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Season and location–specific nitrous oxide emissions in an almond orchard in California

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Abstract

Almonds are an important commodity in California and account for around 15% of the state’s fertilizer nitrogen (N) consumption. Motivated by strong correlations typically observed between fertilizer N inputs and emissions of the potent greenhouse gas and ozone depleting molecule nitrous oxide (N2O), this study aimed to characterize spatial and temporal patterns in N2O emissions in an almond orchard under typical agronomic management. N2O fluxes were measured for a total of 2.5 years, including 3 growing seasons and 2 dormant seasons. Measurements targeted two functional locations, defined as tree rows and tractor rows. In conjunction with the flux measurements, we determined driving variables including soil ammonium (NH4 +) and nitrate (NO3 −), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soil water-filled pore space (WFPS), soil pH, air temperature and precipitation. Cumulative annual N2O emissions were low (0.65 ± 0.07 and 0.53 ± 0.19 kg N2O–N ha−1 year−1 in year 1 and 2, respectively), likely due to the coarse soil texture and microject sprinkler irrigation and fertigation system. Emission factors (EF), conservatively calculated as the ratio of N2O emitted to fertilizer N applied, were 0.25 ± 0.03% and 0.19 ± 0.07% for year 1 and 2, respectively, which is below the IPCC EF range of 0.3–3%. Correlation analyses between N2O and driving variables suggested that overall N2O production was limited by microbial activity and nitrification was likely the major source process, but specific drivers of N2O emissions varied between seasons and functional locations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the California Energy Commission. We further thank Julian Herszage, Benjamin Wilde and Garrett Heinz for help with laboratory and field work. Stan Cutter and Franz Niederholzer are greatly acknowledged for accommodating the research at the Nickels Soil Lab Experimental Orchard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 1, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Charlotte Decock, Gina Garland & Johan Six

  2. Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Rodgers Building, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Emma C. Suddick

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  1. Charlotte Decock
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  2. Gina Garland
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Correspondence to Charlotte Decock.

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Decock, C., Garland, G., Suddick, E.C. et al. Season and location–specific nitrous oxide emissions in an almond orchard in California. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 107, 139–155 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-017-9824-3

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