The Nitrogen Cycle: Implications for Management, Soil Health, and Climate Change

Bijay‐Singh,

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-20256-8_6

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Mineralization rates are higher in warmer soils (Bijay-Singh 2011;Lal 2011), and rates of nutrient adsorption and desorption may change (Barrow and Shaw 1975), which will alter nutrient availability. As well, warmer soils may increase rates of diffusion and water uptake (Fig.…”

Section: Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Use Efficiency

McDonald

Bovill

Huang

et al. 2013

Genomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops

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Much of the recent gains in global crop production have been underpinned by greater use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, and continued improvements in plant nutrition will be needed to meet the increasing demands for food and fiber from a growing world population. Climate change presents many challenges to improvements in nutrient use efficiency by its direct effects on the growth and yield of plants, and hence on nutrient demand, and by its influence on soil nutrient cycling, nutrient availability, and uptake. However, the consequences of climate change on plant nutrition are difficult to predict because of the complexity of the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Empirical data suggests that enhanced as well as reduced nutrient availability and uptake may occur as a result of climate change, depending on the nutrient in question and the component of the climate that changes. Notwithstanding the uncertainty of the effects of climate change on soil nutrient availability and plant nutrient uptake, improvements in nutrient use efficiency will be required to sustain productivity into the future.Over significant areas of the world's arable land, high inputs of nutrients have increased soil nutrient reserves and fertilizer use efficiency is low, while in other

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Section: Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Use Efficiency

McDonald

Bovill

Huang

et al. 2013

Genomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops

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“…Although our understanding of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes in agricultural ecosystems has increased in recent decades (Galloway et al, 2004;Singh, 2011;Zaehle, 2013), we still have a limited understanding of soil denitrification and the complex interaction of factors controlling it. Addressing this knowledge gap is crucial for mitigating N fertilizer loss as well as for predicting and reducing N 2 O emissions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of denitrification and decomposition from three biogeochemical models using laboratory measurements of N2, N2O and CO2

Grosz¹,

Well²,

Dechow³

et al. 2021

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Biogeochemical models are essential for the prediction and management of nitrogen (N) cycling in agroecosystems, but the accuracy of the denitrification and decomposition sub-modules is critical. Current models were developed before suitable soil N2 flux data were available, which may have led to inaccuracies in how denitrification was described. New measurement techniques, using gas chromatography and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), have enabled the collection of more robust N2, N2O and CO2 data. We incubated two arable soils – a silt-loam and a sand soil – for 34 and 58 d, respectively, with small field-relevant changes made to control factors during this period. For the silt-loam soil, seven treatments varying in moisture, bulk density and NO3- contents were included, with temperature changing during the incubation. The sandy soil was incubated with and without incorporation of litter (ryegrass), with temperature, water content and NO3- content changing during the incubation. The denitrification and decomposition sub-modules of DeNi, Coup and DNDC were tested using the data. No systematic calibration of the model parameters was conducted since our intention was to evaluate the general model structure or “default” model runs. Measured fluxes generally responded as expected to control factors. We assessed the direction of modeled responses to control factors using three categories: no response, a response in the same direction as measurements or a response in the opposite direction to measurements. DNDC responses were 14 %, 52 % and 34 %, respectively. Coup responses were 47 %, 19 % and 34 %, respectively. DeNi responses were 0 %, 67 % and 33 %, respectively. The magnitudes of the modeled fluxes were underestimated by Coup and DNDC and overestimated by DeNi for the sandy soil, while there was no general trend for the silt-loam soil. None of the models was able to determine litter-induced decomposition correctly. To conclude, the currently used sub-modules are not able to consistently simulate the denitrification and decomposition processes. For better model evaluation and development, we need to design better experiments, take more frequent measurements, use new or updated measurement techniques, address model complexity, add missing processes to the models, calibrate denitrifier microbial dynamics, and evaluate the anaerobic soil volume concept.

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Forage use to improve environmental sustainability of ruminant production12

Guyader

Janzen

Kroebel

et al. 2016

Journal of Animal Science

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Ruminants raised for meat and milk are important sources of protein in human diets worldwide. Their unique digestive system allows them to derive energy and nourishment from forages, making use of vast areas of grazing lands not suitable for arable cropping or biofuel production and avoiding direct competition for grain that can be used as human food. However, sustaining an ever-growing population of ruminants consuming forages poses a dilemma: while exploiting their ecological niche, forage-fed ruminants produce large amount of enteric methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Resolving this quandary would allow ruminants an expanded role in meeting growing global demands for livestock products. One way around the dilemma is to devise forage-based diets and feeding systems that reduce methane emissions per unit of milk or meat produced. Ongoing research has made significant strides toward this objective. A wider opportunity is to look beyond methane emissions alone and consider all greenhouse gas emissions from the entire livestock-producing system. For example, by raising ruminants in systems using forages, some of the methane emissions can be offset by preserving or enhancing soil carbon reserves, thereby withholding carbon dioxide from the air. Similarly, well-managed systems based on forages may reduce synthetic fertilizer use by more effective use of manure and nitrogen-fixing plants, thereby curtailing nitrous oxide emissions. The potential environmental benefits of forage-based systems may be expanded even further by considering their other ecological benefits, such as conserving biodiversity, improving soil health, enhancing water quality, and providing wildlife habitat. The quandary, then, can be alleviated by managing ruminants within a holistic land-livestock synchrony that considers not only methane emissions but also suppression of other greenhouse gases as well as other ecological benefits. Given the complexity of such systems, there likely are no singular "best-management" practices that can be recommended everywhere. Using systems-based approaches such as life cycle analysis, ruminant production can be tuned for local lands to achieve greatest net benefits overall. In many instances, such systems, based on forages, may maintain high output of milk and meat while also furnishing other ecosystem benefits, such as reduced overall greenhouse gas emissions.

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The Nitrogen Cycle: Implications for Management, Soil Health, and Climate Change

Cited by 3 publications

References 91 publications

Nutrient Use Efficiency

Nutrient Use Efficiency

Evaluation of denitrification and decomposition from three biogeochemical models using laboratory measurements of N<sub>2</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub>

Forage use to improve environmental sustainability of ruminant production12

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The Nitrogen Cycle: Implications for Management, Soil Health, and Climate Change

Cited by 3 publications

References 91 publications

Nutrient Use Efficiency

Nutrient Use Efficiency

Evaluation of denitrification and decomposition from three biogeochemical models using laboratory measurements of N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O and CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;

Forage use to improve environmental sustainability of ruminant production12

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Evaluation of denitrification and decomposition from three biogeochemical models using laboratory measurements of N<sub>2</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub>