Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Short-term nitrous oxide emissions from pasture soil as influenced by urea level and soil nitrate

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nitrogen excreted by cattle during grazing is a significant source of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O). The regulation of N2O emissions is not well understood, but may vary with urine composition and soil conditions. This laboratory study was undertaken to describe short-term effects on N2O emissions and soil conditions, including microbial dynamics, of urea amendment at two different rates (22 and 43 g N m−2). The lower urea concentration was also combined with an elevated soil NO −3 concentration. Urea solutions labelled with 25 atom%15N were added to the surface of repacked pasture soil cores and incubated for 1, 3, 6 or 9 days under constant conditions (60% WFPS, 14 °C). Soil inorganic N (NH +4 , NO −2 and NO −3 ), pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved organic C were quantified. Microbial dynamics were followed by measurements of CO2 evolution, by analyses of membrane lipid (PLFA) composition, and by measurement of potential ammonium oxidation and denitrifying enzyme activity. The total recovery of15N averaged 84%. Conversion of urea-N to NO −3 was evident, but nitrification was delayed at the highest urea concentration and was accompanied by an accumulation of NO −2 . Nitrous oxide emissions were also delayed at the highest urea amendment level, but accelerated towards the end of the study. The pH interacted with NH +4 to produce inhibitory concentrations of NH3(aq) at the highest urea concentration, and there was evidence for transient negative effects of urea amendment on both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in this treatment. However, PLFA dynamics indicated that initial inhibitory effects were replaced by increased microbial activity and net growth. It is concluded that urea-N level has qualitative, as well as quantitative effects on soil N transformations in urine patches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen A G, Jarvis S C and Headon D M 1996 Nitrous oxide emissions from soils due to inputs of nitrogen from excreta return by livestock on grazed grassland in the U.K. Soil Biol. Biochem. 28, 597–607.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ambus P 2004 Short term N2O lossses in urine patches: A15N labelling study.In Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture -mitigation options and strategies. Ed. A Weiske. pp. 232–233. Int. Conf., Leipzig 12–14 February.

  • Anger M, Hoffmann C and Kähbauch W 2003 Nitrous oxide emissions from artificial urine patches applied to different N-fertilized swards and estimated annual N2O emissions for differently fertilized pastures in an upland location in Germany. Soil Use Manage. 19, 104–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey V L, Peacock A D, Smith J L and Bolton Jr. H 2002 Relationships between soil microbial biomass determined by chloroform fumigation-extraction, substrate-induced respiration, and phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Soil Biol. Biochem. 34, 1385–1389.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belser L W and Mays E L 1980 Specific inhibition of nitrite oxidation by chlorate and its use in assessing nitrification in soils and sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 39, 505–510.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bramley R G V and White R E 1990 The variability of nitrifying activity in field soils. Plant Soil 126, 203–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bristow A W, Whitehead D C and Cockburn J E 1992 Nitrogenous constituents in the urine of cattle, sheep and goats. J. Sci. Food Agric. 59, 387–394.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clough T J, Ledgard S F, Sprosen M S and Kear M J 1998 Fate of15N labelled urine on four soil types. Plant Soil 199, 195–203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Klein C A M, McTaggart I P, Smith K A, Stevens R J, Harrison R and Laughlin R J 1999 Measurement of nitrous oxide emissions from grassland soil using photo-acoustic infra-red spectroscopy, long-path intra-red spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and continuous flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 30, 1463–1477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran J W, Mielke L N and Stamatiadis S 1988 Microbial activity and nitrogen cycling as regulated by soil water status and bulk density.In Tillage and Traffic in Crop Production. Eds. B D Witney, G Spoor, B D Soane and J T Douglas. pp. 49–56. International Soil Tillage Research Organization (11th Intl. Conference), Edinburgh, Scotland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frostegård Å and Bååth E 1996 The use of phospholipid fatty acid analysis to estimate bacterial and fungal biomass in soil. Biol. Fertil. Soils 22, 59–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grogan D W and Cronan Jr. J E 1997 Cyclopropane ring formation in membrane lipids of bacteria. Microbiol. Molecul. Biol. Rev. 61, 429–441.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harada T and Kai H 1968 Studies on the environmental conditions controlling nitrification in soil. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 14, 20–26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heipieper H J, Meinhardt F and Segura A 2003 Thecis-trans isomerase of unsaturated fatty acids inPseudomonas andVibrio: biochemistry, molecular biology and physiological function of a unique stress adaptive mechanism. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 229, 1–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Højberg O, Revsbech N P and Tiedje J M 1994 Denitrification in soil aggregates analyzed with microsensors for nitrous oxide and oxygen. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58, 1691–1698.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC 1997 Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Reference Manual. Revised 1996. IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Volume 3, London: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalbitz K, Schmerwitz J Schwesig D and Matzner E 2003 Biodegradation of soil-derived dissolved organic matter as related to its properties. Geoderma 113, 273–291.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keeney D R and Nelson D W 1982 Nitrogen - Inorganic forms.In Methods of Soil Analysis. part 2. Eds. A L Page et al. pp. 643–693. 2nd ed. Agron. Monogr. 9. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koops J G, van Beusichem M L and Oenema O 1997 Nitrous oxide production, its source and distribution in urine patches on grassland peat soil. Plant Soil 191, 57–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay W L 1979 Chemical equilibria in soils. J. Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovell R D and Jarvis S C 1996 Effects of urine on soil microbial biomass, methanogenesis, nitrification and denitrification in grassland soil. Plant Soil 186, 265–273.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Low A P, Stark J M and Dudley L M 1997 Effects of soil osmotic potential on nitrification, ammonification, N-assimilation, and nitrous oxide production. Soil Sci. 162, 16–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monaghan R M and Barraclough D 1992 Some chemical and physical factors affecting the rate and dynamics of nitrification in urine-affected soil. Plant Soil 143, 11–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monaghan R M and Barraclough D 1993 Nitrous oxide and dinitrogen emissions from urine-affected soil under controlled conditions. Plant Soil 151, 127–138.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller C, Stevens R J, Laughlin R J, Ryan M and Jäger H-J 2004 Quantification of N transformation rates and the mechanisms of N2O production and emission in an old grassland soil.In Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture - mitigation options and strategies. Ed. A Weiske. pp. 79–84. Int. Conf., Leipzig 12–14 February.

  • Nason G E and Myrold D D 199115N in soil research: Appropriate application of rate estimation procedures. Agric. Ecosys. Environ. 34, 427–441.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson D W 1982 Gaseous losses of nitrogen other than through denitrification.In Nitrogen in Agricultural Soils. Eds. F J Stevenson et al. pp. 327–363. Agron. Monogr. No. 22, American Society for Agronomy, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen P and Petersen S O 2000. Ester-linked polar lipid fatty acid profiles of soil microbial communities: A comparison of extraction methods and evaluation of interference from humic acids. Soil Biol. Biochem. 32, 1241–1249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oenema O, Velthof G L, Yamulki S and Jarvis S C 1997 Nitrous oxide emissions from grazed grassland. Soil Use Manage. 13, 288–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen S O, Frohne P S and Kennedy A C 2002 Dynamics of a soil microbial community under spring wheat. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66, 826–833.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen S O, Sommer S G, Aaes O and Søegaard K 1998 Ammonia losses from urine and dung of grazing cattle: Effect of N intake. Atmos. Environ. 32, 295–300.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rawlins S L and Campbell G S 1986 Water potential: Thermocouple psychrometry.In Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Ed. A Klute. pp. 597–618. 2nd ed, Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards I R and Wolton K M 1975 A note on urince scorch caused by grazing animals. J. Br. Grassland. Soc. 30, 187–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudaz A O, Davidson E A and Firestone M K 1991 Sources of nitrous oxide production following wetting of dry soil. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 85, 117–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schepers J S, Francis D D and Thompson M T 1989 Simultaneous determination of total C, total N, and15N on soil and plant material. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 20, 949–959.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sherlock R R and Goh K M 1984. Dynamics of ammonia volatilization from simulated urine patches and aqueous urea applied to pasture. I. Field experiments. Fertil. Res. 5, 181–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simek M, Jisova L and Hopkins D W 2002 What is the so-called optimum pH for denitrification in soil? Soil Biol. Biochem. 34, 1227–1234.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith J L and Doran J W 1996 Measurement and use of pH and electrical conductivity for soil quality analysis.In Methods for Assessing Soil Quality. Eds. J W Doran and A J Jones. pp. 169–185. Soil Science Society of America Special Publication No. 49. Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somda Z C, Powell J M and Bationo A 1997 Soil pH and nitrogen changes following cattle and sheep urine deposition. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 28, 1253–1268.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stark J M and Firestone M K 1995 Mechanisms for soil moisture effects on activity of nitrifying bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61, 218–221.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens R J and Laughlin R J 1998 Measurement of nitrous oxide and di-nitrogen emissions from agricultural soils. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosys. 52, 131–139.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens R J, Laughlin R J and Malone J P 1998 Soil pH affects the processes reducing nitrate to nitrous oxide and di-nitrogen. Soil Biol. Biochem. 30, 1119–1126.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen P and Jensen E S 1991 Sequential diffusion of ammonium and nitrate from soil extracts to a polytetrafluoroethylene trap for15N determination. Anal. Chim. Acta 252, 201–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiedje J M, Simkins S and Groffman PM 1989 Perspectives on measurement of denitrification in the field including recommended protocols for acetylene based methods.In Ecology of Arable Land. Eds. M Clarholm and L Bergstr∞m. pp. 217–240. Klüwer Acaddemic Press, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vance E D, Brookes P C and Jenkinson D S 1987 An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol. Biochem. 19, 703–707.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Venterea R T and Rolston D E 2000 Mechanistic modeling of nitrite accumulation and nitrogen oxide gas emissions during nitrification. J. Environ. Qual. 29, 1741–1751.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead D C, Lockyer D R and Raistrick N 1989 Volatilization of ammonia from urea applied to soil: Influence of hippuric acid and other constituents of livestock urine. Soil Biol. Biochem. 21, 803–808.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wrage N, Velthof G L, van Beusichem M L and Oenema O 2001 Role of nitrifier denitrification in the production of nitrous oxide. Soil Biol. Biochem. 33, 1723–1732.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamulki S, Jarvis S C and Owen P 1998 Nitrous oxide emissions from excreta applied in a simulated grazing pattern. Soil Biol. Biochem. 30, 491–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Danish Inst Agricultural Sciences, Department Agroecology, Research Centre Foulum, Denmark

    S. O. Petersen

  2. GAIA Environmental Research and Education Centre, Soil Ecology & Biotechnology Laboratory, Kifissia, Greece

    S. Stamatiadis & C. Christofides

Authors
  1. S. O. Petersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Stamatiadis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Christofides
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. O. Petersen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Petersen, S.O., Stamatiadis, S. & Christofides, C. Short-term nitrous oxide emissions from pasture soil as influenced by urea level and soil nitrate. Plant Soil 267, 117–127 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-4688-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-4688-8

Key words

Search

Navigation