and 188 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil). Both cumulative fluxes were significantly different for soil moisture (p<0.001), but not for earthworm presence. However, we observed highly significant earthworm effects on N₂O fluxes that reversed over time for the H treatments. During the first phase (day 3-day 12), earthworm presence increased N₂O emissions with approximately 30%. After a transitional phase, earthworm presence resulted in consistently lower (approximately 50%) emissions from day 44 onwards. Emissions from earthworms themselves were negligible compared to overall soil fluxes. After 62 d, original soil moisture significantly affected potential denitrification, with highest fluxes from the L treatments, and no significant earthworm effect. We conclude that after grassland ploughing, anecic earthworm presence may ultimately lead to lower N₂O emissions after an initial phase of elevated emissions. However, the earthworm effect was both determined and exceeded by soil moisture conditions. The observed effects of earthworm activity on N₂O emissions were due to the effect of earthworms on soil structure rather than to emissions from the worms themselves.     

Effect of three contrasting onion (Allium cepa L.) production systems on nitrous oxide emissions from soil

 N₂O emissions were measured from three contrasting onion (Allium cepa L.) production systems over an 8.5-month period. One system was established on soil where a clover sward had 3 months earlier been ploughed in (ploughed clover site). This production system followed conventional production management practices. The other two systems were established on soil where a mixed herb ley had 3 months earlier been either ploughed or rotovated. These last two production systems followed the guidelines of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). Cumulative N₂O emissions were significantly greater from the ploughed clover site compared to the ploughed ley site (3.8 and 1.6 kg N₂O-N ha^–1, respectively), while cumulative N₂O emissions from the ploughed ley and rotovated ley sites were not significantly different from each other. Emissions from all sites were dominated by episodes of high N₂O flux activity following seedbed preparation and drilling, when soil water suction (SWS) was shown to be the rate-controlling variable. The decline in the N₂O fluxes after these peak emissions followed clear exponential relationships of the form F=Ae^{– kt} (r≥0.91), where F is the daily flux and A is the y-intercept. First-order decay constants (k) during these periods of declining N₂O fluxes (corresponding to half-lives of 2.6–3.0 days) were not significantly different in magnitude from the first-order rate constants that characterised the increasing SWS. Gross differences in cumulative emissions between the clover and ley sites were attributed to the influence of differing soil pHs at the two sites on the N₂O:(N₂O+N₂) ratio in the denitrification products. It also appeared that fertiliser applications to the clover site had both direct and indirect effects on N₂O emissions by: (1) enhancing N₂O emissions via potential nitrification, (2) increasing the NO₃ ^– supply for enhanced N₂O emissions via denitrification, and (3) influencing the N₂O:(N₂O+N₂) ratio by lowering soil pH and increasing NO₃ ^– concentrations. Onion crop yields were greater at the clover site, mainly due to the higher density of planting made possible under a conventional production philosophy. Expressing the yield on the basis of net N₂O emissions, 23 t onions kg^–1 N₂O-N was obtained from the ploughed clover, which was double that obtained for the two systems based on the ley site. However, when the N₂O emissions from the cultivation of the soils prior to the sowing of the onions was included, all three systems produced a similar yield per kilogram of N₂O-N emitted, averaging 10 t kg^–1. Received: 6 January 1999     

Nitrous oxide emissions from a rainfed-cultivated black soil in Northeast China: effect of fertilization and maize crop

Nitrous oxide emission (N₂O) from applied fertilizer across the different agricultural landscapes especially those of rainfed area is extremely variable (both spatially and temporally), thus posing the greatest challenge to researchers, modelers, and policy makers to accurately predict N₂O emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from a rainfed, maize-planted, black soil (Udic Mollisols) were monitored in the Harbin State Key Agroecological Experimental Station (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China). The four treatments were: a bare soil amended with no N (C0) or with 225?kg?N ha^?1 (CN), and maize (Zea mays L.)-planted soils fertilized with no N (P0) or with 225?kg?N ha^?1 (PN). Nitrous oxide emissions significantly (P?<?0.05) increased from 141?±?5?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (C0) to 570?±?33?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (CN) in unplanted soil, and from 209?±?29?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (P0) to 884?±?45?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (PN) in planted soil. Approximately 75?% of N₂O emissions were from fertilizer N applied and the emission factor (EF) of applied fertilizer N as N₂O in unplanted and planted soils was 0.19 and 0.30?%, respectively. The presence of maize crop significantly (P?<?0.05) increased the N₂O emission by 55?% in the N-fertilized soil but not in the N-unfertilized soil. There was a significant (P?<?0.05) interaction effect of fertilization?×?maize on N₂O emissions. Nitrous oxide fluxes were significantly affected by soil moisture and soil temperature (P?<?0.05), with the temperature sensitivity of 1.73–2.24, which together explained 62–76?% of seasonal variation in N₂O fluxes. Our results demonstrated that N₂O emissions from rainfed arable black soils in Northeast China primarily depended on the application of fertilizer N; however, the EF of fertilizer N as N₂O was low, probably due to low precipitation and soil moisture.     

N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emission from conventional and minimum-tilled soils

In this study, we investigated N₂O emissions from two fields under minimum tillage, cropped with maize (MT maize) and summer oats (MT oats), and a conventionally tilled field cropped with maize (CT maize). Nitrous oxide losses from the MT maize and MT oats fields (5.27 and 3.64 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹, respectively) were significantly higher than those from the CT maize field (0.27 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹) over a period of 1 year. The lower moisture content in CT maize (43% water-filled pore space [WFPS] compared to 60–65%) probably caused the difference in total N₂O emissions. Denitrification was found to be the major source of N₂O loss. Emission factors calculated from the MT field data were high (0.04) compared to the CT field (0.001). All data were simulated with the denitrification decomposition model (DNDC). For the CT field, N₂O and N₂O + N₂ emissions were largely overestimated. For the MT fields, there was a better agreement with the total N₂O and N₂O + N₂ emissions, although the N₂O emissions from the MT maize field were underestimated. The simulated N₂O emissions were particularly influenced by fertilization, but several other measured N₂O emission peaks associated with other management practices at higher WFPS were not captured by the model. Several mismatches between simulated and measured \textNH₄⁺ {\text{NH}}_4^ + , \textNO₃^- {\text{NO}}_3^ - and WFPS for all fields were observed. These mismatches together with the insensitivity of the DNDC model for increased N₂O emissions at the management practices different from fertilizer application explain the limited similarity between the simulated and measured N₂O emissions pattern from the MT fields.     

Simulated animal trampling of a free‐draining stony soil stimulated denitrifier growth and increased nitrous oxide emissions

Winter forage grazing systems in New Zealand cause compaction of soil by grazing animals, especially when the soil is wet. However, there is little information on the effects of animal trampling on denitrifiers in soil, despite their importance for N₂O production. Here, we report a field study of the abundance of the denitrifying genes nirS, nirK, and nosZ and N₂O emissions following the application of dairy cow urine in a free‐draining stony soil. Importantly, we found that simulated animal trampling altered some of the denitrifying microbial communities, thus leading to increased N₂O emissions. Over the 111 day measurement period, the abundance of nitrite (NO₂^?)‐reducing nirS gene copy numbers increased significantly by 87% in the trampled soil with urine (P < 0.01) and increased by 40% in the trampled soil without urine (P < 0.05), but the nirS gene abundance did not change significantly in the nontrampled soil. The abundance of NO₂^? reducing nirK gene copy numbers was not affected by trampling, but increased significantly following urine application. The abundance of N₂O‐reducing nosZ clade I and nosZ clade II gene copy numbers increased significantly in the trampled soil, but did not change significantly in the nontrampled soil. N₂O emissions from the trampled soil were about twice that from the nontrampled soil without urine (1.20 and 0.62 kg N₂O‐N per ha, respectively) and about eight times greater (6.24 kg N₂O‐N per ha) than from nontrampled soil (0.80 kg N₂O‐N per ha) when urine was applied. These results strongly suggest that animal trampling during winter forage grazing can have a major impact on denitrifying communities in soil, which in turn stimulate greater denitrification with increased N₂O emissions.     

Effects of phosphorus addition with and without ammonium, nitrate, or glucose on N2O and NO emissions from soil sampled under Acacia mangium plantation and incubated at 100 % of the water-filled pore space

An incubation experiment was conducted to examine the effects of phosphorus (P) addition with and without ammonium, nitrate, or glucose on N₂O and NO emissions from soil taken under Acacia mangium plantation and incubated at 100 % water-filled pore space (WFPS). Additions of NO ₃ ^? stimulated the N₂O and NO emissions while NH ₄ ⁺ did not, showing that denitrification was the main process of N₂O and NO production in the study condition. When NO ₃ ^? was added with P significantly (P?<?0.05) increased N₂O emissions regardless of the ratio of the added nitrogen and carbon, suggesting that P addition stimulated denitrification activity. The activation of denitrification by P addition is possibly attributed to two mechanisms: (1) the added-P stimulated denitrification by relieving P shortage for denitrifying bacteria and (2) the added-P stimulated activity of heterotrophic soil microflora with increased O₂ consumption promoting the development of anaerobic conditions with stimulation of denitrification.     

氮肥水平对稻田细菌群落及N2O排放的影响

作为土壤氮素转化的驱动者,微生物群落结构关系着稻田氮素利用及温室气体N_2O排放等问题。本研究分别基于高通量测序和荧光定量PCR技术,分析了不同氮肥水平[CK(不施氮)、N(施N 180 kg·hm-2)、2/3N(施N 120 kg·hm-2)、1/3N(施N 60 kg·hm-2)]下稻田细菌群落及硝化反硝化关键微生物功能基因丰度的变化。结果显示:氮肥水平提高增加了稻田细菌物种丰富度Chao1指数和群落多样性Shannon指数,改变了细菌群落组成,其中与硝化作用相关的硝化螺菌门Nitrospirae和嗜酸的醋杆菌门Acidobacteria的相对丰度随氮肥水平提高而增加,但甲烷氧化菌Methylosinus的相对丰度随氮肥水平提高而降低。氮肥水平对稻田硝化作用关键微生物氨氧化细菌amo A基因丰度的影响较大,0~5 cm和10~20 cm深度土层中的amo A基因丰度均随氮肥用量增加而提高;反硝化作用关键微生物功能基因nir S、qno B和nos Z的丰度在不施肥处理(CK)中显著低于施肥处理(1/3N、2/3N和N)(P0.05),但1/3N、2/3N和N处理的稻田nir S基因丰度没有明显差异;0~5 cm土层中qno B和nos Z基因丰度存在随氮肥水平提高而增加的趋势,10~20 cm土层中nos Z基因丰度在2/3N和N处理下显著高于1/3N处理(P0.05)。N处理的稻田N_2O排放通量显著高于2/3N及1/3N处理(P0.05),后者又显著高于CK处理(P0.05)。相关分析结果表明稻田N_2O排放通量与0~5 cm土层中硝化螺菌门Nitrospirae相对丰度及10~20 cm土层中amo A基因丰度存在显著相关性(P0.05,n=10)。综上所述,氮肥水平提高增加了稻田细菌群落多样性,促进了稻田N_2O排放,且本研究稻田中硝化作用微生物群落及丰度变化与稻田N_2O排放的关系更为密切。     

Gross nitrogen transformations and related N2O emissions in uncultivated and cultivated black soil

A better understanding of the nitrogen (N) cycle in agricultural soils is crucial for developing sustainable and environmentally friendly N fertilizer management and to propose effective nitrous oxide (N₂O) mitigation strategies. This laboratory study quantified gross nitrogen transformation rates in uncultivated and cultivated black soils in Northeast China. It also elucidated the contribution made by nitrification and denitrification to the emissions of N₂O. In the laboratory, soil samples adjusted to 60 % water holding capacity (WHC) were spiked with ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ and NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ and incubated at 25 °C for 7 days. The size and ¹⁵N enrichment of the mineral N pools and the N₂O emission rates were determined between 0 and 7 days. The results showed that the average N₂O emission rate was 21.6 ng N₂O-N kg^?1 h^?1 in cultivated soil, significantly higher than in the uncultivated soil (11.6 ng N₂O-N kg^?1 h^?1). Denitrification was found to be responsible for 32.1 % of the N₂O emission in uncultivated soil, and the ratio increased significantly to 43.2 % in cultivated soil, due to the decrease in soil pH. Most of the increase in net N₂O-N emissions observed in the cultivated soil was resulting from the increased production of N₂O through denitrification. Gross nitrification rate was significantly higher in the cultivated soil than in the uncultivated soil, and the ratio of gross nitrification rate/ammonium immobilization rate was 6.87 in cultivated soil, much larger than the uncultivated soil, indicating that nitrification was the dominant NH₄ ⁺ consuming process in cultivated soil, and this will lead to the increased production of nitrate, whereas the increased contribution of denitrification to N₂O emission promoted the larger emission of N₂O. This double impact explains why the risk of N loss to the environment is increased by long-term cultivation and fertilization of native prairie sites, and controlling nitrification maybe effective to abate the negative environmental effects.     

The effect of urea and pig slurry fertilization on denitrification, direct nitrous oxide emission, volatile fatty acids, water-soluble carbon and anthrone-reactive carbon in maize-cropped soil from the Po plain (Modena, Italy)

 The use of zootechnical slurries in agriculture can increase N losses as N₂O by direct emission and by denitrification. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of pig slurry, as well as its combination with mineral N, on N₂O emissions in the field and their relationships with some fractions of soil organic matter, with soil moisture and with rainfall. In spite of varying amounts of organic substance applied, the diverse agronomic treatments did not produce substantial differences in N losses due to denitrification. Wide variations between the slurry fertilized and the urea-fertilized plots were not found, whereas the combination of pig slurry with urea usually produced an increase both in N₂O emissions due to denitrification and in direct N₂O emissions (N losses corresponding to about 50% of those due to denitrification). The greatest losses of N₂O-N occurred in the first month following fertilizer administration. N₂O emissions due to denitrification were highest in the days immediately following the administration of fertilizers and lowest in a later period. N₂O emissions due to nitrification occurred later. Therefore, N₂O emission via nitrification differed from N₂O losses via denitrification which, under optimal conditions, presented peaks of activity during the whole growth cycle. The N₂O-N losses were highly influenced by physical parameters, particularly rain. An increase in micropore water creates conditions of scarce oxygenation or of anaerobiosis which influence oxidation-reduction processes and, at the same time, can limit the diffusion of bacteria-produced gas towards the soil surface. Received: 14 January 1998     

Nitrous oxide emissions as influenced by amendment of plant residues with different C:N ratios

To investigate the influence of plant residues decomposition on N₂O emission, laboratory incubations were carried out for a period of 21 days using urea and five plant residues with a wide range of C:N ratios from 8 to 118. Incorporation of plant residues enhanced N₂O and CO₂ emissions. The two gas fluxes were significantly correlated (R²=0.775, p<0.001). Cumulative emissions of N₂O and CO₂ were negatively correlated with the C:N ratio in plant residues (R²=0.783 and 0.986 for N₂O, and 0.854 for CO₂, respectively). A negative relationship between the N₂O-N/NO₃⁻-N ratio and the C:N ratio was observed (R²=0.867) when residue plus urea was added. We calculated the changes in dissolved organic C (DOC) and the relevant changes in N₂O emission. The incorporation of residues increased DOC when compared with the control, while the incorporation of residue plus urea decreased DOC. Cumulative emissions of N₂O and CO₂ were positively correlated with DOC concentration measured at the end of the incubation. In addition, the N₂O emission fraction, defined as N₂O-N emissions per unit N input, was not found to be a constant for either residue-N or urea-N amendment but dependent on C:N ratio when plant residue was incorporated.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from two dairy pasture soils as affected by different rates of a fine particle suspension nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide

In grazed pasture systems, a major source of N₂O is nitrogen (N) returned to the soil in animal urine. We report in this paper the effectiveness of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), applied in a fine particle suspension (FPS) to reduce N₂O emissions from dairy cow urine patches in two different soils. The soils are Lismore stony silt loam (Udic Haplustept loamy skeletal) and Templeton fine sandy loam (Udic Haplustepts). The pasture on both soils was a mixture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). Total N₂O emissions in the Lismore soil were 23.1–31.0 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ following the May (autumn) and August (late winter) urine applications, respectively, without DCD. These were reduced to 6.2–8.4 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ by the application of DCD FPS, equivalent to reductions of 65–73%. All three rates of DCD applied (7.5, 10 and 15 kg ha⁻¹) were effective in reducing N₂O emissions. In the Templeton soil, total N₂O emissions were reduced from 37.4 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ without DCD to 14.6–16.3 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ when DCD was applied either immediately or 10 days after the urine application. These reductions are similar to those in an earlier study where DCD was applied as a solution. Therefore, treating grazed pasture soils with an FPS of DCD is an effective technology to mitigate N₂O emissions from cow urine patch areas in grazed pasture soils.     

Field method to determine N2O emission from nitrification and denitrification

 Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions via the nitrification (I _nit) and denitrification (I _den) pathways were successfully measured with in-field incubation of soil cores in preserving jars at 0 Pa and 5–10 Pa acetylene. From the incubations, fractions of nitrification – N₂O over total N₂O (I _nit / I _tot) – and denitrification – N₂O over total N₂O (I _den / I _tot) – were obtained. Actual field emissions of N₂O via nitrification (F _nit) and denitrification (F _den) were calculated by multiplying the fractions from the incubation technique with the daily N₂O emission (F _day) determined with a direct soil cover method. The approach presented here was successful for a whole range of soil moisture conditions in intensive grassland. F _nit and F _den followed the trends of soil ammonium and soil nitrate. Received: 31 October 1997     

Emissions and spatial variability of N2O, N2 and nitrous oxide mole fraction at the field scale, revealed with N isotopic techniques

The accurate measurement of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and dinitrogen (N₂) during the denitrification process in soils is a challenge which will help to estimate the contribution of soil N₂O emissions to global warming. Oxygen concentration, nitrate concentration and carbon availability are generally the main factors that control soil denitrification rate and the amount of N₂O or N₂ emitted. The aim of this paper is to present a database of the N₂O mole fraction measured at the field scale, and to test hypotheses concerning its regulation. A ¹⁵N-nitrate tracer solution was added to 36 undisturbed soil cores on a 20 m×20 m cultivated field plot. Fluxes of CO₂, N₂O and N₂ from the soil surface were monitored for 24 h. Soil moisture, bulk density, carbon, nitrogen and mineral nitrogen concentration were also measured to investigate possible spatial relationships between their variations and those of N₂O, N₂ and nitrous oxide mole fraction. Under high water content, nitrous oxide and N₂ emissions were highly variable with variation coefficients of 70-140%. N₂O emission rates were about twice as high as those of N₂, with a total denitrification rate ranging from 269 to 3843 g N ha⁻¹ d⁻¹. After 24 h of incubation, the values of nitrous oxide mole fraction ranged from 0.15 to 0.94 and no significant decline during incubation time was observed. Spatial variability of N₂O, N₂ and nitrous oxide mole fraction was high and no spatial dependence was observed at the scale of the experimental plot. Only tenuous relationships between gaseous nitrogen emissions and soil properties (mainly nitrate concentration and moisture content) were found. Meanwhile, a positive correlation was observed between N₂ and CO₂ emissions. This result supports the hypothesis that an increase in soil available organic carbon leads to N₂ emissions as the end product of denitrification.     

Compared effects of long-term pig slurry applications and mineral fertilization on soil denitrification and its end products (N2O, N2)

The long-term (9 years) effect of pig slurry applications vs mineral fertilization on denitrifying activity, N₂O production and soil organic carbon (C) (extractable C, microbial biomass C and total organic C) was compared at three soil depths of adjacent plots. The denitrifying activities were measured on undisturbed soil cores and on sieved soil samples with acetylene method to estimate denitrification rates under field or potential conditions. Pig slurry applications had a moderate impact on the C pools. Total organic C was increased by +6.5% and microbial biomass C by ≥25%. The potential denitrifying activity on soil suspension was stimulated (×1.8, P<0.05) 12 days after the last slurry application. This stimulation was still apparent, but not significant, 10 months later and, according to both methods of denitrifying activity measurement (r ²=0.916, P<0.01 on sieved soil; r ²=0.845, P<0.001 on soil cores), was associated with an increase in microbial biomass C above a threshold of about 105 mg kg⁻¹. The effect of pig slurry on denitrification and N₂O reduction rates was detected on the surface layer (0–20 cm) only. However, no pig slurry effect could be detected on soil cores at field conditions or after NO₃ ⁻ enrichments at 20°C. Although the potential denitrifying activity in sieved soil samples was stimulated, the N₂O production was lower (P<0.03) in the plot fertilized with pig slurry, indicating a lower N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratio of the released gases. The pig-slurry-fertilized plot also showed a higher N₂O reduction activity, which is coherent with the lower N₂O production in anaerobiosis.