Single-event nitrous oxide losses under maize production as affected by soil type, tillage, rotation, and fertilization

• Published in: Soil & tillage research 2009, Vol.102 (1), p.19-26
• Main Authors: Tan, Ivy Y.S., van Es, Harold M., Duxbury, John M., Melkonian, Jeffrey J., Schindelbeck, Robert R., Geohring, Larry D., Hively, W. Dean, Moebius, Bianca N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; application timing; Biological and medical sciences; clay loam soils; corn; crop production; crop rotation; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; fertilizer application; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas emissions; General agronomy. Plant production; Greenhouse gas; greenhouse gases; loamy sand soils; nitrate nitrogen; Nitrogen; Nitrous oxide; rainfall simulation; Soil science; soil texture; Soil tillage; Tillage; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; Timing of N application; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0167-1987; 1879-3444
• DOI: 10.1016/j.still.2008.06.005

Soil nitrate (NO 3) can be especially susceptible to leaching and denitrification in late spring under maize ( Zea mays L.) production. This study examined the effects of tillage (untilled; tilled), fertilizer application (full season rate or starter-only at planting), rotation (maize after orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.); continuous maize), and soil type (clay loam; loamy fine sand) on short-term nitrous oxide (N 2O) emissions after a 50-mm late-spring simulated precipitation event. N 2O emissions were measured daily for a week following the event. Soil NO 3, temperature, physical properties and total N were also measured. N 2O emissions peaked on the second day after a simulated rainfall event for all treatments. N 2O losses were significantly higher on the clay loam compared to the loamy sand. Full season fertilizer application at planting on untilled soil resulted in 4.7 and 2.3 kg N ha −1 greater cumulative N 2O losses than starter-only fertilizer application on maize-after-grass and continuous maize, respectively. Under tilled conditions, cumulative N 2O losses over a week averaged 0.88 kg N ha −1 greater for the full fertilizer application compared to the starter-only application. Higher N 2O losses from untilled soil were related to lower soil porosity and higher bulk density, and higher emissions under maize-after-grass were correlated with higher soil C levels. In conclusion, untilled soil and sod-based crop rotations increase late-spring N 2O losses under maize production, especially with early fertilization.