Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion. Soil physical conditions may influence N2O reduction and subsequent N2O emissions. We studied how soil water‐filled pore space (WFPS) and soil bulk density (ρb) affect N2O reduction and surface fluxes. Columns were r...

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Main Authors: Roland R. Klefoth, Tim J. Clough, Oene Oenema, Jan-Willem Van Groenigen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-11-01
Series:Vadose Zone Journal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2014.07.0089
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author Roland R. Klefoth
Tim J. Clough
Oene Oenema
Jan-Willem Van Groenigen
author_facet Roland R. Klefoth
Tim J. Clough
Oene Oenema
Jan-Willem Van Groenigen
author_sort Roland R. Klefoth
collection DOAJ
description Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion. Soil physical conditions may influence N2O reduction and subsequent N2O emissions. We studied how soil water‐filled pore space (WFPS) and soil bulk density (ρb) affect N2O reduction and surface fluxes. Columns were repacked with soil and arranged in a factorial design at three levels of WFPS (60, 75, and 90%) and three levels of soil ρb (0.94, 1.00, 1.07 Mg m−3). Over 19 d, 15N‐enriched N2O was introduced at the base of the soil columns and N2O fluxes were measured. Relative gas diffusivities (Dp/Do) were also calculated. Soil ρb and WFPS interacted to affect the recovery of N2O‐15N and the antecedent inorganic‐N contribution to surface fluxes. Reduction rates of N2O‐15N ranged from 0.15 to 0.47 mg N2O‐N g−1 soil d−1. Calculated Dp/Do values correlated (P < 0.01) with soil NH4+–N (r = −0.73), NO3−–N (r = 0.93), cumulative N2O‐N flux (r = 0.76), and N2O‐N 15N enrichment (r = 0.80) and were affected by a soil WFPS × soil ρb interaction. Soil N transformations and the net surface N2O flux is dependent on the soil's Dp/Do, and WFPS alone does not suffice to discriminate between N2O emission sources. Consequently, the soil surface N2O flux may be comprised of N2O originating from deeper soil layers transported upward and/or from production in the topsoil.
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spelling doaj.art-8ea494d8023c4575ae739504fc8c53122023-07-27T06:05:47ZengWileyVadose Zone Journal1539-16632014-11-0113111810.2136/vzj2014.07.0089Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous OxideRoland R. Klefoth0Tim J. Clough1Oene Oenema2Jan-Willem Van Groenigen3Dep. of Soil QualityWageningen Univ.Wageningenthe NetherlandsFaculty of Agriculture and Life SciencesLincoln Univ.LincolnNew ZealandDep. of Soil QualityWageningen Univ.Wageningenthe NetherlandsDep. of Soil QualityWageningen Univ.Wageningenthe NetherlandsNitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion. Soil physical conditions may influence N2O reduction and subsequent N2O emissions. We studied how soil water‐filled pore space (WFPS) and soil bulk density (ρb) affect N2O reduction and surface fluxes. Columns were repacked with soil and arranged in a factorial design at three levels of WFPS (60, 75, and 90%) and three levels of soil ρb (0.94, 1.00, 1.07 Mg m−3). Over 19 d, 15N‐enriched N2O was introduced at the base of the soil columns and N2O fluxes were measured. Relative gas diffusivities (Dp/Do) were also calculated. Soil ρb and WFPS interacted to affect the recovery of N2O‐15N and the antecedent inorganic‐N contribution to surface fluxes. Reduction rates of N2O‐15N ranged from 0.15 to 0.47 mg N2O‐N g−1 soil d−1. Calculated Dp/Do values correlated (P < 0.01) with soil NH4+–N (r = −0.73), NO3−–N (r = 0.93), cumulative N2O‐N flux (r = 0.76), and N2O‐N 15N enrichment (r = 0.80) and were affected by a soil WFPS × soil ρb interaction. Soil N transformations and the net surface N2O flux is dependent on the soil's Dp/Do, and WFPS alone does not suffice to discriminate between N2O emission sources. Consequently, the soil surface N2O flux may be comprised of N2O originating from deeper soil layers transported upward and/or from production in the topsoil.https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2014.07.0089
spellingShingle Roland R. Klefoth
Tim J. Clough
Oene Oenema
Jan-Willem Van Groenigen
Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide
Vadose Zone Journal
title Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide
title_full Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide
title_fullStr Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide
title_full_unstemmed Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide
title_short Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content Influence Relative Gas Diffusivity and the Reduction of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrous Oxide
title_sort soil bulk density and moisture content influence relative gas diffusivity and the reduction of nitrogen 15 nitrous oxide
url https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2014.07.0089
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