Black Plastic Film Mulching Increases Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Arid Potato Fields

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Soil Science

Background:

• Black plastic film mulching is widely used in arid Northwest China for potato cultivation, known to enhance crop yields.
• The impact of this mulching technique on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, remains insufficiently understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of black plastic film mulching on soil N2O emissions in arid upland potato fields.
• To identify the key soil factors influenced by mulching that regulate N2O emissions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the static chamber-gas chromatography method for precise measurement of soil N2O emissions.
• Analyzed correlations between cumulative N2O emissions and soil parameters including temperature, moisture, CO2 concentration, and amoA-AOB gene abundance.

Main Results:

• Black plastic film mulching significantly increased cumulative soil N2O emissions by 21-26% compared to unmulched controls.
• Cumulative N2O emissions showed positive correlations with soil temperature, soil moisture, soil CO2 concentration, and amoA-AOB abundance.

Conclusions:

• Black plastic film mulching promotes N2O emissions by elevating soil temperature and moisture, increasing CO2 concentration, and enhancing the abundance of the amoA-AOB gene.
• The soil environment under black plastic film mulch favors N2O production, presenting a challenge for balancing food production with greenhouse gas mitigation in agricultural soils.
• Environmental implications of black plastic film mulching warrant careful consideration for sustainable agricultural practices.