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Nitrogen source effects on soil nitrous oxide emissions from strip-till corn
Ardell D Halvorson1, Stephen J Del Grosso, Claudia Pozzi Jantalia
1USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO, USA. ardell.halvorson@ars.usda.gov
Journal of Environmental Quality
|October 28, 2011
Summary
Enhanced nitrogen fertilizers significantly reduced nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in irrigated corn production. Choosing the right nitrogen source is key for mitigating N2O emissions in semi-arid regions.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application typically increases nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils.
- Mitigating N2O emissions is crucial for reducing the environmental impact of crop production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers for reducing N2O emissions in irrigated strip-till corn.
- To compare N2O emissions from various N sources, including controlled-release and stabilized fertilizers, against conventional urea and urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN).
Main Methods:
- Field experiment in a clay loam soil using an irrigated strip-till corn production system.
- Application of various N sources (controlled-release urea, stabilized urea, UAN with inhibitors, slow-release N) and conventional urea/UAN.
- Measurement of N2O fluxes using static, vented chambers and gas chromatography over two growing seasons.
Main Results:
- All tested enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers resulted in significantly lower growing season N2O emissions compared to granular urea.
- UAN products with inhibitors (UAN+AgrotainPlus) and slow-release N (UAN+Nfusion) showed lower emissions than standard UAN.
- N2O-N loss per kilogram of N applied was less than 0.8% for all N sources.
- Corn grain yields were comparable across N sources and higher than the unfertilized control.
Conclusions:
- Selection of N fertilizer source is an effective mitigation strategy for reducing N2O emissions in irrigated, semi-arid corn production systems.
- Enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers offer a viable option for sustainable agricultural practices by minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
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