Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Nitrogen Dynamics of Solid Beef Manure Applied in Fargo-Clay Soil.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Nitrogen Dynamics of Solid Beef Manure Applied in Fargo-Clay Soil

Suresh Niraula, Shafiqur Rahman, and Amitava Chatterjee

ABSTRACT

Soil application of solid beef manure may prompt greenhouse gases (GHGs) - nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Similarly, nitrogen (N) from manure can be lost through ammonia volatilization (NH₃), leaching (NO₃^-), denitrification, and erosion. The objective of this research was to assess the impact of manure on corn (Zea mays L.) plots, in terms of N losses, GHG emissions, soil inorganic N, and grain yield. A field experiment was conducted with four treatments [(solid manure (SM), straw-bedded manure (BM), urea (CF), and control (NF)] and four replications in Fargo clay soil. Headspace air samples were collected using static flux chambers and analyzed for GHGs using Gas Chromatograph. Similarly, Timberline TL2800 analyzer was used to analyze ammonia samples, collected using acid trap, and nitrate samples, collected using suction cup lysimeter. Over one growing season, in North Dakota, cumulative N₂O-N, CO₂-C, and CH₄-C emissions, and NH₃ volatilization loss ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 Kg ha^-1, 2052 to 3408 Kg ha^-1, -0.52 to 0.05 Kg ha^-1, and 2.0 to 3.5 Kg ha^-1, respectively. Similarly, cumulative soil inorganic N (NH₄⁺ + NO₃^-) concentration ranged from 1.0 (SM) to 3.5 g Kg^-1 (CF). There was no difference between manure types on GHG emissions; however, NH₃ volatilization loss was significantly higher in SM, compared with BM. Urea application had the highest N₂O-N emissions, while it reduced CO₂-C and CH₄-C emissions, compared with organic N sources. None of the treatment affected the grain yield. Our first year results suggest that manure can be used as the sole N source, to replace fertilizer N, reduce N losses, and meet the corn N demand with comparable yield, while minimizing gaseous emissions.