137-18 Biotic and Abiotic Factors Controlling Nitrous Oxide Emissions from an Agricultural Soil In Controlled Environment Chambers Using Continuous Monitoring.



Monday, October 17, 2011
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall C, Street Level

Laura I. Vance1, Matthew Taggart2, Wayne Robarge2 and Thomas Rufty1, (1)Crop Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
(2)North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat. Atmospheric levels have been steadily rising over the past 30 years, with agricultural soil management the major anthropogenic contributor in the United States.  Studies have measured periodic nitrous oxide emissions from field soils, but factors controlling the timing and amounts of emissions remain obscure.  In our studies, novel plant growth systems held in controlled environment chambers were used to precisely control the aerial and soil environments.  It was possible to determine  time lines of nitrous oxide release from soils after adjustments in fertilization, carbon substrate availability, soil water status, soil sterilization, aerial temperature, and fungicide exposure, all with and without growing plants.  Nitrous oxide efflux was altered  by the presence and size of a plant or carbon substrate addition to soil, increasing fertilizer levels, intermediate water status, and increasing temperature.  Significant interactions were observed among the controlling factors.
See more from this Division: S06 Soil & Water Management & Conservation
See more from this Session: Agricultural Practices to Increase Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, Carbon Sequestration, and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation : II