Nitrous oxide emissions and methane oxidation by soil following cultivation of two different leguminous pastures

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and methane (CH4) consumption were quantified following cultivation of two contrasting 4-year-old pastures. A clover sward was ploughed (to 150-200 mm depth) while a mixed herb ley sward was either ploughed (to 150-200 mm depth) or rotovated (to 50 mm depth). Cumulative...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology and fertility of soils 1999-11, Vol.30 (1/2), p.52-60
Main Authors: Weerden, T.J. van der, Sherlock, R.R, Williams, P.H, Cameron, K.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
denitrification
emissions
Fabaceae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
grassland soils
leys
losses from soil
methane
mixed pastures
nitrous oxide
Organic matter
oxidation
pastures
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
plowing
Poaceae
rotary cultivation
Soil science
Trifolium repens
uptake
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Summary:Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and methane (CH4) consumption were quantified following cultivation of two contrasting 4-year-old pastures. A clover sward was ploughed (to 150-200 mm depth) while a mixed herb ley sward was either ploughed (to 150-200 mm depth) or rotovated (to 50 mm depth). Cumulative N2O emissions were significantly greater following ploughing of the clover sward, with 4.01 kg N2O-N ha-1 being emitted in a 48-day period. Emissions following ploughing and rotovating of the ley sward were much less and were not statistically different from each other, with 0.26 and 0.17 kg N2O-N ha-1 being measured, respectively, over a 55-day period. The large difference in cumulative N2O between the clover and ley sites is presumably due to the initially higher soil NO3- content, greater water filled pore space and lower soil pH at the clover site. Results from a denitrification enzyme assay conducted on soils from both sites showed a strong negative relationship (r = -0.82) between soil pH and the N2O:(N2O + N2) ratio. It is suggested that further research is required to determine if control of soil pH may provide a relatively cheap mitigation option for N2O emissions from these soils. There were no significant differences in CH4 oxidation rates due to sward type or form of cultivation.
ISSN:0178-2762
1432-0789
DOI:10.1007/s003740050587