Field-scale and laboratory study of factors affecting N2O emissions from a rye stubble field on sandy loam soil
1997
Jorgensen, B.J. | Jorgensen, R.N.
Emission of N2O from cultivated and fertilised soils may contribute significantly to the total global N2O emission. This study included laboratory and field investigations of the N2O production from a dry stubble field as influenced by addition of water, nitrogen and glucose. N2O fluxes were measured using a closed-chamber technique, and the O2 content in the soil was measured using soil probes. Results from a laboratory soil core technique were correlated to the relative N2O emission observed in the field. When the soil water content in the field increased from 14% to 60% water-filled pore space, the N2O emission increased from non-significant to a constant emission of 30 micrograms N m-2 h-1. At this soil water content the production of N2O was limited by the availability of nitrogen and carbon. Application of nitrogen at soil temperatures of 13 and 21 degrees C in a pre-wetted soil increased the N2O emission 3.1- and 3.7-fold, respectively, whereas nitrogen plus carbon application increased the N2O emission 13.3- and 7.3-fold, respectively. In both treatments the N2O emission rates were affected by fluctuations in soil temperature and O2 content. The results indicate that even in a soil producing very little N2O under dry conditions, the soil microbial community maintains a potential to produce N2O when favourable conditions occur in terms of availability of water, nitrogen and carbon.
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