295-9 Urea Fertlizier Placement on Greenhouse Gas Flux and Plant Growth.

Poster Number 307

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Climatology & Modeling
See more from this Session: Global Climate Change: II (includes student competition)

Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Minneapolis Convention Center, Exhibit Hall BC

Frank Johnson, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Abstract:

Abstract

Urea Fertilizer Placement Effects on Soil Greenhouse Gas Flux and Plant Growth

F.E. Johnson*, P.P. Motavalli, K.A. Nelson, and R.J. Kremer

Nitrogen (N) fertilization of poorly drained agricultural soils may contribute a significant amount of nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere. Practices to reduce soil N2O emissions include changing N fertilizer sources and application placement methods.  The objectives of this research were to determine soil surface greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a poorly-drained claypan soil, and to assess the impact of urea fertilizer placement on corn (Zea mays L.) production. These strategies consisted of a pre-plant deep band application of urea or urea plus a nitrification inhibitor (NI), nitrapyrin, at a depth of 20 cm compared to pre-plant urea either broadcast (surface-applied) or incorporated to a depth of 8 cm.  The fertilizer application rate was 202 kg N ha-1.  Field research was initiated in 2014 during which GHGs were sampled frequently throughout the growing season, especially after major rain events, to determine soil surface flux and cumulative emissions of N2O and carbon dioxide (CO2). Deep banding of urea in 2014 resulted in the highest cumulative soil N2O emissions compared to the other treatments, producing roughly 100 g N2O-N ha-1 over the growing season. Deep banding urea with NI had the highest cumulative CO2 emissions, producing nearly 11 kg CO2-C ha-1 over the growing season. Incorporating urea to a depth of 8 cm, deep banding urea, and deep banding urea with NI increased yields 940 to 1944 kg ha-1 compared to the non-treated control and surface broadcast urea treatment.  Urea fertilizer placement had an effect on both soil GHG emissions and corn growth.

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Climatology & Modeling
See more from this Session: Global Climate Change: II (includes student competition)