Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Effects of anhydrous ammonia fertilization on emission of nitrous oxide from soils

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

A simple method was developed for accurate injection of anhydrous ammonia in field studies to assess the effects of this fertilizer on emissions of nitrous oxide (NO/sub 2/) from soils. Use of this method and of a chamber technique for measurement of N/sub 2/O emissions showed that fertilization of three Iowa soils with anhydrous ammonia (250 kg n/ha) led to a very marked increase in emission of N/sub 2/O. Emissions of N/sub 2/O-n from the fertilized soils in 139 days ranged from 12.1 to 19.6 kg/ha and averaged 15.6 kg/ha. The corresponding emissions from the unfertilized soils ranged from 1.7 to 2.5 kg/ha and averaged 2.0 kg/ha. Most of the N/sub 2/O evolved from the fertilized soils was produced within 42 days after fertilization, and N/sub 2/O emissions from these soils within 42 days after fertilization, and N/sub 2/O emissions from these soils 96 days after fertilization were not appreciably greater than those from the corresponding unfertilized soils. The fertilizer-induced emissions of N/sub 2/O-n observed after application of anhydrous ammonia greatly exceeded those detected in similar field studies using other N fertilizers and represented 4.0 to 6.8% of the fertilizer N applied.

OSTI ID:
5750512
Journal Information:
J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 10:1; ISSN JEVQA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English