Effect of plowing on CO{sub 2}, CO, CH{sub 4}, N{sub 2}O, and NO fluxes from tropical savannah soils

Journal Article · Sat Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94JD00265· OSTI ID:98834

Sanhueza, E ^[1]; Cardenas, L; Donoso, L; Santana, M ^[1]

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1. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Caracas (Venezuela)

Using closed chamber techniques, soil fluxes of CO{sub 2}, CO, CH{sub 4}, N{sub 2}O, and NO were measured in unplowed and plowed savannah soil from May 23 to June 11, 1991. During the measurement period the gravimetric soil moisture ranged from 1% to 10%, with an average of 2.7%. Results did not show any notable change in CO{sub 2}, CH{sub 4}, and N{sub 2}O fluxes between unplowed and plowed soil, whereas a significant change in CO and NO fluxes was produced. For CO, nonperturbed soil switches from being a net source (16 ng m{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}) to being a net sink (-5.3 ng m{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}) after plowing, and in the case of NO the plowing leads to a dramatic increase (from 12.3 to 67.5 ng NO-N m{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}) in the emissions. The addition of fertilizer (phosphate, ammonium, and potassium) to the plowed soil did not produce any significant effect. The simultaneous study of these five trace gases strongly suggests that in the short term, plowing of this savannah soil does not significantly alter the activity that produces trace gases and that the large changes in CO and NO fluxes are mainly related to an enhancement of the transport of gases within the soil and to a larger surface area in contact with the atmosphere. 34 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 98834
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: D8 Vol. 99; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
AEROSOL MONITORING
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EMISSION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GREENHOUSE GASES
METHANE
NITROGEN OXIDES
RANGELANDS