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Effect of nitrapyrin on nitrous oxide emission from fallow soils fertilized with anhydrous ammonia

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Abstract

Nitrous oxide emission from three soils was measured using a chamber technique. Treatments sampled were unfertilized soil, and soil fertilized with 60 or 80 kg N ha−1 of band-applied anhydrous ammonia ± nitrapyrin. The flux of nitrous oxide from unfertilized soil was very low (1.1 to 1.6 g N ha−1 day−1).

Application of anhydrous ammonia caused a significant increase in the cumulative emission of nitrous oxide in two soils over 27 or 29 days compared with unfertilized soil. Fertilizer-induced loss of nitrous oxide was highest in a calcareous clay soil which had the highest nitrification rate and accumulated the highest concentration of nitrite within the fertilizer bands. Fertilizer-induced losses of nitrous oxide were < 0.05% of the applied fertilizer.

Addition of nitrapyrin inhibited nitrification in all soils and reduced nitrite accumulation in the fertilizer bands. Nitrapyrin addition significantly reduced fertilizer-induced loss of nitrous oxide only in the calcareous clay soil. In the other soil, nitrapyrin had a lower bioactivity (relative inhibition of nitrification) which may have been due to its higher organic matter content.

Resumo

Este trabalho constitui de uma avaliação da quantidade de óxido nitroso emitido por três solos. A emissão de óxido nitroso foi determinada em solos não fertilizados e onde a amônia-anidra (60 e 80 kg de N ha−1) foi aplicada, em bandas, com e sem nitrapyrin. O fluxo diário de óxido nitroso nos solos onde não se aplicou o fertilizante variou entre 1.1 e 1.6 g N ha−1. A aplicação da amônia-anidra causou um significativo aumento na emissão de óxido nitroso em dois solos. A emissão de óxido nitroso induzida pela aplicação do fertilizante foi mais alta em um solo calcáreo-argiloso. Foi neste solo onde a nitrificação ocorreu mais intensamente e um maior acúmulo de nitrito foi observado. As perdas de óxido nitroso induzidas pela aplicação da amônia-anidra foram menores do que 0.05% do fertilizante aplicado. A aplicação conjunta de nitrapyrin com o fertilizante inibiu parcialmente a nitrificação nos três solos e reduziu o acúmulo de nitrito nas bandas do fertilizante. A adição de nitrapyrin reduziu significativamente a emissão de óxido nitroso somente no solo calcáreo-argiloso. No outro solo, a inibição relativa da nitrificação (bio-atividade) foi a mais baixa observada. A baixa bio-atividade do nitrapyrin sugere um efeito causado pelo mais alto teor de matéria orgânica verificado neste solo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    AMT Magalhães & PM Chalk

  2. Queensland Wheat Research Institute, 4350, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

    WM Strong

Authors
  1. AMT Magalhães
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  2. PM Chalk
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  3. WM Strong
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Magalhães, A., Chalk, P. & Strong, W. Effect of nitrapyrin on nitrous oxide emission from fallow soils fertilized with anhydrous ammonia. Fertilizer Research 5, 411–421 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049121

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