Nitrous Oxide Emissions From Potato Production and Their Management.

Scientifically, the potato production system is an interesting one from the perspective of nitrous oxide emissions. It is a production system where soil management causes distinct distributions of soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics over relatively short distances.  The potato hill, formed as a result of tillage following planting of the potato, has a low bulk density, well-aerated environment, containing the majority of the fertilizer applied, and is where the growing plant will be located. The potato furrow by contrast is a dense and therefore less aerobic environment where carbon and NO3- supplies are reduced relative to the hill. How do the denitrifier community and the process of denitrification respond to these differences? In this paper we will use the results of studies we have conducted in Atlantic Canada and the Northeastern United States to explore this question and its implications for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from potato production and their management.