Dynamics of upward and downward N2O and CO2 fluxes in ploughed or no-tilled soils in relation to water-filled pore space, compaction and crop presence

Sharp peaks in nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes under no-tillage in wet conditions appear to be related to near surface soil and crop cover conditions. Here we explored some of the factors influencing tillage effects on short-term variations in gas flux so that we could learn about the mechanisms involved. Field investigations revealed that a cumulative emission of 13 kg N₂O–N ha⁻¹ over a 12-week period was possible under no-tillage for spring barley. We investigated how reducing crop cover and changing the structural arrangement of the water-filled pore space (WFPS) by short-term laboratory compaction influenced N₂O and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes in upward and downward directions in core samples from tilled and untilled soil. Increasing the downward flux of N₂O within a soil profile by changing soil or moisture conditions may increase the likelihood of its further reduction to N₂ or dissolution. We took undisturbed cores from 3 to 8 cm depth, equilibrated them to −1 or −6 kPa matric potential, incubated them and measured N₂O and CO₂ fluxes from the upper and lower surfaces in a purpose-designed apparatus before and after compaction in an uniaxial tester. We also measured WFPS, air permeability, bulk density and air-filled porosity before and after compaction. Spring barley was tested in 1999 and winter barley in 2000.Fluxes of N₂O were from 1.5 to 35 times higher from no-tilled than ploughed even where the soil was of similar bulk density. Reduction of the crop cover increased CO₂ flux and could reduce N₂O flux. The effects of structural changes induced by laboratory compaction on the fluxes of N₂O and CO₂ were not influenced greatly by the tillage and crop cover treatments. Fluxes from the upper surfaces of cores (corresponding to 3 cm soil depth, upwards direction) could be up to 100 times greater (N₂O) or 8 times (CO₂) than from the lower surfaces (8 cm depth, downwards direction). These differences between surfaces were greatest when N₂O fluxes were very high in no-tilled soil (4.2 mg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹) as occurred when WFPS exceeded 80% or became blocked with water, an effect that was increased by our compaction treatment. In general N₂O fluxes increased with WFPS. The production and emission of N₂O were strongly influenced by the soil physical environment, the magnitude of the water-filled pore space and continuity of the air-filled pore space in particular, produced in no-till versus plough cultivation.