Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization, Harvesting and Residue Management Practices on Greenhouse Gas, Ammonia and Particulate Matter Emissions in Sugarcane Production.

Agricultural production practices such as fertilization, cultivation and harvesting likely influence the intensity of emission of greenhouse gases, ammonia, and particulate matter. In this study, various experiments were carried to determine the effects of application of two different N fertilizers, urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN),  on greenhouse gas (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) emissions, influence of UAN  application on  ammonia flux as well as  impacts of different harvesting and residue management practices on particulate matter emissions in sugarcane production.  The results showed that the application of UAN led to the increased emission of N₂O and CH₄ while the urea application increased CO₂ emissions. Residue retain had slightly higher respiration than residue burn treatment. The combine harvesting sugarcane  and ground burn practice of sugarcane residue considerably increased the particulate emission especially particulates smaller than 2 µm. Combine harvest led to the release of particulates of 2 to 10 µm as much as 4 times more as compared to burning practice.  In addition, ground burn of harvested residue generated different smoke composition from that of standing burn of sugarcane before harvesting stalks.