Abstract
The effect of reduced tillage (RT) on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions of soils from fields with root crops under a temperate climate was studied. Three silt loam fields under RT agriculture were compared with their respective conventional tillage (CT) field with comparable crop rotation and manure application. Undisturbed soil samples taken in September 2005 and February 2006 were incubated under laboratory conditions for 10 days. The N2O emission of soils taken in September 2005 varied from 50 to 1,095 µg N kg−1 dry soil. The N2O emissions of soils from the RT fields taken in September 2005 were statistically (P < 0.05) higher or comparable than the N2O emissions from their respective CT soil. The N2O emission of soils taken in February 2006 varied from 0 to 233 µg N kg−1 dry soil. The N2O emissions of soils from the RT fields taken in February 2006 tended to be higher than the N2O emissions from their respective CT soil. A positive and significant Pearson correlation of the N2O–N emissions with nitrate nitrogen (NO3 −–N) content in the soil was found (P < 0.01). Leaving the straw on the field, a typical feature of RT, decreased NO3 −–N content of the soil and reduced N2O emissions from RT soils.
References
Balesdent J, Chenu C, Balabane M (2000) Relationship of soil organic matter dynamics to physical protection and tillage. Soil Till Res 53:215–230
Bateman EJ, Baggs EM (2005) Contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N2O emissions from soils at different water-filled pore space. Biol Fertil Soils 41:379–388
Beauchamp EG, Bergstrom DW, Burton DL (1996) Denitrification and nitrous oxide production in soil fallowed or under alfalfa or grass. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 27:87–99
Beheydt D, Boeckx P, Ahmed HP, Van Cleemput O (2008) N2O emission from conventional and minimum-tilled soils. Biol Fertil Soils 44:863–873
Choudhary MA, Akramkhanov A, Saggar S (2002) Nitrous oxide emissions from New Zealand cropped soil: tillage effects, spatial effects and seasonal variability. Agr Ecosyst Environ 93:33–43
De Leenheer L (1959) Werkwijzen van de analysen aan het Centrum voor Grondonderzoek. Rijkslandbouwhogeschool Gent, Ghent
D’Haene K, Vandenbruwane J, De Neve S, Gabriels D, Salomez J, Hofman G (2008a) The effect of reduced tillage on nitrogen dynamics in silt loam soils. Eur J Agron 28:449–460
D’Haene K, Vermang J, Cornelis WM, Leroy BLM, Schiettecatte W, De Neve S, Gabriels D, Hofman G (2008b) Reduced tillage effects on the physical properties of silt loam soils growing root crops. Soil Till Res 99:279–290
Farquharson R, Baldock J (2008) Concepts in modelling N2O emissions from land use. Plant Soil 309:147–167
Goossens A, De Visscher A, Boeckx P, Van Cleemput O (2001) Two-year field study on the emission of N2O from coarse and middle-textured Belgian soils with different land use. Nutr Cycl Agroecosys 60:23–34
Johnson JMF, Reicosky DC, Allmaras RR, Sauer TJ, Venterea RT, Dell CJ (2005) Greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potential of agriculture in central USA. Soil Till Res 83:73–94
Linn DM, Doran JW (1984) Effect of water-filled pore space on carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide production in tilled and nontilled soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48:1267–1272
Perfect E, Caron J (2002) Spectral analysis of tillage-induced differences in soil spatial variability. Soil Sci Soc Am J 66:1587–1595
Schloemer S (1991) Denitrification losses from a horticultural soil as affected by incorporation of fresh plant residues. Zeitschr Pflanz Bodenk 154:265–269
Strauss P, Swoboda D, Blum WEH (2003) How effective is mulching and minimum tillage to control runoff and soil loss?—a literature review. In: Gabriels D, Cornelis W (eds) Proceedings of the International Symposium 25 years of assessment of erosion, Gent, 22–26 September 2003
Acknowledgement
This research was financed by the Flemish Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
D’Haene, K., Van den Bossche, A., Vandenbruwane, J. et al. The effect of reduced tillage on nitrous oxide emissions of silt loam soils. Biol Fertil Soils 45, 213–217 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0330-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0330-2