Soil compaction and fertilization effects on nitrous oxide and methane fluxes in potato fields
- GSF-Forschungszentrum, Oberschieissheim (Germany). Inst. fuer Bodenoekologie
- Univ. of Goettingen (Germany). Inst. of Soil Science and Forest Nutrition
This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil compaction and N fertilization on the fluxes of N{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4} in a soil planted with potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Fluxes of N{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4} were measured weekly for 1 yr on two differently fertilized fields. For the potato cropping period (May-September) these fluxes were quantified separately for the ridges covering two-thirds of the total field area, and for the uncompacted and the tractor-traffic-compacted interrow soils, each of which made up one-sixth of the field area. The annual N{sub 2}O-N emissions for the low and the high rates of N fertilization were 8 and 16 kg ha{sup {minus}1}, respectively. The major part (68%) of the total N{sub 2}O release from the fields during the cropping period was emitted from the compacted tractor tramlines; emissions from the ridges made up only 23%. The annual CH{sub 4}-C uptake was 140 and 118 g ha{sup {minus}1} for the low and high levels of fertilization, respectively. The ridge soil and the uncompacted interrow had mean CH{sub 4}-C oxidation rates of 3.8 and 0.8 {micro}g m{sup {minus}2} h{sup {minus}1}, respectively; however, the tractor-compacted soil released CH{sub 4} at 2.1 {micro}g CH{sub 4}-C m{sup {minus}2} h{sup {minus}1}. The results indicate that soil compaction was probably the main reason for increased N{sub 2}O emission and reduced CH{sub 4} uptake of potato-cropped fields.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 305445
- Journal Information:
- Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vol. 62, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Nov-Dec 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Laboratory estimates of trace gas emissions following surface application and injection of cattle slurry
Methane oxidation in a neutral landfill cover soil: Influence of moisture content, temperature, and nitrogen-turnover