Effects of biochar addition on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions from two paddy soils

Impacts of biochar addition on nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from paddy soils are not well documented. Here, we have hypothesized that N₂O emissions from paddy soils could be depressed by biochar incorporation during the upland crop season without any effect on CO₂ emissions. Therefore, we have carried out the 60-day aerobic incubation experiment to investigate the influences of rice husk biochar incorporation (50 t ha⁻¹) into two typical paddy soils with or without nitrogen (N) fertilizer on N₂O and CO₂ evolution from soil. Biochar addition significantly decreased N₂O emissions during the 60-day period by 73.1% as an average value while the inhibition ranged from 51.4% to 93.5% (P < 0.05–0.01) in terms of cumulative emissions. Significant interactions were observed between biochar, N fertilizer, and soil type indicating that the effect of biochar addition on N₂O emissions was influenced by soil type. Moreover, biochar addition did not increase CO₂ emissions from both paddy soils (P > 0.05) in terms of cumulative emissions. Therefore, biochar can be added to paddy fields during the upland crop growing season to mitigate N₂O evolution and thus global warming.     

Soil N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O/(N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O+N<Subscript>2</Subscript>) ratio as affected by different fertilization practices and soil moisture

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the chemical nature and application frequency of N fertilizers at different moisture contents on soil N₂O emissions and N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio. The research was based on five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control, a single application of 80 kg ha⁻¹ N-urea, five split applications of 16 kg ha⁻¹ N-urea, a single application of 80 kg ha⁻¹ N–KNO₃, five split applications of 16 kg ha⁻¹ N–KNO₃. Cumulative N₂O emissions for 22 days were unaffected by fertilization treatments at 32% water-filled pore space (WFPS). At 100% and 120% WFPS, cumulative N₂O emissions were highest from soil fertilized with KNO₃. The split application of N fertilizers decreased N₂O emissions compared to a single initial application only when KNO₃ was applied to a saturated soil, at 100% WFPS. Emissions of N₂O were very low after the application of urea, similar to those found at unfertilized soil. Average N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio values were significantly affected by moisture levels (p = 0.015), being the lowest at 120% WFPS. The N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio averaged 0.2 in unfertilized soil and 0.5 in fertilized soil, although these differences were not statistically significant.     

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.     

Crop residues and fertilizer nitrogen influence residue decomposition and nitrous oxide emission from a Vertisol

Crop residues with high C/N ratio immobilize N released during decomposition in soil, thus reducing N losses through leaching, denitrification, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted for 84 days under controlled conditions (24°C and moisture content 55% of water-holding capacity) to study the influence of sugarcane, maize, sorghum, cotton and lucerne residues, and mineral N addition, on N mineralization–immobilization and N₂O emission. Residues were added at the rate of 3 t C ha⁻¹ to soil with, and without, 150 kg urea N ha⁻¹. The addition of sugarcane, maize, and sorghum residues without N fertilizer resulted in a significant immobilization of soil N. Amended soil had significantly (P < 0.05) lower NO₃⁻–N, which reached minimum values of 2.8 mg N kg⁻¹ for sugarcane (at day 28), 10.3 mg N kg⁻¹ for maize (day 7), and 5.9 mg N kg⁻¹ for sorghum (day 7), compared to 22.7 mg N kg⁻¹ for the unamended soil (day 7). During 84 days of incubation, the total mineral N in the residues + N treatments were decreased by 45 mg N kg⁻¹ in sugarcane, 34 mg kg⁻¹ in maize, 29 mg kg⁻¹ in sorghum, and 16 mg kg⁻¹ in cotton amended soil compared to soil + N fertilizer, although soil NO₃⁻–N increased by 7 mg kg⁻¹ in lucerne amended soil. The addition of residues also significantly increased amended soil microbial biomass C and N. Maximum emissions of N₂O from crop residue amended soils occurred in the first 4–5 days of incubation. Overall, after 84 days of incubation, the cumulative N₂O emission was 25% lower with cotton + N fertilizer, compared to soil + N fertilizer. The cumulative N₂O emission was significantly and positively correlated with NO₃⁻–N (r = 0.92, P < 0.01) and total mineral N (r = 0.93, P < 0.01) after 84 days of incubation, and had a weak but significant positive correlation with cumulative CO₂ in the first 3 and 5 days of incubation (r = 0.59, P < 0.05).     

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。     

Spatial variability of N2O emissions and soil parameters of an arable silt loam – a field study

 The spatial in situ variability of soil N₂O emissions (measured by micro-chambers, radius 0.033 m), N₂O content, water content, NO₃ ^–, NH₄ ⁺, inorganic carbon and organic carbon concentrations was investigated on a silt loam by means of geostatistical methods and nonparametric statistics. The sampling grid consisted of different spacings between sampling points which ranged from 0.1 m to 50 m. There were no significant correlations between N₂O emissions and soil parameters (P>0.1) when all the sampling points were considered. In the centre of the grid a "hot area" was localized with significantly higher N₂O emissions, and NO₃ ^– and NH₄ ⁺ concentrations (P≤0.05). Within this hot area the N₂O soil content significantly correlated with N₂O emissions (P≤0.05). When semiovariograms were computed without data of the hot area samples, N₂O emissions showed a weak spatial correlation (range: 4.3 m). The calculations including all data led to pure nugget effects for all parameters except for soil water content (range >40 m) and N₂O soil content (range 16.4 m). Received: 19 December 1997     

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 and methane oxidation by soil following cultivation of two different leguminous pastures

 Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and methane (CH₄) consumption were quantified following cultivation of two contrasting 4-year-old pastures. A clover sward was ploughed (to 150–200 mm depth) while a mixed herb ley sward was either ploughed (to 150–200 mm depth) or rotovated (to 50 mm depth). Cumulative N₂O emissions were significantly greater following ploughing of the clover sward, with 4.01 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 being emitted in a 48-day period. Emissions following ploughing and rotovating of the ley sward were much less and were not statistically different from each other, with 0.26 and 0.17 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 being measured, respectively, over a 55-day period. The large difference in cumulative N₂O between the clover and ley sites is presumably due to the initially higher soil NO₃ ^– content, greater water filled pore space and lower soil pH at the clover site. Results from a denitrification enzyme assay conducted on soils from both sites showed a strong negative relationship (r=–0.82) between soil pH and the N₂O:(N₂O+N₂) ratio. It is suggested that further research is required to determine if control of soil pH may provide a relatively cheap mitigation option for N₂O emissions from these soils. There were no significant differences in CH₄ oxidation rates due to sward type or form of cultivation. Received: 1 November 1998     

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.     

Long-term winter cover cropping effects on corn (Zea mays L.) production and soil nitrogen availability

 This study was conducted to determine effects of long-term winter cover cropping with hairy vetch, cereal rye and annual ryegrass on soil N availability and corn productivity. From 1987 to 1995, with the exception of the first year of the study, the cover crops were seeded each year in late September or early October after the corn harvest and incorporated into the soil in late April or early May. Corn was seeded 10 days to 2 weeks after the cover crop residues had been incorporated, and N fertilizer was applied as a side-dressing at rates of 0, 67, 134, or 201 kg N ha^–1 each year. While the average annual total N input from the above-ground biomass of the cover crops was highest for hairy vetch (72.4 kg N ha^–1), the average annual total C input was highest for cereal rye (1043 kg C ha^–1) compared with the other cover crops. Hairy vetch was the only cover crop that significantly increased pre-side-dressed NO₃ ^–-N (N_i) corn biomass and N uptake at 0 N. At an N fertilizer rate of 134 kg N ha^–1 or higher, the cover crops had a minimal effect on corn biomass. This indicated that even after 9 years of winter cover cropping, the effect of the cover crops on corn growth resulted primarily from their influence on soil N availability. The amount of available N estimated from the cover crops (N_ac) was significantly correlated with relative corn biomass production (r ²=0.707, P<0.001). The total amount of available N, comprising N_ac and N added from fertilizer (N_f), was strongly correlated (r ²=0.820, P<0.001)) with relative corn biomass production. The correlation was also high for the available N comprising N_i and N_f (r ²=0.775, P<0.001). Although cereal rye and annual ryegrass did not improve corn biomass production in the short term, they benefited soil organic N accumulation and gradually improved corn biomass production compared with the control over the long term. Received: 10 August 1999     

Nitrous oxide emissions under a four-year crop rotation system in northern Japan: impacts of reduced tillage,composted cattle manure application and increased plant residue input

In the context of their role in global warming, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agricultural soil under different management practices were studied in Hokkaido, northern Japan. To assess the impacts of reduced tillage, composted cattle manure-based fertilization and amendments with crop residues and green manure on N₂O emissions from soil, a field experiment was conducted under a four-year crop rotation on a well-drained Andisol. The crop rotation included potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) or sweet corn (Zea mays L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The cumulative N₂O emissions for the four-year study period differed widely (0.33 to 4.90?kg?N?ha^?1), depending on the treatments imposed, being the greatest for a combination of conventional moldboard plow tillage, composted cattle manure-based fertilization and increased plant residue input, and the lowest for a combination of conventional tillage, chemical fertilizer-based fertilization and normal plant residue input treatments. The cumulative N₂O emissions under reduced tillage were all small, irrespective of fertilization and plant residue input treatments. Composted cattle manure-based fertilization (P?≤?0.01) and increased plant residue input (P?≤?0.01) significantly increased cumulative N₂O emissions. Tillage showed a significant interaction with fertilization and plant residue input, indicating that N₂O emissions were enhanced when composted cattle manure, crop residues and green manure were incorporated by conventional tillage. In the present study, the N₂O emission factors for chemical fertilizer, composted cattle manure and crop residues were 0.26?±?0.44, 0.11?±?0.16 and ?0.03?±?0.52%, respectively, all much lower than the country-specific emission factor for Japan's well-drained soils (0.62%) and the default emission factor used in the IPCC guideline (1%).     

Soil carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions during the growing season from temperate maize‐soybean intercrops

The Argentine Pampa is one of the major global regions for the production of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr.]), but intense management practices have led to soil degradation and amplified greenhouse‐gas (GHG) emissions. This paper presents preliminary data on the effect of maize‐soybean intercrops compared with maize and soybean sole crops on the short‐term emission rates of CO₂ and N₂O and its relationship to soil moisture or temperature over two field seasons. Soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the maize sole crop and intercrops, whereas soil bulk density was significantly lower in the intercrops. Soil CO₂ emission rates were significantly greater in the maize sole crop but did not differ significantly for N₂O emissions. Over two field seasons, both trace gases showed a general trend of greater emission rates in the maize sole crop followed by the soybean sole crop and were lowest in the intercrops. Linear regression between soil GHG (CO₂ and N₂O) emission rates and soil temperature or volumetric soil moisture were not significant except in the 1:2 intercrop where a significant relationship was observed between N₂O emissions and soil temperature in the first field season and between N₂O and volumetric soil moisture in the second field season. Our results demonstrated that intercropping in the Argentine Pampa may be a more sustainable agroecosystem land‐management practice with respect to GHG emissions.     

Relationship between nitrous oxide emission and winter wheat production

A 3-year field study in southeast China was performed to examine the relationship between N₂O emission and winter wheat production. Over the 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 wheat-cropping seasons, N₂O emissions depended on nitrogen addition, plowing practice, and preceding crop type treatments, and showed a pronounced inter-annual variation. N₂O–N emission factor, the proportion of fertilizer N released as N₂O–N from the wheat field, varied from 1.33% to 2.97%. The relationship between N₂O emission (y) and crop yield (x) was well explained by the function y = 3.773Ln(x) + 1.46. Similarly, the function y = 4.445Ln(x) − 3.52 can be employed to address the relationship between N₂O emission (y) and above ground biomass (x). About 84% and 87% of variation in seasonal N₂O emission were explained by the two functions, while only 66% of the variation was represented by the N input with a linear relationship. The results of this study suggest that seasonal N₂O emission of soil under winter wheat could be better predicted by crop yield and biomass than by N input. Submitted to Biology and Fertility of Soils.     

Effect of crop residue C:N ratio on N2O emissions from Gray Lowland soil in Mikasa,Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

We studied the effect of crop residues with various C:N ratios on N₂O emissions from soil. We set up five experimental plots with four types of crop residues, onion leaf (OL), soybean stem and leaf (SSL), rice straw (RS) and wheat straw (WS), and no residue (NR) on Gray Lowland soil in Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan. The C:N ratios of these crop residues were 11.6, 14.5, 62.3, and 110, respectively. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey of farmer practices, we determined appropriate application rates: 108, 168, 110, 141 and 0 g C m^?2 and 9.3, 11.6, 1.76, 1.28 and 0 g N m^?2, respectively. We measured N₂O, CO₂ and NO fluxes using a closed chamber method. At the same time, we measured soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm, water-filled pore space (WFPS), and the concentrations of soil NH⁺ ₄-N, NO^? ₃-N and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Significant peaks of N₂O and CO₂ emissions came from OL and SSL just after application, but there were no emissions from RS, WS or NR. There was a significant relationship between N₂O and CO₂ emissions in each treatment except WS, and correlations between CO₂ flux and temperature in RS, soil NH⁺ ₄-N and N₂O flux in SSL and NR, soil NH⁺ ₄-N and CO₂ flux in SSL, and WSOC and CO₂ flux in WS. The ratio of N₂O-N/NO-N increased to approximately 100 in OL and SSL as N₂O emissions increased. Cumulative N₂O and CO₂ emissions increased as the C:N ratio decreased, but not significantly. The ratio of N₂O emission to applied N ranged from ?0.43% to 0.86%, and was significantly correlated with C:N ratio (y = ?0.59 ln [x] + 2.30, r ² = 0.99, P < 0.01). The ratio of CO₂ emissions to applied C ranged from ?5.8% to 45% and was also correlated with C:N ratio, but not significantly (r ² = 0.78, P = 0.11).     

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.     

Spatial variability and biophysicochemical controls on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions from differently tilled arable soils

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, soil microbial community structure, bulk density, total pore volume, total C and N, aggregate mean weight diameter and stability index were determined in arable soils under three different types of tillage: reduced tillage (RT), no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). Thirty intact soil cores, each in a 25 × 25-m² grid, were collected to a depth of 10 cm at the seedling stage of winter wheat in February 2008 from Maulde (50°3′ N, 3°43′ W), Belgium. Two additional soil samples adjacent to each soil core were taken to measure the spatial variance in biotic and physicochemical conditions. The microbial community structure was evaluated by means of phospholipid fatty acids analysis. Soil cores were amended with 15 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹, 15 kg NH₄⁺-N ha⁻¹ and 30 kg ha⁻¹ urea-N ha⁻¹ and then brought to 65% water-filled pore space and incubated for 21 days at 15°C, with regular monitoring of N₂O emissions. The N₂O fluxes showed a log-normal distribution with mean coefficients of variance (CV) of 122%, 78% and 90% in RT, NT and CT, respectively, indicating a high spatial variation. However, this variability of N₂O emissions did not show plot scale spatial dependence. The N₂O emissions from RT were higher (p < 0.01) than from CT and NT. Multivariate analysis of soil properties showed that PC1 of principal component analysis had highest loadings for aggregate mean weight diameter, total C and fungi/bacteria ratio. Stepwise multiple regression based on soil properties explained 72% (p < 0.01) of the variance of N₂O emissions. Spatial distributions of soil properties controlling N₂O emissions were different in three different tillages with CV ranked as RT > CT > NT.     

Influence of different agricultural practices (type of crop, form of N-fertilizer) on soil nitrous oxide emissions

 N₂O emissions were periodically measured using the static chamber method over a 1-year period in a cultivated field subjected to different agricultural practices including the type of N fertilizer (NH₄NO₃, (NH₄)₂SO₄, CO(NH₂)₂ or KNO₃ and the type of crop (rapeseed and winter wheat). N₂O emissions exhibited the same seasonal pattern whatever the treatment, with emissions between 1.5 and 15 g N ha^–1 day^–1 during the autumn, 16–56 g N ha^–1 day^–1 in winter after a lengthy period of freezing, 0.5–70 g N ha^–1 day^–1 during the spring and lower emissions during the summer. The type of crop had little impact on the level of N₂O emission. These emissions were a little higher under wheat during the autumn in relation to an higher soil NO₃ ^– content, but the level of emissions was similar over a 7-month period (2163 and 2093 g N ha^–1 for rape and wheat, respectively). The form of N fertilizer affected N₂O emissions during the month following fertilizer application, with higher emissions in the case of NH₄NO₃ and (NH₄)₂SO₄, and a different temporal pattern of emissions after CO(NH₂)₂ application. The proportion of applied N lost as N₂O varied from 0.42% to 0.55% with the form of N applied, suggesting that controlling this agricultural factor would not be an efficient way of limiting N₂O emissions under certain climatic and pedological situations. Received: 1 December 1997     

Emission of N2O from rye grass (Lolium perenne L.)

 The possibility of an additional N₂O emission pathway via plants was investigated in a soil-rye-grass (Lolium perenne L.) system. The N₂O emission rate of the system varied between 0.8 and 13.3 mg N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1. Comparing the N₂O emission rate of the system before and immediately after cutting the rye grass allowed us to calculate the contribution of the rye grass to the N₂O emission from the soil-plant system. It was found that, depending on the type of fertilization and the growing period of the plants, the N₂O released from the rye grass varied between 0 and 2.8 mg N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1. N ₂ O emission mediated by the rye grass increased towards the end of the growing period. An exponential correlation [R²=0.93, y=(8×10^–6 x ² )–(2×10^–5 x)+0.21] was observed between the N₂O emission (y) from the rye grass and its NO₃ ^––N content (x). However, it was not clear whether N₂O was produced by the plants themselves or whether the rye grass served as a conduit for N₂O produced in the soil. Received: 18 March 1998     

Effects of moisture and temperature on greenhouse gas emissions and C and N leaching losses in soil treated with biogas slurry

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of soil moisture, irrigation pattern, and temperature on gaseous and leaching losses of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from soils amended with biogas slurry (BS). Undisturbed soil cores were amended with BS (33 kg N ha⁻¹) and incubated at 13.5°C and 23.5°C under continuous irrigation (2 mm day⁻¹) or cycles of strong irrigation and partial drying (every 6 weeks, 1 week with 12 mm day⁻¹). During the 6 weeks after BS application, on average, 30% and 3.8% of the C and N applied with BS were emitted as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), respectively. Across all treatments, a temperature increase of 10°C increased N₂O and CO₂ emissions by a factor of 3.7 and 1.7, respectively. The irrigation pattern strongly affected the temporal production of CO₂ and N₂O but had no significant effect on the cumulative production. Nitrogen was predominantly lost in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻). On average, 16% of the N applied was lost as NO₃⁻. Nitrate leaching was significantly increased at the higher temperature (P < 0.01), while the irrigation pattern had no effect (P = 0.63). Our results show that the C and N turnovers were strongly affected by BS application and soil temperature whereas irrigation pattern had only minor effects. A considerable proportion of the C and N in BS were readily available for soil microorganisms.     

Nitrogen fertilization and cropping system impacts on soil properties and their relationship to crop yield in the central Corn Belt, USA

Evaluating the effects of management practices on soil physical and chemical properties would be valuable to explain field-level variability in crop production. A 23-year-old experiment on a Muscatune soil (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic, Aquic Argiudolls) in Illinois with five N rates [0 (N₀), 70 (N₁), 140 (N₂), 210 (N₃) and 280 (N₄) kg N ha⁻¹] and two cropping systems [continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CC), and corn–soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation (CS)] was evaluated. Specific objectives were to: (i) evaluate the effects of long-term N fertilization and cropping systems on field level changes in soil physical and chemical properties and crop yield, (ii) identify the most responsive soil physical and chemical properties to N fertilizer and crop management, and (iii) investigate the relationship between the selected soil properties and crop yield. Soil was collected in May 2004 to 30 cm depth and 20 soil physical and chemical properties were measured. The univariate analysis indicated that 14 soil properties were significantly influenced by at least one treatment effect (crops, N or crops × N). Due to multicollinearity among soil properties, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to group correlated properties, resulting in five soil properties such as soil organic carbon stock (OC stock), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil C:N ratio, exchangeable potassium (K⁺) and gravimetric moisture content (ω). Finally, the multiple regression analysis performed between PCA derived soil properties and corn and soybean yields retained all the representative soil properties from PCA except ω as yield predictors for corn (P < 0.001, R² = 0.39) from CC system, whereas none of the soil properties were significantly related to corn and soybean yields from CS system. The soil properties most influenced by long-term N fertilization of continuous corn were successfully identified with PCA and multiple regression. The insignificant relationship between corn and soybean yields from CS system and PCA derived soil properties might be due to the lack of response of soybean to N fertilization. This study shows the integrated use of multivariate and regression analyses in identifying yield determining soil properties by eliminating the multicollinearity among soil properties.