Soil invertebrate fauna affect N2O emissions from soil

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soils contribute significantly to global warming. Mitigation of N₂O emissions is severely hampered by a lack of understanding of its main controls. Fluxes can only partly be predicted from soil abiotic factors and microbial analyses – a possible role for soil fauna has until now largely been overlooked. We studied the effect of six groups of soil invertebrate fauna and tested the hypothesis that all of them increase N₂O emissions, although to different extents. We conducted three microcosm experiments with sandy soil and hay residue. Faunal groups included in our experiments were as follows: fungal‐feeding nematodes, mites, springtails, potworms, earthworms and isopods. In experiment I, involving all six faunal groups, N₂O emissions declined with earthworms and potworms from 78.4 (control) to 37.0 (earthworms) or 53.5 (potworms) mg N₂O‐N m^?2. In experiment II, with a higher soil‐to‐hay ratio and mites, springtails and potworms as faunal treatments, N₂O emissions increased with potworms from 51.9 (control) to 123.5 mg N₂O‐N m^?2. Experiment III studied the effect of potworm density; we found that higher densities of potworms accelerated the peak of the N₂O emissions by 5 days (P < 0.001), but the cumulative N₂O emissions remained unaffected. We propose that increased soil aeration by the soil fauna reduced N₂O emissions in experiment I, whereas in experiment II N₂O emissions were driven by increased nitrogen and carbon availability. In experiment III, higher densities of potworms accelerated nitrogen and carbon availability and N₂O emissions, but did not increase them. Overall, our data show that soil fauna can suppress, increase, delay or accelerate N₂O emissions from soil and should therefore be an integral part of future N₂O studies.     

线虫和蚯蚓对土壤微量气体排放的影响

线虫和蚯蚓是农业中广泛存在的土壤动物,由于它们与微生物的相互作用及对土壤生态系统能量传递和养分转化的影响,可能影响土壤微量气体代谢和温室气体的排放.通过在不同土壤线虫密度下接种蚯蚓的15d培养试验结果表明,土壤动物对土壤微量气体(CO2和N2O)代谢有显著促进作用.与灭线土相比,高密度线虫土壤处理与高密度线虫土壤加蚯蚓的处理导致CO2排放量分别增加了4.3倍和5.2倍,相应的N2O排放量增加了1.8倍和2.7倍.与低密度线虫土壤处理比较时,高密度线虫土壤处理导致CO2和N2O排放量分别增加了19%和21%.接种蚯蚓在高密度线虫土中较接种在低密度线虫土壤中的CO2和N2O排放量分别增加了12%和27%.5个处理中,除了低密度线虫加蚯蚓的处理和高密度线虫处理间差异不显著外,其余各处理间均达到极显著差异(P<0.01).两种气体的排放速率呈极显著正相关(R2=0.9414).高密度线虫土壤较低密度线虫土壤显著提高了土壤的DOC含量,不同线虫密度土壤中DOC显著性的差异与CO2和N2O排放密切相关(P<0.05).     

Influence of nematodes and earthworms on the emissions of soil trace gases (CO2, N2O)

To determine effects of soil fauna on greenhouse gas emissions, soil inoculated with different populations of nematodes and earthworms was incubated for 15 d. Soil with greater populations of nematodes and earthworms enhanced CO₂ and N₂O emissions. Cumulative emission fluxes of the two gases in the treatment of greater populations of nematodes and the treatment of greater populations of nematodes and earthworms were increased by 4.3 and 5.2 times for CO₂, 1.8 and 2.7 times for N₂O, respectively in comparison of the nematode-killed treatment. The emission fluxes of CO₂ and N₂O in soil treated with greater populations of nematodes were 19% for CO₂ and 21% for N₂O higher than those in soil treated with lower populations of nematodes. Meanwhile, the emission fluxes of the two gases in soil treated with greater populations of nematodes and earthworms were 12% for CO₂ and 27% for N₂O higher than those in soil treated with lower populations of nematodes and earthworms. The two gas fluxes were significantly correlated (R² = 0.9414; p < 0.001). Cumulative emissions of CO₂ and N₂O from soil treated with different populations of nematodes were positively correlated with DOC (dissolved organic carbon) concentration measured at the start of gas sampling (p < 0.05).     

Influence of nematodes and earthworms on the emissions of soil trace gases (CO2, N2O)

To determine effects of soil fauna on greenhouse gas emissions, soil inoculated with different populations of nematodes and earthworms was incubated for 15 d. Soil with greater populations of nematodes and earthworms enhanced CO₂ and N₂O emissions. Cumulative emission fluxes of the two gases in the treatment of greater populations of nematodes and the treatment of greater populations of nematodes and earthworms were increased by 4.3 and 5.2 times for CO₂, 1.8 and 2.7 times for N₂O, respectively in comparison of the nematode-killed treatment. The emission fluxes of CO₂ and N₂O in soil treated with greater populations of nematodes were 19% for CO₂ and 21% for N₂O higher than those in soil treated with lower populations of nematodes. Meanwhile, the emission fluxes of the two gases in soil treated with greater populations of nematodes and earthworms were 12% for CO₂ and 27% for N₂O higher than those in soil treated with lower populations of nematodes and earthworms. The two gas fluxes were significantly correlated (R² = 0.9414; p < 0.001). Cumulative emissions of CO₂ and N₂O from soil treated with different populations of nematodes were positively correlated with DOC (dissolved organic carbon) concentration measured at the start of gas sampling (p < 0.05).     

Soil-atmospheric exchange of CO2, CH4, and N2O in three subtropical forest ecosystems in southern China

The magnitude, temporal, and spatial patterns of soil‐atmospheric greenhouse gas (hereafter referred to as GHG) exchanges in forests near the Tropic of Cancer are still highly uncertain. To contribute towards an improvement of actual estimates, soil‐atmospheric CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes were measured in three successional subtropical forests at the Dinghushan Nature Reserve (hereafter referred to as DNR) in southern China. Soils in DNR forests behaved as N₂O sources and CH₄ sinks. Annual mean CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ fluxes (mean±SD) were 7.7±4.6 Mg CO₂‐C ha^?1 yr^?1, 3.2±1.2 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 yr^?1, and 3.4±0.9 kg CH₄‐C ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. The climate was warm and wet from April through September 2003 (the hot‐humid season) and became cool and dry from October 2003 through March 2004 (the cool‐dry season). The seasonality of soil CO₂ emission coincided with the seasonal climate pattern, with high CO₂ emission rates in the hot‐humid season and low rates in the cool‐dry season. In contrast, seasonal patterns of CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were not clear, although higher CH₄ uptake rates were often observed in the cool‐dry season and higher N₂O emission rates were often observed in the hot‐humid season. GHG fluxes measured at these three sites showed a clear increasing trend with the progressive succession. If this trend is representative at the regional scale, CO₂ and N₂O emissions and CH₄ uptake in southern China may increase in the future in light of the projected change in forest age structure. Removal of surface litter reduced soil CO₂ effluxes by 17–44% in the three forests but had no significant effect on CH₄ absorption and N₂O emission rates. This suggests that microbial CH₄ uptake and N₂O production was mainly related to the mineral soil rather than in the surface litter layer.     

Characterization of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions and associated microbial communities from the ant mounds in soils of a humid tropical rainforest

Tropical rainforest soils harbor a considerable diversity of soil fauna that contributes to emissions of N₂O. Despite their ecological dominance, there is limited information available about the contribution of epigeal ant mounds to N₂O emissions in these tropical soils. This study aimed to determine whether ant mounds contribute to local soil N emissions in the tropical humid rainforest. N₂O emission was determined in vitro from individual live ants, ant-processed mound soils, and surrounding reference soils for two trophically distinct and abundant ant species: the leaf-cutting Atta mexicana and omnivorous Solenopsis geminata. The abundance of total bacteria, nitrifiers (AOA and AOB), and denitrifiers (nirK, nirS, and nosZ) was estimated in these soils using quantitative PCR, and their respective mineral N contents determined. There was negligible N₂O emission detected from live ant individuals. However, the mound soils of both species emitted significantly greater (3-fold) amount of N₂O than their respective surrounding reference soils. This emission increased significantly up to 6-fold in the presence of acetylene, indicating that, in addition to N₂O, dinitrogen (N₂) is also produced from these mound soils at an equivalent rate (N₂O/N₂?=?0.57). Functional gene abundance (nitrifiers and denitrifiers) and mineral N pools (ammonium and nitrate) were significantly greater in mound soils than in their respective reference soils. Furthermore, in the light of the measured parameters and their correlation trends, nitrification and denitrification appeared to represent the major N₂O-producing microbial processes in ant mound soils. The ant mounds were estimated to contribute from 0.1 to 3.7% of the total N₂O emissions of tropical rainforest soils.     

Denitrification and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emission from forested and cultivated alluvial clay soil

Restored forested wetlands reduce N loads in surface discharge through plant uptake and denitrification. While removal of reactive N reduces impact on receiving waters, it is unclear whether enhanced denitrification also enhances emissions of the greenhouse gas N₂O, thus compromising the water-quality benefits of restoration. This study compares denitrification rates and N₂O:N₂ emission ratios from Sharkey clay soil in a mature bottomland forest to those from an adjacent cultivated site in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Potential denitrification of forested soil was 2.4 times of cultivated soil. Using intact soil cores, denitrification rates of forested soil were 5.2, 6.6 and 2.0 times those of cultivated soil at 70, 85 and 100% water-filled pore space (WFPS), respectively. When NO₃ was added, N₂O emissions from forested soil were 2.2 times those of cultivated soil at 70% WFPS. At 85 and 100% WFPS, N₂O emissions were not significantly different despite much greater denitrification rates in the forested soil because N₂O:N₂ emission ratios declined more rapidly in forested soil as WFPS increased. These findings suggest that restoration of forested wetlands to reduce NO₃ in surface discharge will not contribute significantly to the atmospheric burden of N₂O.     

Nanoplastics alter ecosystem multifunctionality and may increase global warming potential

Although the presence of nanoplastics in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has received increasing attention, little is known about its potential effect on ecosystem processes and functions. Here, we evaluated if differentially charged polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics (PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H) exhibit distinct influences on microbial community structure, nitrogen removal processes (denitrification and anammox), emissions of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O), and ecosystem multifunctionality in soils with and without earthworms through a 42-day microcosm experiment. Our results indicated that nanoplastics significantly altered soil microbial community structure and potential functions, with more pronounced effects for positively charged PS-NH₂ than for negatively charged PS-SO₃H. Ecologically relevant concentration (3 g kg⁻¹) of nanoplastics inhibited both soil denitrification and anammox rates, while environmentally realistic concentration (0.3 g kg⁻¹) of nanoplastics decreased the denitrification rate and enhanced the anammox rate. The soil N₂O flux was always inhibited 6%–51% by both types of nanoplastics, whereas emissions of CO₂ and CH₄ were enhanced by nanoplastics in most cases. Significantly, although N₂O emissions were decreased by nanoplastics, the global warming potential of total greenhouse gases was increased 21%–75% by nanoplastics in soils without earthworms. Moreover, ecosystem multifunctionality was increased 4%–12% by 0.3 g kg⁻¹ of nanoplastics but decreased 4%–11% by 3 g kg⁻¹ of nanoplastics. Our findings provide the only evidence to date that the rapid increase in nanoplastics is altering not only ecosystem structure and processes but also ecosystem multifunctionality, and it may increase the emission of CO₂ and CH₄ and their global warming potential to some extent.     

Changes in soil greenhouse gas fluxes by land use change from primary forest

Primary forest conversion is a worldwide serious problem associated with human disturbance and climate change. Land use change from primary forest to plantation, grassland or agricultural land may lead to profound alteration in the emission of soil greenhouse gases (GHG). Here, we conducted a global meta‐analysis concerning the effects of primary forest conversion on soil GHG emissions and explored the potential mechanisms from 101 studies. Our results showed that conversion of primary forest significantly decreased soil CO₂ efflux and increased soil CH₄ efflux, but had no effect on soil N₂O efflux. However, the effect of primary forest conversion on soil GHG emissions was not consistent across different types of land use change. For example, soil CO₂ efflux did not respond to the conversion from primary forest to grassland. Soil N₂O efflux showed a prominent increase within the initial stage after conversion of primary forest and then decreased over time while the responses of soil CO₂ and CH₄ effluxes were consistently negative or positive across different elapsed time intervals. Moreover, either within or across all types of primary forest conversion, the response of soil CO₂ efflux was mainly moderated by changes in soil microbial biomass carbon and root biomass while the responses of soil N₂O and CH₄ effluxes were related to the changes in soil nitrate and soil aeration‐related factors (soil water content and bulk density), respectively. Collectively, our findings highlight the significant effects of primary forest conversion on soil GHG emissions, enhance our knowledge on the potential mechanisms driving these effects and improve future models of soil GHG emissions after land use change from primary forest.     

Residue incorporation depth is a controlling factor of earthworm‐induced nitrous oxide emissions

Earthworms can increase nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, particularly in no‐tillage systems where earthworms are abundant. Here, we study the effect of residue incorporation depth on earthworm‐induced N₂O emissions. We hypothesized that cumulative N₂O emissions decrease with residue incorporation depth, because (i) increased water filled pore space (WFPS) in deeper soil layers leads to higher denitrification rates as well as more complete denitrification; and (ii) the longer upward diffusion path increases N₂O reduction to N₂. Two 84‐day laboratory mesocosm experiments were conducted. First, we manually incorporated maize (Zea mays L.) residue at different soil depths (incorporation experiment). Second, ¹³C‐enriched maize residue was applied to the soil surface and anecic species Lumbricus terrestris (L.) and epigeic species Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister) were confined to different soil depths (earthworm experiment). Residue incorporation depth affected cumulative N₂O emissions in both experiments (P < 0.001). In the incorporation experiment, N₂O emissions decreased from 4.91 mg N₂O–N kg^?1 soil (surface application) to 2.71 mg N₂O–N kg^?1 soil (40–50 cm incorporation). In the earthworm experiment, N₂O emissions from L. terrestris decreased from 3.87 mg N₂O–N kg^?1 soil (confined to 0–10 cm) to 2.01 mg N₂O–N kg^?1 soil (confined to 0–30 cm). Both experimental setups resulted in dissimilar WFPS profiles that affected N₂O dynamics. We also found significant differences in residue C recovery in soil organic matter between L. terrestris (28–41%) and L. rubellus (56%). We conclude that (i) N₂O emissions decrease with residue incorporation depth, although this effect was complicated by dissimilar WFPS profiles; and (ii) larger residue C incorporation by L. rubellus than L. terrestris indicates that earthworm species differ in their C stabilization potential. Our findings underline the importance of studying earthworm diversity in the context of greenhouse gas emissions from agro‐ecosystems.     

Effects of Biochar Addition on CO2 and N2O Emissions following Fertilizer Application to a Cultivated Grassland Soil

Carbon (C) sequestration potential of biochar should be considered together with emission of greenhouse gases when applied to soils. In this study, we investigated CO₂ and N₂O emissions following the application of rice husk biochars to cultivated grassland soils and related gas emissions tos oil C and nitrogen (N) dynamics. Treatments included biochar addition (CHAR, NO CHAR) and amendment (COMPOST, UREA, NO FERT). The biochar application rate was 0.3% by weight. The temporal pattern of CO₂ emissions differed according to biochar addition and amendments. CO₂ emissions from the COMPOST soils were significantly higher than those from the UREA and NO FERT soils and less CO₂ emission was observed when biochar and compost were applied together during the summer. Overall N₂O emission was significantly influenced by the interaction between biochar and amendments. In UREA soil, biochar addition increased N₂O emission by 49% compared to the control, while in the COMPOST and NO FERT soils, biochar did not have an effect on N₂O emission. Two possible mechanisms were proposed to explain the higher N₂O emissions upon biochar addition to UREA soil than other soils. Labile C in the biochar may have stimulated microbial N mineralization in the C-limited soil used in our study, resulting in an increase in N₂O emission. Biochar may also have provided the soil with the ability to retain mineral N, leading to increased N₂O emission. The overall results imply that biochar addition can increase C sequestration when applied together with compost, and might stimulate N₂O emission when applied to soil amended with urea.     

Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations on CH4 and N2O Emission from Rice Soil: An Experiment in Controlled-environment Chambers

The effects of elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ on CH₄ and N₂O emissions from rice soil were investigated in controlled-environment chambers using rice plants growing in pots. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased CH₄ emission by 58% compared with ambient CO₂. The CH₄ emitted by plant-mediated transport and ebullition–diffusion accounted for 86.7 and 13.3% of total emissions during the flooding period under ambient level, respectively; and for 88.1 and 11.9% of total emissions during the flooding period under elevated CO₂ level, respectively. No CH₄ was emitted from plant-free pots, suggesting that the main source of emitted CH₄ was root exudates or autolysis products. Most N₂O was emitted during the first 3 weeks after flooding and rice transplanting, probably through denitrification of NO₃⁻ contained in the experimental soil, and was not affected by the CO₂ concentration. Pre-harvest drainage suppressed CH₄ emission but did not cause much N₂O emission (< 10 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹) from the rice-plant pots at both CO₂ concentrations.     

Dominance of bacterial ammonium oxidizers and fungal denitrifiers in the complex nitrogen cycle pathways related to nitrous oxide emission

Organic compounds and mineral nitrogen (N) usually increase nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Vinasse, a by‐product of bio‐ethanol production that is rich in carbon, nitrogen, and potassium, is recycled in sugarcane fields as a bio‐fertilizer. Vinasse can contribute significantly to N₂O emissions when applied with N in sugarcane plantations, a common practice. However, the biological processes involved in N₂O emissions under this management practice are unknown. This study investigated the roles of nitrification and denitrification in N₂O emissions from straw‐covered soils amended with different vinasses (CV: concentrated and V: nonconcentrated) before or at the same time as mineral fertilizers at different time points of the sugarcane cycle in two seasons. N₂O emissions were evaluated for 90 days, the period that occurs most of the N₂O emission from fertilizers; the microbial genes encoding enzymes involved in N₂O production (archaeal and bacterial amoA, fungal and bacterial nirK, and bacterial nirS and nosZ), total bacteria, and total fungi were quantified by real‐time PCR. The application of CV and V in conjunction with mineral N resulted in higher N₂O emissions than the application of N fertilizer alone. The strategy of vinasse application 30 days before mineral N reduced N₂O emissions by 65% for CV, but not for V. Independent of rainy or dry season, the microbial processes were nitrification by ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea and denitrification by bacteria and fungi. The contributions of each process differed and depended on soil moisture, soil pH, and N sources. We concluded that amoA‐AOB was the most important gene related to N₂O emissions, which indicates that nitrification by AOB is the main microbial‐driven process linked to N₂O emissions in tropical soil. Interestingly, fungal nirK was also significantly correlated with N₂O emissions, suggesting that denitrification by fungi contributes to N₂O emission in soils receiving straw and vinasse application.     

Peaks of in situ N2O emissions are influenced by N2O‐producing and reducing microbial communities across arable soils

Agriculture is the main source of terrestrial N₂O emissions, a potent greenhouse gas and the main cause of ozone depletion. The reduction of N₂O into N₂ by microorganisms carrying the nitrous oxide reductase gene (nosZ) is the only known biological process eliminating this greenhouse gas. Recent studies showed that a previously unknown clade of N₂O‐reducers (nosZII) was related to the potential capacity of the soil to act as a N₂O sink. However, little is known about how this group responds to different agricultural practices. Here, we investigated how N₂O‐producers and N₂O‐reducers were affected by agricultural practices across a range of cropping systems in order to evaluate the consequences for N₂O emissions. The abundance of both ammonia‐oxidizers and denitrifiers was quantified by real‐time qPCR, and the diversity of nosZ clades was determined by 454 pyrosequencing. Denitrification and nitrification potential activities as well as in situ N₂O emissions were also assessed. Overall, greatest differences in microbial activity, diversity, and abundance were observed between sites rather than between agricultural practices at each site. To better understand the contribution of abiotic and biotic factors to the in situ N₂O emissions, we subdivided more than 59,000 field measurements into fractions from low to high rates. We found that the low N₂O emission rates were mainly explained by variation in soil properties (up to 59%), while the high rates were explained by variation in abundance and diversity of microbial communities (up to 68%). Notably, the diversity of the nosZII clade but not of the nosZI clade was important to explain the variation of in situ N₂O emissions. Altogether, these results lay the foundation for a better understanding of the response of N₂O‐reducing bacteria to agricultural practices and how it may ultimately affect N₂O emissions.     

Elevated temperature shifts soil N cycling from microbial immobilization to enhanced mineralization,nitrification and denitrification across global terrestrial ecosystems

We assessed the response of soil microbial nitrogen (N) cycling and associated functional genes to elevated temperature at the global scale. A meta‐analysis of 1,270 observations from 134 publications indicated that elevated temperature decreased soil microbial biomass N and increased N mineralization rates, both in the presence and absence of plants. These findings infer that elevated temperature drives microbially mediated N cycling processes from dominance by anabolic to catabolic reaction processes. Elevated temperature increased soil nitrification and denitrification rates, leading to an increase in N₂O emissions of up to 227%, whether plants were present or not. Rates of N mineralization, denitrification and N₂O emission demonstrated significant positive relationships with rates of CO₂ emissions under elevated temperatures, suggesting that microbial N cycling processes were associated with enhanced microbial carbon (C) metabolism due to soil warming. The response in the abundance of relevant genes to elevated temperature was not always consistent with changes in N cycling processes. While elevated temperature increased the abundances of the nirS gene with plants and nosZ genes without plants, there was no effect on the abundances of the ammonia‐oxidizing archaea amoA gene, ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria amoA and nirK genes. This study provides the first global‐scale assessment demonstrating that elevated temperature shifts N cycling from microbial immobilization to enhanced mineralization, nitrification and denitrification in terrestrial ecosystems. These findings infer that elevated temperatures have a profound impact on global N cycling processes with implications of a positive feedback to global climate and emphasize the close linkage between soil microbial C and N cycling.     

Pulse Increase of Soil N2O Emission in Response to N Addition in a Temperate Forest on Mt Changbai,Northeast China

Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased significantly globally since the industrial revolution. Previous studies on the response of gaseous emissions to N deposition have shown controversial results, pointing to the system-specific effect of N addition. Here we conducted an N addition experiment in a temperate natural forest in northeastern China to test how potential changes in N deposition alter soil N₂O emission and its sources from nitrification and denitrification. Soil N₂O emission was measured using closed chamber method and a separate incubation experiment using acetylene inhibition method was carried out to determine denitrification fluxes and the contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O emissions between Jul. and Oct. 2012. An NH₄NO₃ addition of 50 kg N/ha/yr significantly increased N₂O and N₂ emissions, but their “pulse emission” induced by N addition only lasted for two weeks. Mean nitrification-derived N₂O to denitrification-derived N₂O ratio was 0.56 in control plots, indicating higher contribution of denitrification to N₂O emissions in the study area, and this ratio was not influenced by N addition. The N₂O to (N₂+N₂O) ratio was 0.41–0.55 in control plots and was reduced by N addition at one sampling time point. Based on this short term experiment, we propose that N₂O and denitrification rate might increase with increasing N deposition at least by the same fold in the future, which would deteriorate global warming problems.     

CO2 uptake is offset by CH4 and N2O emissions in a poplar short‐rotation coppice

The need for renewable energy sources will lead to a considerable expansion in the planting of dedicated fast‐growing biomass crops across Europe. These are commonly cultivated as short‐rotation coppice (SRC), and currently poplar (Populus spp.) is the most widely planted. In this study, we report the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) measured using eddy covariance technique in an SRC plantation for bioenergy production. Measurements were made during the period 2010–2013, that is, during the first two rotations of the SRC. The overall GHG balance of the 4 years of the study was an emission of 1.90 (±1.37) Mg CO₂eq ha^?1; this indicated that soil trace gas emissions offset the CO₂ uptake by the plantation. CH₄ and N₂O contributed almost equally to offset the CO₂ uptake of ?5.28 (±0.67) Mg CO₂eq ha^?1 with an overall emission of 3.56 (±0.35) Mg CO₂eq ha^?1 of N₂O and of 3.53 (±0.85) Mg CO₂eq ha^?1 of CH₄. N₂O emissions mostly occurred during one single peak a few months after the site was converted to SRC; this peak comprised 44% of the total N₂O loss during the two rotations. Accurately capturing emission events proved to be critical for deriving correct estimates of the GHG balance. The nitrogen (N) content of the soil and the water table depth were the two drivers that best explained the variability in N₂O and CH_4, respectively. This study underlines the importance of the ‘non‐CO₂ GHGs’ on the overall balance. Further long‐term investigations of soil trace gas emissions should monitor the N content and the mineralization rate of the soil, as well as the microbial community, as drivers of the trace gas emissions.     

Predicting in situ soil N2O emission using NOE algorithm and soil database

This paper presents a new algorithm, Nitrous Oxide Emission (NOE) for simulating the emission of the greenhouse gas N₂O from agricultural soils. N₂O fluxes are calculated as the result of production through denitrification and nitrification and reduction through the last step of denitrification. Actual denitrification and nitrification rates are calculated from biological parameters and soil water‐filled pore space, temperature and mineral nitrogen contents. New suggestions in NOE consisted in introducing (1) biological site‐specific parameters of soil N₂O reduction and (2) reduction of the N₂O produced through nitrification to N₂ through denitrification. This paper includes a database of 64 N₂O fluxes measured on the field scale with corresponding environmental parameters collected from five agricultural situations in France. This database was used to test the validity of this algorithm. Site per site comparison of simulated N₂O fluxes against observed data leads to mixed results. For 80% of the tested points, measured and simulated fluxes are in accordance whereas the others resulted in an important discrepancy. The origin of this discrepancy is discussed. On the other hand, mean annual fluxes measured on each site were strongly correlated to mean simulated annual fluxes. The biological site‐specific parameter of soil N₂O reduction introduced into NOE appeared particularly useful to discriminate the general level of N₂O emissions from site to site. Furthermore, the relevance of NOE was confirmed by comparing measured and simulated N₂O fluxes using some data from the US TRAGNET database. We suggest the use of NOE on a regional scale in order to predict mean annual N₂O emissions.     

Global change could amplify fire effects on soil greenhouse gas emissions

Background

Little is known about the combined impacts of global environmental changes and ecological disturbances on ecosystem functioning, even though such combined impacts might play critical roles in shaping ecosystem processes that can in turn feed back to climate change, such as soil emissions of greenhouse gases.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We took advantage of an accidental, low-severity wildfire that burned part of a long-term global change experiment to investigate the interactive effects of a fire disturbance and increases in CO₂ concentration, precipitation and nitrogen supply on soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions in a grassland ecosystem. We examined the responses of soil N₂O emissions, as well as the responses of the two main microbial processes contributing to soil N₂O production – nitrification and denitrification – and of their main drivers. We show that the fire disturbance greatly increased soil N₂O emissions over a three-year period, and that elevated CO₂ and enhanced nitrogen supply amplified fire effects on soil N₂O emissions: emissions increased by a factor of two with fire alone and by a factor of six under the combined influence of fire, elevated CO₂ and nitrogen. We also provide evidence that this response was caused by increased microbial denitrification, resulting from increased soil moisture and soil carbon and nitrogen availability in the burned and fertilized plots.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results indicate that the combined effects of fire and global environmental changes can exceed their effects in isolation, thereby creating unexpected feedbacks to soil greenhouse gas emissions. These findings highlight the need to further explore the impacts of ecological disturbances on ecosystem functioning in the context of global change if we wish to be able to model future soil greenhouse gas emissions with greater confidence.     

Effect of N-fixing and non N-fixing trees and crops on NO and N2O emissions from Senegalese soils

Aim Agroforestry systems incorporating N‐fixing trees have been shown to be socially beneficial and are thought to be environmentally friendly, both enriching and stabilizing soil. However, the effect of such systems on the emissions of the important greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) and the tropospheric ozone precursor nitric oxide (NO) is largely unknown. Location Soil was collected from the research plots of Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles at Bandia and Bambey, Senegal, West Africa, and from neighbouring farmers’ fields. Trace gas flux measurements and chemical analysis of the soil were carried out at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Edinburgh, UK. Methods Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions were measured following simulated rainfall events (10 and 20 mm equivalents) from repacked soil cores collected under two tree species (Acacia raddiana) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in each of two provenance trails. In addition, soil samples were collected in local fields growing peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare), close to the species trials in Bambey. NO was measured using a flow through system and was analysed by chemiluminescence. Nitrous oxide was measured from the repacked soil core headspace and was analysed by electron capture gas chromatography. Soil mineral N was extracted with KCl and analysed by colorimetric methods on separate soil columns. Results Light rainfall, which increased the gravimetric soil moisture content to 20%, stimulated an increase in NO emission but there was no detectable N₂O emission. A heavy rainfall event, which increased the gravimetric soil moisture to 30%, stimulated N₂O emission with a subsequent peak in NO emissions when the soils became drier. Soil collected under the N‐fixing tree species emitted significantly more N₂O than soil collected under the N‐fixing crop species (P < 0.01). NO and N₂O emissions significantly correlated with soil available N (NH₄ and NO₃) (P < 0.05). Main conclusions Rainfall intensity, supply of mineral N from organic matter and N fixation were the prime drivers of NO and N₂O emissions from seasonally dry tropical soils. The improved soil fertility underneath the trees provided a larger pool of mineral N and yielded larger rates of NO and N₂O emissions.