257-2 Time-Depth Profiles of NO and N2O Concentrations In Andisols As Affected by Urea Placement: Comparison Among Field, Laboratory and Numerical Experiments.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall C, Street Level

Aixin Hou, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, Haruo Tsuruta, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, Japan and Yasukazu Hosen, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, Japan
To evaluate the effects of urea placement on the concentration profiles of soil gases (NO and N2O) and mineral nitrogen, we conducted an experiment on a Chinese cabbage field in Tsukuba, Japan for over one cultivation season. Soil gas and mineral nitrogen concentrations at different depths (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.45, 0.6 m) were measured 1–2 times per week in experimental plots fertilized either by urea incorporation (U-I; uniformly spread over the soil surface and incorporated down to about 0.15–0.2 m) or by urea deep band (U-DB; placed in 0.12-m-deep trenches cut at intervals of 0.6 m).  Considerable NO was observed in the top 0.2-m soils of U-I treatment during the first 2 weeks after fertilization (hereafter, 2 WAF), while in the soil of U-DB, that was observed only at 0.1 and 0.15-m depths for around 6 WAF. In U-I, the maximum soil N2O concentration was observed 5 days after fertilization (hereafter, 5 DAF). Significantly high N2O concentration in soil of U-DB was observed 2 WAF, and lasted longer than that in UI (4 vs. 2 weeks). NH4+ concentrations in U-I exceeded background levels during the first 2 WAF, with a maximum 5 DAF. The high NH4+ concentrations in soil of U-DB mainly located within 0.05–0.15-m soil zone, and lasted around 6 weeks, with a maximum on 9 DAF. NO3- concentrations in both U-I and U-DB increased shortly after the application of urea, but more in U-I than in U-DB. These time-depth series of concentration profiles clearly demonstrated the effect of urea placement on NO and N2O production and transportation in soil, providing a better understanding of the emission dynamics of these gases reported previously. In addition, the comparison of NO and N2O emissions among field, laboratory, and numerical experiments firmly suggests that deep urea placement is highly effective for reducing NO emissions, with less effect on N2O emissions from Andisols.
See more from this Division: S04 Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition
See more from this Session: Global Importance and Progress of Reducing Anthropogenic Emissions of Nitrous Oxide From Cropping Systems: II