N₂O Emissions From Two Agroecosystems: High Spatial Variability and Long Pulses Observed Using Static Chambers and...

With the addition of nitrogen (N), agricultural soils are the main anthropogenic source of N₂O, but high spatial and temporal variabilities make N₂O emissions difficult to characterize at the field scale. This study used flux-gradient measurements to continuously monitor N₂O emissions at two agricultural fields under different management regimes in the inland Pacific Northwest of Washington State, USA. Automated 16-chamber arrays were also deployed at each site; chamber monitoring results aided the interpretation of the flux gradient results. The cumulative emissions over the six-month (1 April-30 September) monitoring period were 2.4 ± 0.7 and 2.1 ± 2 kg N₂O-N/ha at the no-till and conventional till sites, respectively. At both sites, maximum N₂O emissions occurred following the first rainfall event after N fertilization, and both sites had monthlong emission pulses. The no-till site had a larger N₂O emission factor than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier 1 emission factor of 1% of the N input, while the conventional-till site's emission factor was close to 1% of the N input. However, these emission factors are likely conservative. We estimate that the global warming potential of the N₂O emissions at these sites is larger than that of the no-till conversion carbon uptake. We recommend the use of chambers to investigate spatiotemporal controls as a complementary method to micrometeorological monitoring, especially in systems with high variability. Continued monitoring coupled with the use of models is necessary to investigate how changing management and environmental conditions will affect N₂O emissions.