Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China

Model and field studies generally posit that when the application rates of nitrogen fertilizer exceed crop needs, nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions will increase nonlinearly, though linear responses are also extensively reported by field studies. We conducted year-round measuremen...

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Main Authors: X. Zheng, K. Wang, C. Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2012-02-01
Series:Biogeosciences
Online Access:http://www.biogeosciences.net/9/839/2012/bg-9-839-2012.pdf
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author X. Zheng
K. Wang
C. Liu
author_facet X. Zheng
K. Wang
C. Liu
author_sort X. Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Model and field studies generally posit that when the application rates of nitrogen fertilizer exceed crop needs, nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions will increase nonlinearly, though linear responses are also extensively reported by field studies. We conducted year-round measurements of crop yield, N<sub>2</sub>O and methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) fluxes for treatments of six fertilizer nitrogen levels (0, 135, 270, 430, 650 and 850 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup> in the form of urea) in a typical irrigated wheat-maize rotation field in northern China. Linear models characterized the responses of cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions to fertilizer rates well; therefore, the calculated N<sub>2</sub>O emission factors of 0.17 &plusmn; 0.02%, 0.73 &plusmn; 0.05% and 0.49 &plusmn; 0.02% for the wheat season, maize season and annual scale, respectively, were appropriate for the different fertilizer rates. The cumulative CH<sub>4</sub> uptake by the soil tended to be enhanced at higher fertilizer rates (≥350 kg N ha<sup>&minus;1</sup>) in the maize season whereas no effect was observed for the wheat season. When the annual fertilizer rates increased from 270 to 430, from 270 to 650, and from 270 to 850 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, the crop yields increased only 3 &sim; 15% (0.5 &sim; 2.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>), but cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions increased 35 &sim; 115% (0.9 &sim; 3.0 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>). We recommend 270 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup> as the locally optimum fertilizer rate. Considering the nitrogen inputs by fertilization (270 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>), irrigation (4.3 &plusmn; 0.2 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>) and deposition (wet deposition: 30.5 &plusmn; 1.5 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>), the slightly positive soil nitrogen balance could maintain the current crop yield (&sim;13.8 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>) and reduce the present high N<sub>2</sub>O emissions (>3.51 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>) of the local farmers' practice (fertilizer rate > 430 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>).
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spelling doaj.art-d853fd82baa34e0fafe07ce4d712aa622022-12-21T17:44:14ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892012-02-019283985010.5194/bg-9-839-2012Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern ChinaX. ZhengK. WangC. LiuModel and field studies generally posit that when the application rates of nitrogen fertilizer exceed crop needs, nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions will increase nonlinearly, though linear responses are also extensively reported by field studies. We conducted year-round measurements of crop yield, N<sub>2</sub>O and methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) fluxes for treatments of six fertilizer nitrogen levels (0, 135, 270, 430, 650 and 850 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup> in the form of urea) in a typical irrigated wheat-maize rotation field in northern China. Linear models characterized the responses of cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions to fertilizer rates well; therefore, the calculated N<sub>2</sub>O emission factors of 0.17 &plusmn; 0.02%, 0.73 &plusmn; 0.05% and 0.49 &plusmn; 0.02% for the wheat season, maize season and annual scale, respectively, were appropriate for the different fertilizer rates. The cumulative CH<sub>4</sub> uptake by the soil tended to be enhanced at higher fertilizer rates (≥350 kg N ha<sup>&minus;1</sup>) in the maize season whereas no effect was observed for the wheat season. When the annual fertilizer rates increased from 270 to 430, from 270 to 650, and from 270 to 850 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, the crop yields increased only 3 &sim; 15% (0.5 &sim; 2.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>), but cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions increased 35 &sim; 115% (0.9 &sim; 3.0 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>). We recommend 270 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup> as the locally optimum fertilizer rate. Considering the nitrogen inputs by fertilization (270 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>), irrigation (4.3 &plusmn; 0.2 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>) and deposition (wet deposition: 30.5 &plusmn; 1.5 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>), the slightly positive soil nitrogen balance could maintain the current crop yield (&sim;13.8 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>) and reduce the present high N<sub>2</sub>O emissions (>3.51 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>) of the local farmers' practice (fertilizer rate > 430 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>&minus;1</sup>).http://www.biogeosciences.net/9/839/2012/bg-9-839-2012.pdf
spellingShingle X. Zheng
K. Wang
C. Liu
Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China
Biogeosciences
title Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China
title_full Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China
title_fullStr Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China
title_full_unstemmed Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China
title_short Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China
title_sort responses of n sub 2 sub o and ch sub 4 sub fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat maize cropping system in northern china
url http://www.biogeosciences.net/9/839/2012/bg-9-839-2012.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT xzheng responsesofnsub2suboandchsub4subfluxestofertilizernitrogenadditionratesinanirrigatedwheatmaizecroppingsysteminnorthernchina
AT kwang responsesofnsub2suboandchsub4subfluxestofertilizernitrogenadditionratesinanirrigatedwheatmaizecroppingsysteminnorthernchina
AT cliu responsesofnsub2suboandchsub4subfluxestofertilizernitrogenadditionratesinanirrigatedwheatmaizecroppingsysteminnorthernchina