Mitigation alternatives to decrease nitrous oxides emissions and urea-nitrogen loss and their effect on methane flux

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Quality

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1996.00472425002500050025x· OSTI ID:405354

Delgado, J A; Mosier, A R ^[1]

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1. USDA/ARS, Ft. Collins, CO (United States)

Nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) and methane (CH{sub 4}) are greenhouse gases that are contributing to global warming potential. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is one of the most important sources of anthropogenic N{sub 2}O emissions. A field study was conducted to compare N-use efficiency and effect on N{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4} flux, of urea plus the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (U + DCD), and a control release fertilizer, polyolefin coated urea (POCU) in irrigated spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in northeastern Colorado. Each treatment received 90 kg urea-N ha{sup -1} and microplots labeled with {sup 15}N-fertilizer were established. Average N{sub 2}O emissions were 4.5, 5.2, 6.9, and 8.2 g N ha{sup -1} d{sup -1} for control, U + DCD, POCU, and urea, respectively. During the initial 21 d after fertilization, N{sub 2}P emissions were reduced by 82 and 71% in the U + DCD and POCU treatments, respectively, but continued release of N fertilizer from POCU maintained higher N{sub 2}O emissions through the remainder of the growing season. No treatment effect on CH{sub 4} oxidation in soils was observed. Fertilizer {sup 15}N found 50 to 110 cm cm below the soil surface was lower in the POCU and U + DCD treatments. At harvest, recovery of {sup 15}N-fertilizer in the plant-soil system was 98, 90, and 85% from POCU, urea, and U + DCD, respectively. Grain yield was 2.2, 2.5, and 2.7 Mg ha{sup -1} for POCU, urea, and U + DCD, respectively. Dicyandiamide and POCU showed the potential to be used as mitigation alternatives to decrease N{sub 2}O emissions from N fertilizer and movement of N out of the root zone, but N release from POCU does need to be formulated to better match crop growth demands. 46 refs., 1 figs., 4 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 405354
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 25; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AMIDES
BARLEY
EMISSION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FERTILIZERS
GREENHOUSE GASES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METHANE
NITROGEN 15
NITROUS OXIDE
SOILS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UREA