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Emissions of nitrous oxide from the leaves of grasses

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Abstract

Aims

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from pastoral agriculture are considered to originate from the soil as a consequence of microbial activity during soil nitrification and denitrification. However, recent studies have identified the plant canopy as a potentially significant source of N2O emissions to the atmosphere. Understanding the extent and mechanisms of plant emissions may provide new mitigation opportunities as current options only target soil microbial processes.

Methods

We developed an experimental apparatus and protocol to partition N2O emissions between the leaves of grasses and the soil and measured emissions from ten common grass species found in New Zealand pastures.

Results

The chamber design enabled us to identify measurable changes in N2O concentration over a period of 1 h and to distinguish a range of emissions from 0.001 to 0.25 mg N2O-N/m2 leaf area/h. There was a 10-fold variation among species; Holcus lanataus, Lolium perenne and Paspalum dilatatum had the highest leaf N2O emissions and Poa annua the lowest.

Conclusions

Grasses do emit N2O from their leaves and the rate that this occurs varies among grass species. The emission does not appear to arise from formation of N2O in plant leaves but more likely reflects transport of N2O from the soil. Differences in emission rates appear to arise from a plant influence on the rate of formation of N2O in the soil rather than the rate of transportation through the plant.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    Saman Bowatte, Paul C. D. Newton, Phil Theobald, Shona Brock, Chris Hunt, Mark Lieffering & Dongwen Luo

  2. AgResearch Lincoln Research Centre, cnr Springs Road and Gerald Street, Private Bag 4749, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    Scott Sevier & Steve Gebbie

Authors
  1. Saman Bowatte
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  2. Paul C. D. Newton
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  3. Phil Theobald
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  4. Shona Brock
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  5. Chris Hunt
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  6. Mark Lieffering
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  7. Scott Sevier
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  8. Steve Gebbie
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  9. Dongwen Luo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saman Bowatte.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Elizabeth M Baggs.

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Bowatte, S., Newton, P.C.D., Theobald, P. et al. Emissions of nitrous oxide from the leaves of grasses. Plant Soil 374, 275–283 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1879-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1879-6

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