Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Two Soils Receiving Nitrogen Fertilizer and Swine Manure Slurry

Abstract

The interactive effects of soil texture and type of N fertility (i.e., manure vs. commercial N fertilizer) on N2O and CH4 emissions have not been well established. This study was conducted to assess the impact of soil type and N fertility on greenhouse gas fluxes (N2O, CH4, and CO2) from the soil surface. The soils used were a sandy loam (789 g kg−1 sand and 138 g kg−1 clay) and a clay soil (216 g kg−1 sand, and 415 g kg−1 clay). Chamber experiments were conducted using plastic buckets as the experimental units. The treatments applied to each soil type were: (i) control (no added N), (ii) urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN), and (iii) liquid swine manure slurry. Greenhouse gas fluxes were measured over 8 weeks. Within the UAN and swine manure treatments both N2O and CH4 emissions were greater in the sandy loam than in the clay soil. In the sandy loam soil N2O emissions were significantly different among all N treatments, but in the clay soil only the manure treatment had significantly higher N2O emissions. It is thought that the major differences between the two soils controlling both N2O and CH4 emissions were cation exchange capacity (CEC) and percent water‐filled pore space (%WFPS). We speculate that the higher CEC in the clay soil reduced N availability through increased adsorption of NH4+ compared to the sandy loam soil. In addition the higher average %WFPS in the sandy loam may have favored higher denitrification and CH4 production than in the clay soil.

The effect of nitrogen fertilization and no‐till duration on soil nitrogen supply power and post–spring thaw greenhouse‐gas emissions

“…Although our incubation temperature was warmer than typical spring field conditions, N 2 O-emission peaks at the soil surface are primarily controlled by moisture-dependent diffusion-related processes rather than soil-temperature maxima (Lessard et al, 1996;Wagner-Riddle et al, 1997;Wagner-Riddle and Thurtell, 1998). The water-filled porosity of our sandy-loam soils maintained at field capacity would have been ≈ 54% (Jarecki et al, 2008), which is close to the critical threshold of 60% for denitrification often reported in the literature (Helgason et al, 2005;Rochette, 2008;Regina and Alakukku, 2010). Our incubation conditions should represent in situ spring soil-moisture conditions quite well and, hence, our estimated N 2 O fluxes from arable and native grassland soils should be indicative of what can occur in situ during the dormant vegetative period immediately after spring thaw prior to the growing season.…”

Benefits of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Rhizobia in Agriculture

“…However, it is important to emphasize those agro-environmental problems which are not limited to the use of chemical fertilizers but also occur with manures and compost (Mitchell and Tu 2006). Both animal waste and chemical fertilizers have the potential of environmental pollution (McLaughlin and Mineau 1995;Jarecki et al 2008). Release of greenhouse gases (Flessa et al 2002;Jarecki et al 2008), ozone layer depletion (Ma et al 2007), global warming, and acid rain are reported as negative impacts of fertilizers (Vitousek et al 1997;Frink et al 1999).…”

“…Both animal waste and chemical fertilizers have the potential of environmental pollution (McLaughlin and Mineau 1995;Jarecki et al 2008). Release of greenhouse gases (Flessa et al 2002;Jarecki et al 2008), ozone layer depletion (Ma et al 2007), global warming, and acid rain are reported as negative impacts of fertilizers (Vitousek et al 1997;Frink et al 1999). Microbial inoculants, such as PGPR, are promising components for integrated solutions to agro-environmental problems because inoculants possess the capacity to promote plant growth, enhance nutrient availability and uptake, and support the health of plants (Barea et al 1998;Dobbelaere et al 2001;Hodge et al 2001;Bonfante 2003;Vessey 2003;Kloepper et al 2004;Han and Lee 2005;Weller 2007;Adesemoye et al 2008).…”

Enhancing Asphalt Rheological Behavior and Aging Susceptibility Using Bio-Char and Nano-Clay

“…Four gases of immediate concern are Hydrogen Sulfide (H 2 S), Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ), Ammonia (NH 3 ) and Methane (CH 4 ) which, at elevated exposure levels, generate health issues ranging from mild irritation to death for both animals and humans (Thu et al, 1997). Additionally, gases such as Dinitrogen Oxide (N 2 O), Methane (CH 4 ) and Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) are associated with greenhouse effects (Jarecki et al, 2008).…”