Effects of Manure and Cultivation on Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Corn Field under Mediterranean Conditions

Abstract

The use of organic residues as soil additives is increasing, but, depending on their composition and application methods, these organic amendments can stimulate the emissions of CO(2) and N(2)O. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of management practices in irrigated sweet corn (Zea mays L.) on CO(2) and N(2)O emissions and to relate emissions to environmental factors. In a 3-yr study, corn residues (CR) and pasteurized chicken manure (PCM) were used as soil amendments compared with no residue (NR) under three management practices: shallow tillage (ST) and no tillage (NT) under consecutive corn crops and ST without crop. Tillage significantly increased (P < 0.05) CO(2) and N(2)O fluxes in residue-amended plots and in NR plots. Carbon dioxide and N(2)O fluxes were correlated with soil NH(4) concentrations and with days since tillage and days since seeding. Fluxes of CO(2) were correlated with soil water content, whereas N(2)O fluxes had higher correlation with air temperature. Annual CO(2) emissions were higher with PCM than with CR and NR (9.7, 2.9, and 2.3 Mg C ha(-1), respectively). Fluxes of N(2)O were 34.4, 0.94, and 0.77 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) with PCM, CR, and NR, respectively. Annual amounts of CO(2)-C and N(2)O-N emissions from the PCM treatments were 64 and 3% of the applied C and N, respectively. Regardless of cultivation practices, elevated N(2)O emissions were recorded in the PCM treatment. These emissions could negate some of the beneficial effects of PCM on soil properties.

Organic and inorganic fertilizer effect on soil CO2 flux, microbial biomass, and growth of Nigella sativa L.

“…An annual CO 2 emission rate of 9.7 mg CO 2 -C ha -1 y -1 has been reported from corn treated with pasteurized chicken manure at a rate of 10 mg ha -1 yr -1 in sandy loam soil (Heller et al, 2010) and at 13.3-15.3 mg CO 2 -C ha -1 y -1 from cattle manure at a rate of 20 mg ha -1 (fresh weight) in sandy soil (Matsumoto et al, 2008). Fereidooni et al (2013) concluded that soil CO 2 -C production for fertilized and unfertilized plots over 20-day sampling times was similar, but was greater after the addition of urea and broiler litter than for the unfertilized plot at other sampling times.…”

Manure and Fertilizer Effects on Carbon Balance and Organic and Inorganic Carbon Losses for an Irrigated Corn Field

“…Under similar conditions Collins et al (2011) reported little difference in C emissions from liquid manure-treated soils. By contrast, manure increased CO 2 emissions twofold when added to corn systems harvested for grain, which retained all corn stover residue in the field (Adviento-Borbe et al, 2010;Heller et al, 2010). The total seasonal DOC output via irrigation runoff was greater for manure than control treatments in 2004 (Table 5) due primarily to one significantly greater runoff DOC n event for manure vs. control furrows (Fig.…”

“…However, Robbins (1986) and Heller et al (2010) have shown that manure additions can increase CaCO 3 solubility and leaching in soils by increasing soil respiration and CO 2 partial pressures, and by increasing soil organic acid concentrations. Finlay (2003) found that DIC concentrations in surface streams can be influenced by both geochemical and biotic factors.…”

Biochar and Manure Effects on Net Nitrogen Mineralization and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Calcareous Soil under Corn

“…Previous research indicates that manure application commonly increases soil CO 2 -C emissions, with the magnitude dependent on manure rate, current crop and residue return rate, and previous crop residue (Gregorich et al, 1998;Drury et al, 2008;Adviento-Borbe et al, 2010;Heller et al, 2010;Shrestha et al, 2013). In the current study, the 1.2-fold increase in CO 2 -C emissions for manure relative to no-manure treatments matched that observed in a corn-small-grain rotation after livestock manure (at a rate similar to ours) was applied to an Alberta, Canada field (Ellert and Janzen, 2008).…”