Direct measurement of dinitrogen and nitrous oxide flux in flooded rice fields
1988
Buresh, R.J. | Austin, E.R.
A direct 15N method was used to measure N2 and N20 flux in flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields. The method involved application of a highly 15N-enriched source to a 0.4-m by 0.4-m microplot, collection of evolved N2 and N2O in a chamber placed over the floodwater, removal of NH3 from the air sample, conversion of some (N2 + N2O)-N in the air sample to NH4+-N, and determination of 15N content with a mass spectrometer. The flux of (N2 + N2O)-15N was measured for 17 d following urea application by three methods, each replicated four times, on a Vertic Tropaquept. In all cases, the (N2 + N2O)-15N flux was much smaller than total gaseous 15N loss as estimated from unaccounted for 15N in the 15N balance after 18 d. The (N2 + N2O)-15N flux and total 15N loss were 1.1 and 40%, respectively, following basal broadcast and incorportion of 58 kg urea-N ha-1 with 2-cm standing water; they decreased to 0.2 and 26%, respectively, when the urea basal incorporation was without standing water. The (N2 + N2O)-15N flux and total 15N loss were 0.5 and 46%, respectively, following application of 44 kg urea-N ha-1 to 50-mm floodwater at 10 d after transplanting. The methodology could detect a flux of 10 g N ha-1 d-1 from the added 59 to 64 atom % 15N-labeled urea. Additional studies with 15N-labled NO3- evaluated the possibility that the low (N2 + N2O)-15N flux was due to incomplete recovery of N2 and N2O formed from added fertilizer. Direct recovery of (N2 + N2O)-15N following addition of labeled NO3- ranged from 41 to 73% of the total 15N loss. No 15N was lost by leaching or runoff, and dissolved N2O in the floodwater calculated from published solubility data was less than 1% of the added 15N.
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