Nitrous oxide production, its source and distribution in urine patches on grassland on peat soil

Urine patches are considered to be important sites for nitrous oxide (N₂O) production through nitrification and denitrification due to their high concentration of nitrogen (N). The aim of the present study was to determine the microbial source and size of production of N₂O in different zones of a urine patch on grassland on peat soil. Artificial urine was applied in elongated patches of 4.5 m. Four lateral zones were distinguished and sampled for four weeks using an intact soil core incubation method. Incubation of soil cores took place without any additions to the headspace to determine total N₂O production, with acetylene addition to determine total denitrification (N₂O+N₂), and with methyl fluoride to determine the N₂O produced through denitrification.Nitrous oxide production was largest in the centre and decreased towards the edge of the patch. Maximum N₂O production was about 50 mg N m^–2 d^–1 and maximum denitrification activity was 70 mg N m^–2 d^–1. Nitrification was the main N₂O producing process. Nitrous oxide production through denitrification was only of significance when denitrification activity was high. Total N loss through nitrification and denitrification over 31 days was 4.1 g N per patch which was 2.2% of the total applied urine-N.     

Denitrification in the top and sub soil of grassland on peat soils

Denitrification is an important process in the nitrogen (N) balance of intensively managed grassland, especially on poorly drained peat soils. Aim of this study was to quantify the N loss through denitrification in the top and sub soil of grassland on peat soils. Sampling took place at 2 sites with both control (0 N) and N fertilised (+ N) treatments. Main difference between the sites was the ground water level. Denitrification was measured on a weekly basis for 2 years with a soil core incubation technique using acetylene (C₂H₂) inhibition. Soil cores were taken from the top soil (0–20 cm depth) and the sub soil (20–40 cm depth) and incubated in containers for 24 hours. The denitrification rate was calculated from the nitrous oxide production between 4 and 24 hours of incubation. Denitrification capacities of the soils and the soil layers were also determined.The top soil was the major layer for denitrification with losses ranging from 9 to 26 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 from the O N treatment. Losses from the top soil of the + N treatment ranged from 13 to 49 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1. The sub soil contributed, on average, 20% of the total denitrification losses from the 0–40 layer. Losses from the 0–40 cm layer were 2 times higher on the + N treatment than on the O N treatment and totalled up to 70 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1. Significant correlation coefficients were found between denitrification activity on the one hand, and ground water level, water filled pore space and nitrate content on the other, in the top soil but not in the sub soil. The denitrification capacity experiment showed that the availability of easily decomposable organic carbon was an important limiting factor for the denitrification activity in the sub soil of these peat soils.     

Bi-directional soil/atmosphere N2O exchange over two mown grassland systems with contrasting management practices

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes from soil under mown grassland were monitored using static chambers over three growing seasons in intensively and extensively managed systems in Central Switzerland. Emissions were largest following the application of mineral (NH₄NO₃) fertilizer, but there were also substantial emissions following cattle slurry application, after grass cuts and during the thawing of frozen soil. Continuous flux sampling, using automatic chambers, showed marked diurnal patterns in N₂O fluxes during emission peaks, with highest values in the afternoon. Net uptake fluxes of N₂O and subambient N₂O concentrations in soil open pore space were frequently measured on both fields. Flux integration over 2.5 years yields a cumulated emission of +4.7 kgN₂O‐N ha^?1 for the intensively managed field, equivalent to an average emission factor of 1.1%, and a small net sink activity of ?0.4 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 for the unfertilized system. The data suggest the existence of a consumption mechanism for N₂O in dry, areated soil conditions, which cannot be explained by conventional anaerobic denitrification. The effect of fertilization on greenhouse gas budgets of grassland at the ecosystem level is discussed.     

Distinguishing between Nitrification and Denitrification as Sources of Gaseous Nitrogen Production in Soil

The source of N₂O produced in soil is often uncertain because denitrification and nitrification can occur simultaneously in the same soil aggregate. A technique which exploits the differential sensitivity of these processes to C₂H₂ inhibition is proposed for distinguishing among gaseous N losses from soils. Denitrification N₂O was estimated from 24-h laboratory incubations in which nitrification was inhibited by 10-Pa C₂H₂. Nitrification N₂O was estimated from the difference between N₂O production under no C₂H₂ and that determined for denitrification. Denitrification N₂ was estimated from the difference between N₂O production under 10-kPa C₂H₂ and that under 10 Pa. Laboratory estimates of N₂O production were significantly correlated with in situ N₂O diffusion measurements made during a 10-month period in two forested watersheds. Nitrous oxide production from nitrification was most important on well-drained sites of a disturbed watershed where ambient NO₃⁻ was high. In contrast, denitrification N₂O was most important on poorly drained sites near the stream of the same watershed. Distinction between N₂O production from nitrification and denitrification was corroborated by correlations between denitrification N₂O and water-filled pore space and between nitrification N₂O and ambient NO₃⁻. This technique permits qualitative study of environmental parameters that regulate gaseous N losses via denitrification and nitrification.     

Short term effect of ploughing a permanent pasture on N2O production from nitrification and denitrification

Soils are an important source of N₂O, which can be produced both in the nitrification and the denitrification processes. Grassland soils in particular have a high potential for mineralization and subsequent nitrification and denitrification. When ploughing long term grassland soils, the resulting high supply of mineral N may provide a high potential for N₂O losses. In this work, the short-term effect of ploughing a permanent grassland soil on gaseous N production was studied at different soil depths. Fertiliser and irrigation were applied in order to observe the effect of ploughing under a range of conditions. The relative proportions of N₂O produced from nitrification and denitrification and the proportion of N₂ gas produced from denitrification were determined using the methyl fluoride and acetylene specific inhibitors. Irrespectively to ploughing, fertiliser application increased the rates of N₂O production, N₂O production from nitrification, N₂O production from denitrification and total denitrification (N₂O + N₂). Application of fertiliser also increased the denitrification N₂O/N₂ ratio both in the denitrification potential and in the gaseous N productions by denitrification. Ploughing promoted soil organic N mineralization which led to an increase in the rates of N₂O production, N₂O production from nitrification, N₂O production from denitrification and total denitrification (N₂O + N₂). In both the ploughed and unploughed treatments the 0–10 cm soil layer was the major contributing layer to gaseous N production by all the above processes. However, the contribution of this layer decreased by ploughing, gaseous N productions from the 10 to 30 cm layer being significantly increased with respect to the unploughed treatment. Ploughing promoted both nitrification and denitrification derived N₂O production, although a higher proportion of N₂O lost by denitrification was observed as WFPS increased. Recently ploughed plots showed lower denitrification derived N₂O percentages than those ploughed before as a result of the lower soil water content in the former plots. Similarly, a lower mean nitrification derived N₂O percentage was found in the 10–30 cm layer compared with the 0–10 cm.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in a semi-arid climate

Understanding nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agricultural soils in semi‐arid regions is required to better understand global terrestrial N₂O losses. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured from a rain‐fed, cropped soil in a semi‐arid region of south‐western Australia for one year on a sub‐daily basis. The site included N‐fertilized (100 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) and nonfertilized plots. Emissions were measured using soil chambers connected to a fully automated system that measured N₂O using gas chromatography. Daily N₂O emissions were low (?1.8 to 7.3 g N₂O‐N ha^?1 day^?1) and culminated in an annual loss of 0.11 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 from N‐fertilized soil and 0.09 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 from nonfertilized soil. Over half (55%) the annual N₂O emission occurred from both N treatments when the soil was fallow, following a series of summer rainfall events. At this time of the year, conditions were conducive for soil microbial N₂O production: elevated soil water content, available N, soil temperatures generally >25 °C and no active plant growth. The proportion of N fertilizer emitted as N₂O in 1 year, after correction for the ‘background’ emission (no N fertilizer applied), was 0.02%. The emission factor reported in this study was 60 times lower than the IPCC default value for the application of synthetic fertilizers to land (1.25%), suggesting that the default may not be suitable for cropped soils in semi‐arid regions. Applying N fertilizer did not significantly increase the annual N₂O emission, demonstrating that a proportion of N₂O emitted from agricultural soils may not be directly derived from the application of N fertilizer. ‘Background’ emissions, resulting from other agricultural practices, need to be accounted for if we are to fully assess the impact of agriculture in semi‐arid regions on global terrestrial N₂O emissions.     

Nitrogen cycling in an acid forest ecosystem in the Netherlands under increased atmospheric nitrogen input

Within a long-term research project studying the biogeochemical budget of an oak-beech forest ecosystem in the eastern part of the Netherlands, the nitrogen transformations and solute fluxes were determined in order to trace the fate of atmospherically deposited NH₄ ⁺ and to determine the contribution of nitrogen transformations to soil acidification.The oak-beech forest studied received an annual input of nitrogen via throughfall and stemflow of 45 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, mainly as NH₄ ⁺, whereas 8 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 was taken up by the canopy. Due to the specific hydrological regime resulting in periodically occurring high groundwater levels, denitrification was found to be the dominant output flux (35 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1). N₂0 emmission rate measurements indicated that 57% of this gaseous nitrogen loss (20 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1) was as N₂O. The forest lost an annual amount of 11 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 via streamwater output, mainly as N0₃ ^–.Despite the acid conditions, high nitrification rates were measured. Nitrification occurred mainly in the litter layer and in the organic rich part of the mineral soil and was found to be closely correlated with soil temperature. The large amount of NH₄ ⁺ deposited on the forest floor via atmospheric deposition and produced by mineralization was to a large extent nitrified in the litter layer. Almost no NH₄ ⁺ reached the subsurface soil horizons. The N0₃ ^– was retained, taken up or transformed mainly in the mineral soil. A small amount of N0₃ ^– (9 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1) was removed from the system in streamwater output. A relatively small amount of nitrogen was measured in the soil water as Dissolved Organic Nitrogen.On the basis of these data the proton budget of the system was calculated using two different approaches. In both cases net proton production rates were high in the vegetation and in the litter layer of the forest ecosystem. Nitrogen transformations induced a net proton production rate of 2.4 kmol ha^–1 yr^–1 in the soil compartment.     

Denitrification and N2O emission from urine-affected grassland soil

Denitrification and N₂O emission rates were measured following two applications of artificial urine (40 g urine-N m^–2) to a perennial rye-grass sward on sandy soil. To distinguish between N₂O emission from denitrification or nitrification, urine was also applied with a nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide, DCD). During a 14 day period following each application, the soil was frequently sampled, and incubated with and without acetylene to measure denitrification and N₂O emission rates, respectively.Urine application significantly increased denitrification and N₂O emission rates up to 14 days after application, with rates amounting to 0.9 and 0.6 g N m^–2 day^–1 (9 and 6 kg N ha^–1 day^–1), respectively. When DCD was added to the urine, N₂O emission rates were significantly lower from 3 to 7 days after urine application onwards. Denitrification was the main source of N₂O immediately following each urine application. 14 days after the first application, when soil water contents dropped to 15% (v/v) N₂O mainly derived from nitrification.Total denitrification losses during the 14 day periods were 7 g N m^–2, or 18% of the urine-N applied. Total N₂O emission losses were 6.5 and 3 g N m^–2, or 16% and 8% of the urine-N applied for the two periods. The minimum estimations of denitrification and N₂O emission losses from urine-affected soil were 45 to 55 kg N ha^–1 year^–1, and 20 to 50 kg N ha^–1 year^–1, respectively.     

Fate of urine nitrogen on mineral and peat soils in New Zealand

A field lysimeter experiment was conducted over 150 days to examine the fate of synthetic urinary nitrogen (N) applied to peat and mineral soils, with and without a water table. At the start of the winter season, synthetic urine labelled with ¹⁵N, was applied at 500 kg N ha^–1. Plant uptake, leaching losses and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes were monitored. Total plant uptake ranged from 11% to 35% of the urine-N applied depending on soil type and treatment. Plant uptake of applied N was greater in the presence of a water table in the mineral soil. Nitrate-N (NO₃ ^--N) was only detected in leachates from the mineral soil, at concentrations up to 146 g NO₃ ^--N mL^–1. Presence of a water table in the mineral soil reduced leaching losses (as inorganic-N) from 47% to 6%, incrased plant uptake and doubled apparent denitrification losses. In the peat soils leaching losses of applied urine-N as inorganic-N were low (<5%). Losses of N as N₂O were greater in the mineral soil than in the peat soils, with losses of 3% and <1% of N applied respectively after 100 days. Apparent denitrification losses far exceeded N₂O losses and it is postulated that the difference could be due to dinitrogen (N₂) loss and soil entrapment of N₂.     

High emissions of greenhouse gases from grasslands on peat and other organic soils

Drainage has turned peatlands from a carbon sink into one of the world's largest greenhouse gas (GHG) sources from cultivated soils. We analyzed a unique data set (12 peatlands, 48 sites and 122 annual budgets) of mainly unpublished GHG emissions from grasslands on bog and fen peat as well as other soils rich in soil organic carbon (SOC) in Germany. Emissions and environmental variables were measured with identical methods. Site‐averaged GHG budgets were surprisingly variable (29.2 ± 17.4 t CO₂‐eq. ha^?1 yr^?1) and partially higher than all published data and the IPCC default emission factors for GHG inventories. Generally, CO₂ (27.7 ± 17.3 t CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1) dominated the GHG budget. Nitrous oxide (2.3 ± 2.4 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 yr^?1) and methane emissions (30.8 ± 69.8 kg CH₄‐C ha^?1 yr^?1) were lower than expected except for CH₄ emissions from nutrient‐poor acidic sites. At single peatlands, CO₂ emissions clearly increased with deeper mean water table depth (WTD), but there was no general dependency of CO₂ on WTD for the complete data set. Thus, regionalization of CO₂ emissions by WTD only will remain uncertain. WTD dynamics explained some of the differences between peatlands as sites which became very dry during summer showed lower emissions. We introduced the aerated nitrogen stock (N_air) as a variable combining soil nitrogen stocks with WTD. CO₂ increased with N_air across peatlands. Soils with comparatively low SOC concentrations showed as high CO₂ emissions as true peat soils because N_air was similar. N₂O emissions were controlled by the WTD dynamics and the nitrogen content of the topsoil. CH₄ emissions can be well described by WTD and ponding duration during summer. Our results can help both to improve GHG emission reporting and to prioritize and plan emission reduction measures for peat and similar soils at different scales.     

Nitrogen oxide gas emissions from temperate forest soils receiving long-term nitrogen inputs

From spring 2000 through fall 2001, we measured nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes in two temperate forest sites in Massachusetts, USA that have been treated since 1988 with different levels of nitrogen (N) to simulate elevated rates of atmospheric N deposition. Plots within a pine stand that were treated with either 50 or 150 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 above background displayed consistently elevated NO fluxes (100–200 µg N m^?2 h^?1) compared to control plots, while only the higher N treatment plot within a mixed hardwood stand displayed similarly elevated NO fluxes. Annual NO emissions estimated from monthly sampling accounted for 3.0–3.7% of N inputs to the high‐N plots and 8.3% of inputs to the Pine low‐N plot. Nitrous oxide fluxes in the N‐treated plots were generally < 10% of NO fluxes. Net nitrification rates (NRs) and NO production rates measured in the laboratory displayed patterns that were consistent with field NO fluxes. Total N oxide gas flux was positively correlated with contemporaneous measurements of NR and concentration. Acetylene inhibited both nitrification and NO production, indicating that autotrophic nitrification was responsible for the elevated NO production. Soil pH was negatively correlated with N deposition rate. Low levels (3–11 µg N kg^?1) of nitrite () were detected in mineral soils from both sites. Kinetic models describing NO production as a function of the protonated form of (nitrous acid [HNO₂]) adequately described the mineral soil data. The results indicate that atmospheric deposition may generate losses of gaseous NO from forest soils by promoting nitrification, and that the response may vary significantly between forest types under similar climatic regimes. The lowering of pH resulting from nitrification and/or directly from deposition may also play a role by promoting reactions involving HNO₂.     

Seasonal dynamics of denitrification activity in two water meadows

Seasonal variation in denitrification activity was measured in twoflooded water meadows, one on peaty and one on sandy soil, over a three-yearperiod. Measurements were taken during flooded and drained periods, usingthe acetylene-blockage technique, and the rates were compared to massbalance estimates of nitrate removal in the percolating water.Denitrification activity was higher in sandy soil than in peaty soil. Higherwater infiltration rate and thereby higher nitrate load was considered to bethe cause of the higher denitrification in the sandy soil. Floodingsignificantly increased denitrification, and the rates were higher in autumnand winter than in spring. This was considered to be a result of highernitrogen concentration in inflowing stream water during winter. Annualdenitrification was estimated to 430–460 kg N ha^-1yr^-1 in the sandy soil meadow, and 220 kg N ha^-1yr^-1 in the peaty soil meadow. In the sandy soil there was alarge discrepancy between nitrate removal rates and denitrification rates,which can be explained by nitrification of ammonium released from the soil.In the peaty soil nitrate disappearance and denitrification correspondedfairly well.     

Nitrous oxide fluxes in estuarine environments: response to global change

Nitrous oxide is a powerful, long‐lived greenhouse gas, but we know little about the role of estuarine areas in the global N₂O budget. This review summarizes 56 studies of N₂O fluxes and associated biogeochemical controlling factors in estuarine open waters, salt marshes, mangroves, and intertidal sediments. The majority of in situ N₂O production occurs as a result of sediment denitrification, although the water column contributes N₂O through nitrification in suspended particles. The most important factors controlling N₂O fluxes seem to be dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and oxygen availability, which in turn are affected by tidal cycles, groundwater inputs, and macrophyte density. The heterogeneity of coastal environments leads to a high variability in observations, but on average estuarine open water, intertidal and vegetated environments are sites of a small positive N₂O flux to the atmosphere (range 0.15–0.91; median 0.31; Tg N₂O‐N yr^?1). Global changes in macrophyte distribution and anthropogenic nitrogen loading are expected to increase N₂O emissions from estuaries. We estimate that a doubling of current median NO₃^? concentrations would increase the global estuary water–air N₂O flux by about 0.45 Tg N₂O‐N yr^?1 or about 190%. A loss of 50% of mangrove habitat, being converted to unvegetated intertidal area, would result in a net decrease in N₂O emissions of 0.002 Tg N₂O‐N yr^?1. In contrast, conversion of 50% of salt marsh to unvegetated area would result in a net increase of 0.001 Tg N₂O‐N yr^?1. Decreased oxygen concentrations may inhibit production of N₂O by nitrification; however, sediment denitrification and the associated ratio of N₂O:N₂ is expected to increase.     

Afforestation does not necessarily reduce nitrous oxide emissions from managed boreal peat soils

Pristine peatlands have generally low nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions but drainage and management practices enhance the microbial processes and associated N₂O emissions. It is assumed that leaving peat soils from intensive management, such as agriculture, will decrease their N₂O emissions. In this paper we report how the annual N₂O emission rates will change when agricultural peat soil is either left abandoned or afforested and also N₂O emissions from afforested peat extraction sites. In addition, we evaluated a biogeochemical model (DNDC) with a view to explaining GHG emissions from peat soils under different land uses. The abandoned agricultural peat soils had lower mean annual N₂O emissions (5.5?±?5.4?kg?N?ha^?1) than the peat soils in active agricultural use in Finland. Surprisingly, N₂O emissions from afforested organic agricultural soils (12.8?±?9.4?kg?N?ha^?1) were similar to those from organic agricultural soils in active use. These emissions were much higher than those from the forests on nutrient rich peat soils. Abandoned and afforested peat extraction sites emitted more N₂O, (2.4?±?2.1?kg?N?ha^?1), than the areas under active peat extraction (0.7?±?0.5?kg?N?ha^?1). Emissions outside the growing season contributed significantly, 40% on an average, to the annual emissions. The DNDC model overestimated N₂O emission rates during the growing season and indicated no emissions during winter. The differences in the N₂O emission rates were not associated with the age of the land use change, vegetation characteristics, peat depth or peat bulk density. The highest N₂O emissions occurred when the soil C:N ratio was below 20 with a significant variability within the measured C:N range (13–27). Low soil pH, high nitrate availability and water table depth (50–70?cm) were also associated with high N₂O emissions. Mineral soil has been added to most of the soils studied here to improve the fertility and this may have an impact on the N₂O emissions. We infer from the multi-site dataset presented in this paper that afforestation is not necessarily an efficient way to reduce N₂O emissions from drained boreal organic fields.     

Regional application of PnET-N-DNDC for estimating the N2O source strength of tropical rainforests in the Wet Tropics of Australia

In contrast to the significant importance of tropical rainforest ecosystems as one of the major sources within the global atmospheric N₂O budget (2.2–3.7 Tg N yr^?1), regional estimates of their N₂O source strength are still limited and highly uncertain. To contribute toward more reliable estimates of the N₂O source strength of tropical rainforest ecosystems on a regional scale, we modified a process‐oriented biogeochemical model, PnET‐N‐DNDC, and parameterized it to simulate C and N turnover and associated N₂O emissions in and from tropical rainforest ecosystems. Model modifications included: (1) new parameterizations associated with plant physiology and soil hydrology and the addition of algorithms relating daily leaf litterfall to water stress as well as to daily rainfall to account for the effects of heavy rainfall damage; (2) the development of a denitrifier activity index that depends on soil moisture conditions and influences N turnover by denitrification; and (3) the addition of a biological N fixation algorithm. Daily simulated N₂O emissions based on site data were in good agreement (model efficiencies up to 0.83) with field observations in the Wet Tropics of Australia and Costa Rica. The model was even able to reproduce the highly dynamic pattern of N₂O emissions with short‐term increases during the wet season. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the PnET‐N‐DNDC model was sensitive to changes in soil properties such as pH, clay content, soil organic carbon and climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature. By linking the PnET‐N‐DNDC model to a geographic information systems database, tropical rainforests in a 9000 km² area of the Wet Tropics of Australia are estimated to emit 962 t N₂O‐N yr^?1 (2.4 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 yr^?1) between July 1997 and June 1998.     

Denitrification and N2O emissions from a UK pasture soil following the early spring application of cattle slurry and mineral fertiliser

Total denitrification and nitrous oxide (N₂O) losses were measured from three contrasting dairy management systems representing good commercial practice (system 1), production maintained but with reduced N losses (system 2); and nitrate leaching less than 50 mg L^-1 but with reduced production (system 3). Measurements were made following mineral fertiliser application and from two plot experiments where four treatments were applied: control, NH₄NO₃ at 60 kg N ha^-1, cattle slurry applied to the surface (equivalent to 45 kg N ha^-1), and cattle slurry injected. Despite low soil temperatures (<6 °C) and low rainfall (<3 mm), total denitrification and N₂O losses peaked at 56 and 16 g N ha^-1 d^-1, respectively. Total denitrification losses decreased: system 1 system 2 > system 3, whereas N₂O losses decreased: system 2 > system 3 > system 1. Total denitrification losses tended to decrease with decreasing fertiliser application rate, whereas fertiliser application rate was not the sole determinant of the N₂O loss. The system 3 field was injected with cattle slurry for 2 yr, system 2 received some slurry by injection and system 1 received slurry to the surface. Thus, the amount, timing and method of previous cattle slurry application was important in determining the loss following subsequent fertiliser application. For the plot experiments, total denitrification and N₂O losses decreased in the order: slurry injected > mineral fertiliser > slurry applied to the surface > control for 5 days following application. However, 16 and 19 days after application, N₂O losses above the control were measured from plots that had received cattle slurry. It was inferred that the application of cattle slurry to the pasture soil stimulated greater N₂O production and increased losses over a longer time period compared with mineral fertiliser additions.     

A meta‐analysis of fertilizer‐induced soil NO and combined NO+N2O emissions

Soils are among the important sources of atmospheric nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), acting as a critical role in atmospheric chemistry. Updated data derived from 114 peer‐reviewed publications with 520 field measurements were synthesized using meta‐analysis procedure to examine the N fertilizer‐induced soil NO and the combined NO+N₂O emissions across global soils. Besides factors identified in earlier reviews, additional factors responsible for NO fluxes were fertilizer type, soil C/N ratio, crop residue incorporation, tillage, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, drought and biomass burning. When averaged across all measurements, soil NO‐N fluxes were estimated to be 4.06 kg ha^?1 yr^?1, with the greatest (9.75 kg ha^?1 yr^?1) in vegetable croplands and the lowest (0.11 kg ha^?1 yr^?1) in rice paddies. Soil NO emissions were more enhanced by synthetic N fertilizer (+38%), relative to organic (+20%) or mixed N (+18%) sources. Compared with synthetic N fertilizer alone, synthetic N fertilizer combined with nitrification inhibitors substantially reduced soil NO emissions by 81%. The global mean direct emission factors of N fertilizer for NO (EF_NO) and combined NO+N₂O (EF_c) were estimated to be 1.16% and 2.58%, with 95% confidence intervals of 0.71–1.61% and 1.81–3.35%, respectively. Forests had the greatest EF_NO (2.39%). Within the croplands, the EF_NO (1.71%) and EF_c (4.13%) were the greatest in vegetable cropping fields. Among different chemical N fertilizer varieties, ammonium nitrate had the greatest EF_NO (2.93%) and EF_c (5.97%). Some options such as organic instead of synthetic N fertilizer, decreasing N fertilizer input rate, nitrification inhibitor and low irrigation frequency could be adopted to mitigate soil NO emissions. More field measurements over multiyears are highly needed to minimize the estimate uncertainties and mitigate soil NO emissions, particularly in forests and vegetable croplands.     

Soil-atmosphere exchange of nitrous oxide and methane in New Zealand terrestrial ecosystems and their mitigation options: a review

The two non-CO₂ greenhouse gases (GHGs) nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) comprise 54.8% of total New Zealand emissions. Nitrous oxide is mainly generated from mineral N originating from animal dung and urine, applied fertiliser N, biologically fixed N₂, and mineralisation of soil organic N. Even though about 96% of the anthropogenic CH₄ emitted in New Zealand is from ruminant animals (methanogenesis), methane uptake by aerobic soils (methanotrophy) can significantly contribute to the removal of CH₄ from the atmpsphere, as the global estimates confirm. Both the net uptake of CH₄ by soils and N₂O emissions from soils are strongly influenced by changes in land use and land management. Quantitative information on the fluxes of these two non-CO₂ GHGs is required for a range of land-use and land-management ecosystems to determine their contribution to the national emissions inventory, and for assessing the potential of mitigation options. Here we report soil N₂O fluxes and CH₄ uptake for a range of land-use and land-management systems collated from published and unpublished New Zealand studies. Nitrous oxide emissions are highest in dairy-grazed pastures (10–12 kg N₂O–N ha^?1 year^{? 1}), intermediate in sheep-grazed pastures, (4–6 kg N₂O–N ha^?1 year^?1), and lowest in forest, shrubland and ungrazed pasture soils (1–2 kg N₂O–N ha^?1 year^?1). N deposited in the form of animal urine and dung, and N applied as fertiliser, are the principal sources of N₂O production. Generally, N₂O emissions from grazed pasture soils are high when the soil water-filled pore-space is above field capacity, and net CH₄ uptake is low or absent. Although nitrification inhibitors have shown some promise in reducing N₂O emissions from grazed pasture systems, their efficacy as an integral part of farm management has yet to be tested. Methane uptake was highest for a New Zealand Beech forest soil (10–11 kg CH₄ ha^?1 year^?1), intermediate in some pine forest soils (4–6 kg CH₄ ha^?1 year^?1), and lowest in most pasture (<1 kg CH₄ ha^?1 year^?1) and cropped soils (1.5 kg CH₄ ha^?1 year^?1). Afforestation /reforestation of pastures results in increases in soil CH₄ uptake, largely as a result of increases in soil aeration status and changes in the population and activities of methanotrophs. Soil CH₄ uptake is also seasonally dependent, being about two to three times higher in a dry summer and autumn than in a wet winter. There are no practical ways yet available to reduce CH₄ emissions from agricultural systems. The mitigation options to reduce gaseous emissions are discussed and future research needs identified.     

Simulation of Effects of Soils,Climate and Management on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Emission from Grasslands

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas with a high contribution from agricultural soils and emissions that depend on soil type, climate, crops and management practices. The N₂O emissions therefore need to be included as an integral part of environmental assessments of agricultural production systems. An algorithm for N₂O production and emission from agricultural soils was developed and included in the FASSET whole-farm model. The model simulated carbon and nitrogen (N) turnover on a daily basis. Both nitrification and denitrification was included in the model as sources for N₂O production, and the N₂O emissions depended on soil microbial and physical conditions. The model was tested on experimental data of N₂O emissions from grasslands in UK, Finland and Denmark, differing in climatic conditions, soil properties and management. The model simulated the general time course of N₂O emissions and captured the observed effects of fertiliser and manure management on emissions. Scenario analyses for grazed and cut grasslands were conducted to evaluate the effects of soil texture, climatic conditions, grassland management and N fertilisation on N₂O emissions. The soils varied from coarse sand to sandy loam and the climatic variation was taken to represent the climatic variation within Denmark. N fertiliser rates were varied from 0 to 500 kg N ha⁻¹. The simulated N₂O emissions showed a non-linear response to increasing N rates with increasing emission factors at higher N rates. The simulated emissions increased with increasing soil clay contents. N₂O emissions were slightly increased at higher temperatures, whereas increasing annual rainfall generally lead to decreasing emissions. Emissions were slightly higher from grazed grasslands compared with cut grasslands at similar rates of total N input (fertiliser and animal excreta). The results indicate higher emission factors and thus higher potentials for reducing N₂O emissions for intensively grazed grasslands on fine textured soils than for extensive cut-based grasslands on sandy soils.     

Soil‐derived trace gas fluxes from different energy crops – results from a field experiment in Southwest Germany

Willow coppice, energy maize and Miscanthus were evaluated regarding their soil‐derived trace gas emission potential involving a nonfertilized and a crop‐adapted slow‐release nitrogen (N) fertilizer scheme. The N application rate was 80 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 for the perennial crops and 240 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 for the annual maize. A replicated field experiment was conducted with 1‐year measurements of soil fluxes of CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O in weekly intervals using static chambers. The measurements revealed a clear seasonal trend in soil CO₂ emissions, with highest emissions being found for the N‐fertilized Miscanthus plots (annual mean: 50 mg C m^?² h^?1). Significant differences between the cropping systems were found in soil N₂O emissions due to their dependency on amount and timing of N fertilization. N‐fertilized maize plots had highest N₂O emissions by far, which accumulated to 3.6 kg N₂O ha^?1 yr^?1. The contribution of CH₄ fluxes to the total soil greenhouse gas subsumption was very small compared with N₂O and CO₂. CH₄ fluxes were mostly negative indicating that the investigated soils mainly acted as weak sinks for atmospheric CH₄. To identify the system providing the best ratio of yield to soil N₂O emissions, a subsumption relative to biomass yields was calculated. N‐fertilized maize caused the highest soil N₂O emissions relative to dry matter yields. Moreover, unfertilized maize had higher relative soil N₂O emissions than unfertilized Miscanthus and willow. These results favour perennial crops for bioenergy production, as they are able to provide high yields with low N₂O emissions in the field.