Title: Environmental factors function as constraints on soil nitrous oxide fluxes in bioenergy feedstock cropping systems

Abstract

Abstract Nitrous oxide (N ₂ O) is a potent greenhouse gas and major component of the net global warming potential of bioenergy feedstock cropping systems. Numerous environmental factors influence soil N ₂ O production, making direct correlation difficult to any one factor of N ₂ O fluxes under field conditions. We instead employed quantile regression to evaluate whether soil temperature, water‐filled pore space ( WFPS ), and concentrations of soil nitrate ( ) and ammonium ( ) determined upper bounds for soil N ₂ O flux magnitudes. We collected data over 6 years from a range of bioenergy feedstock cropping systems including no‐till grain crops, perennial warm‐season grasses, hybrid poplar, and polycultures of tallgrass prairie species each with and without nitrogen (N) addition grown at two sites. The upper bounds for soil N ₂ O fluxes had a significant and positive correlation with all four environmental factors, although relatively large fluxes were still possible at minimal values for nearly all factors. The correlation with was generally weaker, suggesting it is less important than in driving large fluxes. Quantile regression slopes were generally lower for unfertilized perennials than for other systems, but this may have resulted from a perpetual state of nitrogenmore » limitation, which prevented other factors from being clear constraints. This framework suggests efforts to reduce concentrations of in the soil may be effective at reducing high‐intensity periods—”hot moments”—of N ₂ O production.« less

Authors:

Duncan, David S.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Duncan, David S."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2867-0378"

Oates, Lawrence G.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Oates, Lawrence G."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4829-7600"

Gelfand, Ilya  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Gelfand, Ilya"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-8576-0978"

Millar, Neville  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0297-0804"

Robertson, G. Philip  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9771-9895"

Jackson, Randall D.  ^[1]

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-8033-1250"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Agronomy DOE‐Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin
2. W. K. Kellogg Biological Station Michigan State University Hickory Corners Michigan, Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences DOE‐Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan

Publication Date:

Thu Oct 25 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

OSTI Identifier:

1479153

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1479154; OSTI ID: 1609259

Grant/Contract Number:  

FC02-07ER64494; AC05-76RL01830

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Global Change Biology. Bioenergy

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy Journal Volume: 11 Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1757-1693

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Subject:

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; agriculture; biotechnology & applied microbiology; energy & fuels; bioenergy; biogeochemical cycling; cropping systems; greenhouse gas; hot moments; nitrous oxide; quantile regression