Effects of form of effluent,season and urease inhibitor on ammonia volatilization from dairy farm effluent applied to pasture

Purpose

With land application of farm effluents from cows during housing or milking as an accepted practice, there are increasing concerns over its effect on nitrogen (N) loss through ammonia (NH₃) volatilization. Understanding the relative extent and seasonal variation of NH₃ volatilization from dairy effluent is important for the development of management practices for reducing NH₃ losses. The objectives of this study were to determine potential NH₃ losses from application of different types of dairy effluent (including both liquid farm dairy effluent (FDE) and semi-solid dairy farm manure) to a pasture soil during several contrasting seasons and to evaluate the potential of the urease inhibitor (UI)—N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBTPT, commercially named Agrotain^®) to reduce gaseous NH₃ losses.

Material and methods

Field plot trials were conducted in New Zealand on an established grazed pasture consisting of a mixed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) sward. An enclosure method, with continuous air flow, was used to compare the effects of treatments on potential NH₃ volatilization losses from plots on a free-draining volcanic parent material soil which received either 0 (control) or 100 kg N ha^?1 as FDE or manure (about 2 and 15 % of dry matter (DM) contents in FDE or manure, respectively) with or without NBTPT (0.25 g NBTPT kg^?1 effluent N). The experiment was conducted in the spring of 2012 and summer and autumn of 2013.

Results and discussion

Results showed that application of manure and FDE, both in fresh and stored forms, potentially led to NH₃ volatilization, ranging from 0.6 to 19 % of applied N. Difference in NH₃ losses depended on the season and effluent type. Higher NH₃ volatilization was observed from both fresh and stored manure, compared to fresh and stored FDE. The difference was mainly due to solid contents. The losses of NH₃ were closely related to NH₄ ⁺-N content in the two types of manure. However, there was no relationship between NH₃ losses and NH₄ ⁺-N content in either type of FDE. There was no consistent seasonal pattern, although lower NH₃ losses from fresh FDE and stored FDE applied in spring compared to summer were observed. Potential NH₃ losses from application of fresh FDE or manure were significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced by 27 to 58 % when NBTPT was added, but the UI did not significantly reduce potential NH₃ volatilization from stored FDE or manure.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that NH₃ losses from application of FDE were lower than from manure and that UIs can be effective in mitigating NH₃ emissions from land application of fresh FDE and manure. Additionally, reducing the application of FDE in summer can also potentially reduce NH₃ volatilization from pasture soil.     

A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. VI. The effects of transient-state water evaporation

Rachhpal-Singh & Nye's model of ammonia volatilization is further expanded to account for the effects of transient-state water evaporation when the soil surface dries significantly. Full details are given of the derivation and numerical solution of equations describing transient-state water movement, and the diffusion and convection in soil of urea and its hydrolysis products, and of acid generated by ammonia volatilization. For the wide range of soil hydraulic properties considered, the effects of a dry soil layer on the rate of volatilization supplement the effects of increased convective supply of NH⁺₄ and HCO^?₃ ions to the soil surface. The dry layer results in increased gaseous NH₃ diffusion through the soil, and thereby increases the flux of NH₃ across the soil surface and the neutralization of H⁺ ions generated by volatilization.     

Application of hydrochar and pyrochar to manure is not effective for mitigation of ammonia emissions from cattle slurry and poultry manure

Nitrogen (N) loss as ammonia (NH₃) from agricultural systems is one of the major sources of atmospheric pollutants and is responsible for more than 50% of global NH₃ emissions. Ammonia volatilization from animal manures may be altered by amendment with chars derived from pyrolysis (pyrochars) or hydrothermal carbonization (hydrochars) by providing exchange sites for ammonium (NH₄⁺) or changing the pH of manure. Pyrochar and hydrochar differ in chemical and structural composition, specific surface area, and pH and therefore may affect NH₃ volatilization differently. In a laboratory incubation experiment, we investigated the effect of pyrochar (pH 9.0) and hydrochar (pH 3.8) from Miscanthus on NH₃ emission after addition to poultry manure and cattle slurry. We analyzed manure treatments with and without char addition and acidification and determined the effect of char addition on immobilization of manure-derived NH₄⁺. Ammonia emission from pure poultry manure amounted 84% of the applied NH₄⁺-N, while 67% of the applied NH₄⁺-N was lost as NH₃ from cattle slurry. Addition of pyrochar or hydrochar had no or only marginal effects on NH₃ emissions except for a reduction in NH₃ emissions by 19% due to hydrochar application to CS (p?<?0.05), which seems to be primarily related to the char pH. Sorption of NH₄⁺ by admixture of chars to manure was generally small: between 0.1- and 0.5-mg NH₄⁺-N g^?1 chars were sorbed. This corresponds to between 0.1 and 3.5% of the NH₄⁺ applied, which obviously was not strong enough to reduce emissions of NH₃. Overall, our results do not provide evidence that addition of pyrochar or hydrochar to cattle slurry and poultry manure is an effective measure to reduce NH₃ volatilization.     

Nitrogen Fertilizers and NH3 Volatilization: Effect of Temperature and Soil Moisture

ABSTRACT

The volatilization of ammonia is the main reaction that decreases the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization and in order to reduce losses. new technologies such as addition of N-n-butyltriamide thiophosphate (NBPT) to the conventional urea granule (UNBPT) or the covering with polymer and sulfur (UPS) have been developed with the aim to optimize nitrogen fertilization. This work aimed to evaluate the volatilization of ammonia (NH₃) in conventional urea (CU) and fertilizers with associated technology under: (a) three temperature conditions (b) and three soil moisture management. The fertilizer CU presented the highest losses by volatilization of 25.93 mg dm^?3 while fertilizers with associated technology registered 23.93 mg dm^?3 and 8.26 mg dm^?3 for UNBPT and UPS. respectively. The highest volatilization of NH₃ was registered at 45°C for all fertilizers. Fertilizers with associated technology extended the N-release time. delaying the volatilization peak up to the 6^th day or even promoted the gradual release of fertilizer in the soil. such as UPS. The UNBPT showed the lowest volatilization values in the 1^st water application. while the CU had lower volatilization values at 25°C (14.48 mg dm^?3 NH₃) and 35°C (16.99 mg dm^?3 NH₃) when the matric potential was increased from ?100 to ?50 kPa in the 1^st application of water. The UPS did not differ from the volatilization values for the three times of water application.     

A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. V. The effects of steady-state drainage and evaporation

Rachhpal-Singh & Nye's model of ammonia volatilization is expanded to account for the effects of steady-state water movement by drainage or evaporation when the soil does not dry out to any great extent. The model shows how upward movement of water during evaporation increases volatilization by carrying urea-derived NH₄⁺ and HCO₃^? ions upward, thereby increasing the concentration of ammonia gas at the surface. Conversely, water drainage reduces volatilization by carrying the dissolved solutes into the soil. The model is used to assess the effects on volatilization of evaporating conditions and of irrigation or rainfall.     

Optimizing the use of open chambers to measure ammonia volatilization in field plots amended with urea

Measuring ammonia(NH₃)volatilization from urea-fertilized soils is crucial for evaluation of practices that reduce gaseous nitrogen(N)losses in agriculture.The small area of chambers used for NH₃volatilization measurements compared with the size of field plots may cause significant errors if inadequate sampling strategies are adopted.Our aims were:i)to investigate the effect of using multiple open chambers on the variability in the measurement of NH₃volatilization in urea-amended field plots and ii)to define the critical period of NH₃-N losses during which the concentration of sampling effort is capable of reducing uncertainty.The use of only one chamber covering 0.015%of the plot(51.84 m²)generates a value of NH₃-N loss within an expected margin of error of 30%around the true mean.To reduce the error margin by half(15%),3–7 chambers were required with a mean of 5 chambers per plot.Concentrating the sampling efforts in the first two weeks after urea application,which is usually the most critical period of N losses and associated errors,represents an efficient strategy to lessen uncertainty in the measurements of NH₃volatilization.This strategy enhances the power of detection of NH₃-N loss abatement in field experiments using chambers.     

Use of nitrogen process inhibitors for reducing gaseous nitrogen losses from land-applied farm effluents

Applications of dairy farm effluents to land may lead to ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Nitrogen (N) transformation process inhibitors, such as urease inhibitors (UIs) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs), have been used to reduce NH₃ and N₂O losses derived from agricultural N sources. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of amending dairy effluents with UI (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBTPT)) and NI (dicyandiamide (DCD)) on NH₃ and N₂O emissions. Treatments included either fresh or stored manure and either fresh or stored farm dairy effluent (FDE), with and without NBTPT (0.25 g kg^?1 N) or DCD (10 kg ha^?1), applied to a pasture on a free-draining volcanic parent material soil. The nutrient loading rate of FDE and manure, which had different dry matter contents (about 2 and 11 %, respectively) was 100 kg N ha^?1. Application of manure and FDE led to NH₃ volatilization (15, 1, 17 and 0.4 % of applied N in fresh manure, fresh FDE, stored manure and stored FDE, respectively). With UI (NBTPT), NH₃ volatilization from fresh manure was significantly (P?<?0.05) decreased to 8 % from 15 % of applied N, but the UI did not significantly reduce NH₃ volatilization from fresh FDE. The N₂O emission factors (amount of N₂O–N emitted as a percentage of applied N) for fresh manure, fresh FDE and stored FDE were 0.13?±?0.02, 0.14?±?0.03 and 0.03?±?0.01 %, respectively. The NI (DCD) was effective in decreasing N₂O emissions from stored FDE, fresh FDE and fresh manure by 90, 51 and 46 % (P?<?0.05), respectively. All types of effluent increased pasture production over the first 21 days after application (P?<?0.05). The addition of DCD resulted in an increase in pasture production at first harvest on day 21 (P?<?0.05). This study illustrates that UIs and NIs can be effective in mitigating NH₃ and N₂O emissions from land-applied dairy effluents.     

坡缕石包膜对尿素氮行为的影响

采用静态吸收和土柱淋溶试验方法,分析对比了3种不同用量坡缕石包膜尿素与普通尿素施入土壤后对尿素氮行为的影响,结果表明:在土壤中施用坡缕石包膜尿素较普通尿素减少10.38%～26.24%的氨挥发损失,减少5.88%～27.74%的氮素(NO3--N+NH4+-N)淋溶损失,20%的坡缕石包膜尿素能显著提高土柱土壤NH4+-N含量,3种坡缕石包膜尿素都能极显著提高土柱土壤NO3--N含量.坡缕石包膜后能减少尿素氨的挥发,降低NH4+-N和NO3--N的淋失,提高土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量,以20%的坡缕石包膜尿素的综合生态效应最好.     

Calcium chloride and ammonium thiosulfate as ammonia volatilization inhibitors for urea fertilizers

Abstract

Surface‐applied urea fertilizers are susceptible to hydrolysis and loss of nitrogen (N) through ammonium (NH₃) volatilization when conditions favorable for these processes exist. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) may inhibit urease activity and reduce NH₃ volatilization when mixed with urea fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CaCl₂ and ATS as urea‐N loss inhibitors for contrasting soil types and varying environmental conditions. The proposed inhibitors were evaluated in the laboratory using a closed, dynamic air flow system to directly measure NH₃ volatilization. The initial effects of CaCl₂ on ammonia volatilization were more accentuated on an acid Lufkin fine sandy loam than a calcareous Ships clay, but during volatilization periods of ≥ 192 h, cumulative N loss was reduced more on the Ships soil than the Lufkin soil. Calcium chloride delayed the commencement of NH₃ volatilization following fertilizer application and reduced the maximum N loss rate. Ammonium thiosulfate was more effective on the Lufkin soil than the Ships soil. For the Lufkin soil, ATS reduced cumulative urea‐N loss by 11% after a volatilization period of 192 h. A 20% (v/v) addition of ATS to urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) was most effective on the coarse textured Lufkin soil whereas a 5% addition was more effective on the fine textured, Ships soil. Rapid soil drying following fertilizer application substantially reduced NH₃ volatilization from both soils and also increased the effectiveness of CaCl₂ but not ATS. Calcium chloride and ATS may function as limited NH₃ volatilization inhibitors, but their effectiveness is dependent on soil properties and environmental conditions.     

灌溉水盐度对滴灌棉田土壤氨挥发的影响

【目的】氨挥发是农田氮素损失的重要途径之一,咸水灌溉直接或间接影响土壤的理化性质,进而影响土壤氨挥发,但目前对于咸水灌溉下氨挥发的报道还较少。因此通过田间试验研究尿素滴灌施肥条件下,淡水和咸水灌溉对棉田土壤氨挥发的影响。【方法】试验设置淡水和咸水两种灌溉水,其电导率(EC)分别为0.35和8.04d S/m(分别用CK和SW表示),氮肥(N)用量为240 kg/hm2。氨挥发的收集采用密闭室法,用稀硫酸作为氨的吸收液,测定用靛酚蓝比色法。【结果】1)灌溉施肥后,咸水滴灌棉田土壤盐分、脲酶活性和铵态氮含量均显著高于淡水滴灌。SW处理土壤电导率(EC1∶5)较CK平均高出4.53倍。灌溉施肥后SW处理土壤脲酶活性迅速增加,第4天达到最大,随后降低,SW处理脲酶活性较CK处理平均增加了20.6%。SW处理土壤铵态氮含量明显高于CK处理,尤其是灌溉施肥后第2天,SW处理铵态氮含量比CK处理增加了66.1%。2)SW处理棉田土壤p H值低于CK处理,但在灌溉施肥周期内都呈先增加后降低趋势,p H的变化在7.6~8.0之间。3)SW处理抑制了硝化作用,SW处理土壤硝态氮含量较CK处理显著降低。SW处理土壤硝态氮含量平均较CK低7.68%。4)3个灌溉施肥周期的平均温度分别为24.6℃、26.05℃和24.9℃,因此在第2个和第3个灌溉施肥周期氨挥发高,第1个灌溉施肥周期的总降水量最大,分别比第2和3个灌溉施肥周期高3.7 mm和10.2 mm,但降水量远远小于灌溉量,因此对于氨挥发影响不大。5)总体上,土壤氨挥发损失量在灌溉施肥后1~2天最大,占氨挥发总量的45.7%~79.3%,随后呈降低趋势;灌溉施肥后第1天土壤氨挥发最大,在3个灌溉施肥周期,SW处理第1天的氨挥发较CK分别增加70.7%、69.43%和60.8%。SW处理棉田土壤氨挥发显著高于CK处理。在三个连续灌溉施肥周期内,SW处理棉田土壤氨挥发累积总量为10.98 kg/hm2,CK处理为7.57 kg/hm2,SW处理较CK处理增加了45.1%。【结论】咸水灌溉促进了脲酶活性,但抑制了土壤的硝化作用,导致铵态氮含量增加,加剧了氨的挥发。温度升高促进土壤氨挥发,少量降雨对氨挥发影响不大。因此,滴灌施肥条件下,咸水灌溉会增加氨挥发损失。     

Effects of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) straw and its biochar application on NH3 volatilization and N use efficiency in a drip-irrigated cotton field

Reducing ammonia (NH₃) volatilization is a practical way to increase nitrogen (N) fertilizer use efficiency (NUE). In this field study, soil was amended once with either cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) straw (6 t ha^?1) or its biochar (3.7 t ha^?1) unfertilized (0 kg N ha^?1) or fertilized (450 kg N ha^?1), and then soil inorganic N concentration and distribution, NH₃ volatilization, cotton yield and NUE were measured during the next two growing seasons. In unfertilized plots, NH₃ volatilization losses in the straw-amended and biochar-amended treatments were 38–40% and 42–46%, respectively, less than that in control (i.e., unamended soil) during the two growing seasons. In the fertilized plots, NH₃ volatilization losses in the straw-amended and biochar-amended treatments were 30–39% and 43–54%, respectively, less than that in the control. Straw amendment increased inorganic N concentrations, cotton yield, cotton N uptake and NUE during the first cropping season after application, but not during the second. In contrast, biochar increased cotton N uptake and NUE during both the first and the second cropping seasons after application. Furthermore, the effects of biochar on cotton N uptake and NUE were greater in the second year than in the first year. These results indicate that cotton straw and cotton straw biochar can both reduce NH₃ volatilization and also increase cotton yield, N uptake and NUE. In addition, the positive effects of one application of cotton straw biochar were more long-lasting than those of cotton straw.     

NH3 Volatilization,N2O Emission and Microbial Biomass Turnover from 15N-Labeled Manure Under Laboratory Conditions

On irrigated agricultural soils from semi-arid and arid regions, ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission can be a considerable source of N losses. This study was designed to test the capture of ¹⁵N loss as NH₃ and N₂O from previous and recent manure application using a sandy, calcareous soil from Oman amended one or two times with ¹⁵N labeled manure to elucidate microbial turnover processes under laboratory conditions. The system allowed to detect ¹⁵N enrichments in evolved N₂O-N and NH₃-N of up to 17% and 9%, respectively, and total N, K₂SO₄ extractable N and microbial N pools from previous and recent ¹⁵N labeled manure applications of up to 7%, 8%, and 15%. One time manured soil had higher cumulative N₂O-N emissions (141 µg kg^?1) than repeatedly manured soil with 43 µg kg^?1 of which only 22% derived from recent manure application indicating a priming effect.     

Comparison of Factors Affecting Soil Nitrate Nitrogen and Ammonium Nitrogen Extraction

Extraction of soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ^?-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N) by chemical reagents and their determinations by continuous flow analysis were used to ascertain factors affecting analysis of soil mineral N. In this study, six factors affecting extraction of soil NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N were investigated in 10 soils sampled from five arable fields in autumn and spring in northwestern China, with three replications for each soil sample. The six factors were air drying, sieve size (1, 3, and 5 mm), extracting solution [0.01 mol L^?1 calcium chloride (CaCl₂), 1 mol L^?1 potassium chloride (KCl), and 0.5 mol L^?1 potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄)] and concentration (0.5, 1, and 2 mol L^?1 KCl), solution-to-soil ratio (5:1, 10:1, and 20:1), shaking time (30, 60, and 120 min), storage time (2, 4, and 6 weeks), and storage temperature (?18 ^oC, 4 ^oC, and 25 ^oC) of extracted solution. The recovery of soil NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N was also measured to compare the differences of three extracting reagents (CaCl₂, KCl, and K₂SO₄) for NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N extraction. Air drying decreased NO₃ ^?-N but increased NH₄ ⁺-N concentration in soil. Soil passed through a 3-mm sieve and shaken for 60 min yielded greater NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N concentrations compared to other treatments. The concentrations of extracted NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N in soil were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by extracting reagents. KCl was found to be most suitable for NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N extraction, as it had better recovery for soil mineral N extraction, which averaged 113.3% for NO₃ ^?-N and 94.9% for NH₄ ⁺-N. K₂SO₄ was not found suitable for NO₃ ^?-N extraction in soil, with an average recovery as high as 137.0%, and the average recovery of CaCl₂ was only 57.3% for NH₄ ⁺-N. For KCl, the concentration of extracting solution played an important role, and 0.5 mol L^?1 KCl could fully extract NO₃ ^?-N. A ratio of 10:1 of solution to soil was adequate for NO₃ ^?-N extraction, whereas the NH₄ ⁺-N concentration was almost doubled when the solution-to-soil ratio was increased from 5:1 to 20:1. Storage of extracted solution at ?18 °C, 4 °C, and 25 °C had no significant effect (P < 0.05) on NO₃ ^?-N concentration, whereas the NH₄ ⁺-N concentration varied greatly with storage temperature. Storing the extracted solution at ?18 ^oC obtained significantly (P < 0.05) similar results with that determined immediately for both NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N concentrations. Compared with the immediate extraction, the averaged NO₃ ^?-N concentration significantly (P < 0.05) increased after storing 2, 4, and 6 weeks, respectively, whereas NH₄ ⁺-N varied in the two seasons. In conclusion, using fresh soil passed through a 3-mm sieve and extracted by 0.5 mol L^?1 KCl at a solution-to-soil ratio of 10:1 was suitable for extracting NO₃ ^?-N, whereas the concentration of extracted NH₄ ⁺-N varied with KCl concentration and increased with increasing solution-to-soil ratio. The findings also suggest that shaking for 60 min and immediate determination or storage of soil extract at ?18 ^oC could improve the reliability of NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N results.     

Recovery of 15N Labelled Urea as Affected by Fixation of Ammonium by Clay Minerals

A greenhouse experiment was conducted with Lolium perenne to determine whether ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) fixation by clay minerals can increase the recovery of nitrogen following application of ¹⁵N labelled urea. A silty loam subsoil, B_t horizon from an Alfisol derived from loess, pH (CaCl₂) 7.9, was chosen for the experiment. The NH₄⁺-N fixation capacity was altered by varying the distribution of potassium (K) in the upper and lower soil layer. In the K₀ treatment (control), the upper soil layer fertilized with urea was not supplied with K, whereas the lower soil layer was fertilized with 300 mg K kg^?1 soil. In the K₁^?, K₂^? and K₃ treatment the upper soil was supplied with 100-, 200- and 300 mg K kg^?1 soil, respectively. The soil in the lower layer of the K₃ treatment was not supplied with K. The recovery of ¹⁵N from applied urea (¹⁵N uptake of Lolium perenne plus residual soil ¹⁵N_t) was 86.1% in the K₀ treatment and 75.2%, 69.1% and 69.6% in K_1-, K_2- and K₃ treatments, respectively, showing that ¹⁵N losses were smallest in the K₀ treatment. Two weeks after applying ¹⁵N labelled urea the amounts of nonexchangeable ¹⁵NH₄⁺-N in the upper soil layer were significantly higher in the K₀ treatment than in the treatments with K application. Apparently, NH₄⁺-N fixation by clay minerals can reduce NH₃ volatilization after urea fertilization, if the amount of exchangeable K is low.     

Acetylene and N-serve effects upon N2O emissions from NH4+ and NO3− treated soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

N₂O emissions from soils treated with NH₄⁺-N under aerobic conditions in the laboratory were 3- to 4-fold higher than those from controls (no extra N added) or when NO₃^?-N was added. Although the emission of N₂O-N in these field and laboratory experiments represented only 0.1–0.8% of the applied fertilizer NH₄⁺-N and are therefore not significant from an agronomic standpoint, these studies have conclusively demonstrated that the oxidation of applied ammoniacal fertilizers (nitrification) could contribute significantly to the stratospheric N₂O pool.Like N-serve, acetylene was shown to be a potent inhibitor of nitrification as it stopped the oxidation of NH₄⁺-N to (NO₃⁺-N + NO₂^?)-N and hence reduced the evolution of N₂O from nitrification within 60 min after its addition.Although high amounts of NO₃^?-N were present, the rate of denitrification was very low from soils with moisture up to 60% saturation. The further increase in the degree of saturation resulted in several-fold increase of denitrification which eventually became the predominant mechanism of gaseous N losses under anaerobic conditions.     

Ammonia volatilization following urea application at maize fields in the East African highlands with different soil properties

Use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is underway to increase in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The effect of increasing N rates on ammonia (NH₃) volatilization—a main pathway of applied-N loss in cropping systems—has not been evaluated in this region. In two soils (Alfisols, ALF; and Andisols, AND) with maize crop in the East African highlands, we measured NH₃ volatilization following urea broadcast at six rates (0–150 kg N ha^?1) for 17 days, using a semi-open static chamber method. Immediate irrigation and urea deep placement were tested as mitigation treatments. The underlying mechanism was assessed by monitoring soil pH and mineral N (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?) concentrations. More cumulative NH₃-N was volatilized in ALF than in AND at the same urea-N rate. Generally, higher urea-N rates increased proportional NH₃-N loss (percent of applied N loss as NH₃-N). Based on well-fitted sigmoid models, simple surface urea application is not recommended for ALF, while up to 60 kg N ha^?1 could be adopted for AND soils. The susceptibility of ALF to NH₃ loss mainly resulted from its low pH buffering capacity, low cation exchange capacity, and high urease activity. Both mitigation treatments were effective. The inhibited rise of soil pH but not NH₄⁺ concentration was the main reason for the mitigated NH₃-N losses, although nitrification in the irrigation treatment might also have contributed. Our results showed that in acidic soils common to SSA croplands, proportional NH₃-N loss can be substantial even at a low urea-N rate; and that the design of mitigation treatments should consider the soil’s inherent capacity to buffer NH₃ loss.     

生物炭改性黏土的渗水渗气特性及其函数关系

黏土中施加生物炭可改变土体的孔隙结构。生物炭掺量和干密度均会对土体的渗透系数产生影响,准确确定生物炭-黏土混合土的渗透系数对满足填埋场上覆层的功能需求就显得格外重要。采用自主研发设计的柔性壁水-气联合渗透测试装置,测定不同生物炭掺量和干密度的生物炭-黏土混合土的饱和渗透系数和渗气系数,得到生物炭掺量、干密度与渗气系数和渗水系数间的关系曲线。建立生物炭掺量和干密度双变化条件下的渗气渗水函数,并通过验证组验证该函数的适用性。研究结果表明：在干密度较小时,对比纯黏土的渗水率,添加5%、10%、15%和20%生物炭处理后的土样渗水系数k_w值分别为8.25×10^-17、8.89×10^-17、10.40×10^-17和18.25×10^-17 m²,掺20%生物炭土样的渗透率增加了将近一个数量级。渗气渗水函数基于易测定的渗气率作为自变量,同时又考虑了干密度和生物炭掺量的影响,能快速、准确地确定土样的渗水系数。结合验证组试验得出,利用该函数计算得到的渗水系数和试验实测值吻合程度较好,表明该函数具有一定的适用性。本研究结果可为快速、准确确定渗水系数,定量描述非饱和土孔隙中水气运动之间的相互影响提供理论支撑。     

利用膜进样质谱法测定不同氮肥用量下反硝化氮素损失

利用膜进样质谱仪(MIMS)测定了太湖流域典型稻田不同氮肥施用梯度下,土壤反硝化氮素损失量,同时也对氨挥发通量进行了观测。根据两年的田间试验结果得到:在常规施氮处理(N300)下,每年平均有54.8 kg/hm~2 N通过反硝化损失,有约54.0 kg/hm~2 N通过氨挥发损失,分别占肥料施用量的18.3%和18.0%,两者损失量相当。通过反硝化和氨挥发损失的氮素量随着氮肥用量增加而增加,田面水的NH_4~+-N、NO_3~–-N、DOC和pH浓度影响稻田土壤反硝化速率。在保产增效施氮处理(N_270)下,氮肥施用量比常规减少10%,水稻产量增加了5.5%,而通过反硝化和氨挥发损失的氮素量分别下降了1.1%和3.1%,氮肥利用率提高了约5.5%。在增施氮肥处理(N375)下,因作物产量增加使得氮肥利用率比N300增加,但通过氨挥发和反硝化的氮素损失量也最大。因此,通过综合集约优化田间管理措施,降低氮肥用量,可实现增产增效的目的。     

界面阻隔材料对稻田产量、氮肥利用率和氨挥发排放的影响

氨挥发是稻田氮素损失的一个重要途径,有效控制稻田氨挥发对水稻增产减排具有重要意义。界面阻隔材料具有环境友好性和低成本的特点,可以作为一种截然不同的氨挥发减排方法。本研究比较分析了3种界面阻隔材料对水稻产量、氮肥利用率和氨挥发排放的影响,以期为水稻降本增效及减少环境污染提供技术支持。通过在稻田喷施表面分子膜材料和覆盖稻糠,比较了两种表面分子膜材料——聚乳酸(PLA)和卵磷脂(LEC)及稻糠(RB)施用后水稻产量及其构成、稻田田面水pH和铵态氮及硝态氮含量动态、稻田氨挥发及氮肥吸收利用的变化特征。结果表明, 3种界面阻隔材料均显著增加了水稻产量,与常规施肥对照(CKU,无添加界面阻隔材料)相比增幅分别为13.0%(RB)、21.0%(PLA)和24.1%(LEC)。增产主要是因为有效穗数的增加,其中RB和PLA处理与CKU处理差异达显著水平;每穗粒数和结实率均无显著差异。LEC处理显著提高了氮肥利用率(19.0%),但RB处理氮肥利用率显著低于CKU。与CKU处理相比,3种界面阻隔材料的添加减少12.3%～19.9%的氨挥发量。PLA处理氨挥发减排效果最佳,达显著水平;其次为LEC处理。氨挥发减排可能与界面阻隔材料添加导致的田面水pH、铵态氮浓度变化和土壤铵态氮含量的增加有关。与CKU处理相比,所有处理均增加了田面水铵态氮浓度,但同时降低了田面水pH,且在水稻分蘖期影响较明显。其中PLA处理还提高了土壤铵态氮含量。本研究表明,稻田施加界面阻隔材料是稻田氨挥发减排以及增产增效的另一种可行的技术途径。     

Reduction in Ammonia Loss by Applying Urea in Combination with Phosphate Sources

A laboratory experiment was carried out to study the influence of 100 mg phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) kg^–1 soil from various phosphate sources on ammonia losses from soils amended with urea at 200 mg nitrogen (N) kg^–1 soil. Irrespective of soil type, ammonia (NH₃) loss was significantly greater from untreated soil (control) than from the soil treated with phosphorus (P) sources. A maximum decrease in ammonia loss (56%) was observed by applying phosphoric acid followed by triple and single superphosphate. Ammonia losses were significantly greater from sandy clay loam than from clay. Rate of ammonia volatilization was maximum during the first week of incubation and became undetectable for both soils at 21 days after incubation. The addition of phosphate sources significantly decreased pH in the sandy clay loam, but in the clay a significant decrease was observed only with the phosphoric acid addition. Addition of phosphate fertilizers was beneficial in reducing NH₃ losses from urea.