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Soil N2O emissions and N2O/(N2O+N2) ratio as affected by different fertilization practices and soil moisture

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Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the chemical nature and application frequency of N fertilizers at different moisture contents on soil N2O emissions and N2O/(N2O+N2) ratio. The research was based on five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control, a single application of 80 kg ha−1 N-urea, five split applications of 16 kg ha−1 N-urea, a single application of 80 kg ha−1 N–KNO3, five split applications of 16 kg ha−1 N–KNO3. Cumulative N2O emissions for 22 days were unaffected by fertilization treatments at 32% water-filled pore space (WFPS). At 100% and 120% WFPS, cumulative N2O emissions were highest from soil fertilized with KNO3. The split application of N fertilizers decreased N2O emissions compared to a single initial application only when KNO3 was applied to a saturated soil, at 100% WFPS. Emissions of N2O were very low after the application of urea, similar to those found at unfertilized soil. Average N2O/(N2O+N2) ratio values were significantly affected by moisture levels (p = 0.015), being the lowest at 120% WFPS. The N2O/(N2O+N2) ratio averaged 0.2 in unfertilized soil and 0.5 in fertilized soil, although these differences were not statistically significant.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the UBACyT G-038 grant from the Buenos Aires University. Marta Conti and Gerado Rubio are members of the National Council for Scientific Research (CONICET).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cátedra de Edafología, Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (FAUBA), Av. San Martín 4453, 1417, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    E. Ciarlo & M. Conti

  2. Cátedra de Métodos Cuantitativos Aplicados, FAUBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    N. Bartoloni

  3. Cátedra de Fertilidad y Uso de Fertilizantes, FAUBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    G. Rubio

Authors
  1. E. Ciarlo
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  2. M. Conti
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  3. N. Bartoloni
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  4. G. Rubio
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Correspondence to E. Ciarlo.

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Ciarlo, E., Conti, M., Bartoloni, N. et al. Soil N2O emissions and N2O/(N2O+N2) ratio as affected by different fertilization practices and soil moisture. Biol Fertil Soils 44, 991–995 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0302-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0302-6

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