Tuesday, 8 November 2005
2

Emission of greenhouse gases from mulch and compost covered plots during two consecutive years.

Marek Jarecki and Rattan Lal. Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, 422D Kottman Hall, Columbus, OH 43210

Three predominant greenhouse gases emitted from cropland are: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of imitated soil erosion on gaseous emission, determine the effects application of wheat residue mulch and swine manure-soybean residue compost as soil restorative measures on fluxes of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane from uncropped undisturbed and desurfaced plots during two years 2003 and 2004. For the period from April to October in 2003 was 1028 mm and in 2004 752 mm of precipitation respectively. The microplot experiment was established on a Crosby silt loam (fine mixed Aeric Ochraqudalf) near South Charleston, Ohio. The experimental design included two soils: undisturbed and desurfaced soil in which the top 0-20 cm layer was mechanically removed to simulate severe soil erosion. There were three cover treatments: bare soil, wheat mulch at the rate of 8 Mg dry matter/ha/y, and compost made from swine manure and soybean residues at the rate of 20 Mg dry matter/ha/y. All plots received mineral fertilizer at the rate of 100 kg N/ha. Desurfacing decreased daily and seasonal carbon dioxide fluxes in both seasons. Carbon dioxide fluxes were higher from compost than mulch plots. The lowest daily carbon dioxide flux was measured from bare plots. The daily nitrous oxide fluxes increased significantly following compost application but were more significantly affected by rainstorm events in 2003 season and cumulative emission of nitrous oxide was higher in wet 2003 season than in 2004 season with lower precipitation. Methane fluxes were characterized by a very high variability in both seasons.

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