南京市郊区集约化大棚蔬菜地N2O的排放

采用静态暗箱-气相色谱法,研究了南京市郊区集约化生产管理下,芹菜-空心菜-小白菜-苋菜轮作菜地与休闲裸地的N2O排放通量的动态变化,及其与土壤温度、湿度以及NO3--N和NH4+-N含量的关系.结果表明:轮作菜地的N2O累积排放量达137.2kg N·hm-2,显著大于休闲裸地(29.2 kgN-hm-2);轮作菜地生态系统N2O-N的排放系数高达4.6％.4种蔬菜地中,空心菜地对轮作菜地的周年累积排放量贡献最大,为53.5％,小白菜地次之,为31.9％,芹菜地和苋菜地最小,分别为4.5％和4.8％.轮作菜地的N2O排放通量与土壤温度呈显著正相关,Q10为2.80;土壤湿度以及NO3--N和NH4+-N含量与轮作菜地的N2O排放通量之间的相关性不显著.     

长白山阔叶红松林土壤N2O排放通量的变化特征

采用静态密闭箱 /气相色谱分析方法对长白山阔叶红松林两个样地的N2 O排放通量进行了测定。结果表明 ,凋落物对林地土壤N2 O排放的影响是显著的 ,其对全年N2 O排放的平均贡献率是 36 89%。长白山阔叶红松林土壤是大气N2 O一个重要的源 ,但在极少的天气状况下也能吸收大气中的N2 O ,而起着汇的作用。其排放通量的变化范围是 - 4 1 4 8～ 2 91 84μgN2 O·m-2 ·h-1,平均通量是 6 8 7μgN2 O·m-2 ·h-1,高于其他类型林地的排放通量 ,且变动范围也较其他森林类型大。无凋落物林地土壤N2 O排放通量变化范围是 - 2 3 2 4～ 93 75 μgN2 O·m-2 ·h-1,平均通量为 33 79μgN2 O·m-2 ·h-1。两个样地N2 O排放通量的季节变化特征相似 :夏季N2 O的排放通量最高 ,春季次之 ,秋冬两季较低且趋于平稳。昼夜变化趋势也相似 :N2 O排放通量的最大值都出现在 18∶0 0 ,最小值都出现在 12∶0 0和 14∶0 0。研究还表明 ,林地土壤N2 O的排放通量与地表温度和地下 5cm温度的相关性较好 ,无凋落物的样地N2 O的排放通量仅与地下 5cm温度的相关性较好。     

强还原方法对退化设施蔬菜地土壤的修复

设施蔬菜地大量施用化肥及不合理轮作易引起土壤盐分累积、酸化和土传病害的发生,导致土壤退化.快速且有效地改良退化土壤,可以提高蔬菜产量和菜农的经济收入.在蔬菜生长发生障碍的设施土壤中,分别加入0、3.75、7.50和11.3 t·hm^-2的风干紫花苜蓿,淹水条件下密封大棚创造强还原环境31 d,测定土壤理化性质的变化,并记录黄瓜产量.结果表明: 强还原处理使土壤氧化还原电位(Eh)迅速下降至0 mV以下,能有效地消除土壤积累的硝态氮,显著提高土壤pH,降低土壤电导率,其变化幅度随紫花苜蓿添加量的增加而增大.经强还原方法处理后,设施蔬菜地黄瓜产量达到53.3~57.9 t·hm^-2,显著高于上一季未处理黄瓜产量(10.8 t·hm^-2).淹水添加有机物料创造的强还原条件,可以短期内有效地改良退化设施蔬菜地土壤.     

优化施肥对设施蔬菜地土壤线虫群落的影响

高强度利用下设施蔬菜地的施肥过量问题导致了土壤质量的严重退化,合理施肥是维持蔬菜地生产力和可持续发展的重要措施.本研究比较了常规施肥和优化施肥两种施肥方式下连续种植番茄和辣椒后土壤理化性质、线虫群落及蔬菜产量的差异.结果表明: 优化施肥处理土壤pH显著高于常规施肥处理,且番茄和辣椒产量分别提高了9.0%和6.9%.与常规施肥相比,优化施肥提高了土壤线虫数量和食细菌线虫的相对多度,但降低了食真菌线虫和植食性线虫的相对多度.两季蔬菜种植过程中,不同施肥处理土壤寄生线虫成熟指数、多样性指数和丰富度指数无显著差异.优化施肥土壤线虫通路比值(0.67～0.84)显著高于常规施肥(0.39～0.64),前者土壤食物网的分解途径以细菌为主,而后者则为真菌控制.综合土壤理化性质、线虫数量和群落及蔬菜产量指标,优化施肥措施能够在促进蔬菜生长的同时,显著改善土壤生态环境.     

退化设施蔬菜地修复过程中土壤可溶性有机碳与无机氮动态

土壤强还原处理(reductive soil disinfestation,RSD)可以有效修复退化设施蔬菜地土壤,但实施过程中亦会存在可溶性有机碳(DOC)与无机氮(NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N)的淋溶风险。本研究选用水稻秸秆及其制备的生物质炭(biochar,BC)作为修复材料,采用BC、RSD以及RSD+BC三种方法修复退化蔬菜地土壤,探究修复过程中土壤基本性质、DOC与无机氮的动态变化。结果表明,与对照土壤相比,BC处理显著提高了土壤pH、EC和DOC含量(P<0.05),但对土壤NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N无显著影响。对于RSD和RSD+BC处理,土壤NO₃^--N含量在1～3 d内快速下降,之后维持在较低水平;土壤DOC含量呈先上升后下降趋势,在整个培养时段均显著高于对照处理(P<0.05)。方差分析表明,BC与RSD处理对土壤DOC、全碳(TC)、全...     

赣江下游典型蔬菜地地表径流的氮磷流失特征

在赣江下游代表性蔬菜地设置径流小区, 研究常规施肥条件下蔬菜地生态系统地表径流中氮、磷的流失状况。结果表明, 在连续多次监测期内, 自然降雨条件下常规施肥蔬菜地地表径流总氮平均浓度为10.32 mg⋅L–1, 总磷平均浓度为4.71 mg⋅L–1, 硝态氮与溶解性正磷酸盐是该区域蔬菜地降雨径流中氮、磷的主要存在形态, 故而地表径流流入至附近水体存在富营养化的风险。此外, 蔬菜地降雨径流中氮、磷流失量与降雨量呈极显著的正相关关系。研究表明, 施肥和降雨量是影响地表径流氮、磷流失的主要因素, 针对赣江下游蔬菜地氮、磷流失特点需制定相应的氮、磷流失的防治措施。     

南京市郊区集约化大棚蔬菜地N2O的排放

采用静态暗箱-气相色谱法,研究了南京市郊区集约化生产管理下,芹菜-空心菜-小白菜-苋菜轮作菜地与休闲裸地的N2O排放通量的动态变化,及其与土壤温度、湿度以及NO3--N和NH4+-N含量的关系.结果表明： 轮作菜地的N2O累积排放量达1372 kg N·hm-2,显著大于休闲裸地(29.2 kg N·hm-2);轮作菜地生态系统N2O-N的排放系数高达46%.4种蔬菜地中,空心菜地对轮作菜地的周年累积排放量贡献最大,为53.5%,小白菜地次之,为31.9%,芹菜地和苋菜地最小,分别为4.5%和4.8%.轮作菜地的N2O排放通量与土壤温度呈显著正相关,Q10为2.80;土壤湿度以及NO3--N和NH4+-N含量与轮作菜地的N2O排放通量之间的相关性不显著.     

若尔盖高原沼泽湿地N_2O排放通量研究

应用静态箱/气相色谱法,测定了若尔盖高原沼泽N2O排放能量,测定期为该地植物生长期,即2004年4 月末至10月初。结果表明,若尔盖高原沼泽湿地N2O排放通量平均值为0.010 mg·m-2h-1,最大值为0.079 mg·m-2h-1, 最小值为-0.051mg·m-2h-1。高峰排放期为5月,最低排放期为地表水深最大的6月。沼泽湿地N2O排放通量季节变化与沼泽湿地水深呈负相关关系。沼泽湿地N2O排放通量日变化与大气温度呈正相关关系,排放高值出现在午后。若尔盖高原沼泽湿地在植物生长期的年排放总量约为0.159Gg·a-1。     

垃圾填埋场N_2O排放通量及测定方法研究进展

氧化亚氮(N2O)是第三大温室气体和最主要的臭氧层破坏气体.填埋是目前城市生活垃圾处理处置的主要方式,而垃圾填埋场是N2O的排放源之一.实验室研究和现场测定均表明,生活垃圾填埋场可以有高的N2O释放通量,但不同填埋场测定数据差异很大.目前,对生活垃圾填埋场N2O排放量的原位准确测定以及排放机理和重要性的认识仍有很多不足.本文概述了生活垃圾填埋场N2O排放研究现状,从垃圾堆体和覆土层两部分探讨了传统厌氧卫生填埋场的N2O产生和排放机理,并就此对新型脱氮型生物反应器填埋场做了相应探讨.最后,就静态箱法、涡度相关法等N2O通量测定方法在填埋场的适用性进行了讨论,并展望了填埋场N2O排放的研究方向.     

山西曲沃设施蔬菜施肥现状及土壤氮磷累积与分配特征

在山西省南部调查了种植年限为1、7、10、13、16年的越冬长茬设施蔬菜生产施肥现状,研究了不同种植年限设施蔬菜土壤剖面硝态氮、Olsen-P和CaCl2-P的分配特征和规律,为控制设施蔬菜生产对农业面源污染的影响提供参考。结果表明：不同种植年限设施养分投入差异较大,新建设施氮、磷和钾投入量高达6088.3、2705.4和3287.2 kg·hm-2,随后养分投入量明显降低N、P和K的养分投入水平在1591.1—2943、619.4—1195.6和877.5—2026.3 kg·hm-2,80%的氮和90%磷在移栽前投入。过量养分投入和施肥与作物需肥不耦合增加了NO3--N在土壤剖面的迁移,种植1年200 cm土壤剖面的NO3--N通体大于30.00 mg·kg-1,随种植年限增加NO-3-N向下移动明显,种植16年0—60 cm NO3--N含量达110—203 mg·kg-1,土层180—200 cm接近60 mg·kg-1;设施土壤0—20 cm的 Olsen-P和CaCl2-P累积明显,种植1年分别达138.0 和2.7 mg·kg-1,而后累积至300 mg·kg-1和7.6 mg·kg-1左右,随种植年限增加Olsen-P和CaCl2-P在土壤剖面明显下移。该区域土壤Olsen-P与CaCl2-P的突变点为46.70 mg·kg-1,土壤NO3--N含量与EC值显著正相关（r= 0.624, P<0.01）,CaCl2-P/Olsen-P与有机质含量表现出显著的正相关（r=0.317,P<0.05）。这表明EC值能够较好地表征NO3--N污染状况,由于CaCl2-P为易淋洗磷,故土壤Olsen-P含量>46.70 mg·kg-1时易出现磷的淋洗,土壤有机质提升增加了磷淋洗的风险。     

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice paddy fields as affected by nitrogen fertilisers and water management

Methane and N₂O emissions affected by nitrogen fertilisers were measured simultaneously in rice paddy fields under intermittent irrigation in 1994. Ammonium sulphate and urea were applied at rates of 0 (control), 100 and 300 kg N ha^-1. The results showed that CH₄ emission, on the average, decreased by 42 and 60% in the ammonium sulphate treatments and 7 and 14% in the urea treatments at rates of 100 and 300 kg N ha^-1, respectively, compared to the control. N₂O emission increased significantly with the increase in the nitrogen application rate. N₂O emission was higher from ammonium sulphate treatments than from the urea treatments at the same application rate. A trade-off effect between CH₄ and N₂O emission was clearly observed. The N₂O flux was very small when the rice paddy plots were flooded, but peaked at the beginning of the disappearance of floodwater. In contrast, the CH₄ flux peaked during flooding and was significantly depressed by mid-season aeration (MSA). The results suggest that it is important to evaluate the integrative effects of water management and fertiliser application for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in order to attenuate the greenhouse effect contributed by rice paddy fields.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from silage maize fields under different mineral nitrogen fertilizer and slurry applications

Intensive dairy farming systems are a large source of emission of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O), because of high nitrogen (N) application rates to grasslands and silage maize fields. The objective of this study was to compare measured N₂O emissions from two different soils to default N₂O emission factors, and to look at alternative emission factors based on (i) the N uptake in the crop and (ii) the N surplus of the system, i.e., N applied minus N uptake by the crop. Twelve N fertilization regimes were implemented on a sandy soil (typic endoaquoll) and a clay soil (typic endoaquept) in the Netherlands, and N₂O emissions were measured throughout the growing season. Highest cumulative fluxes of 1.92 and 6.81 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 for the sandy soil and clay soil were measured at the highest slurry application rate of 250 kg N ha^–1. Background emissions from unfertilized soils were 0.14 and 1.52 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 for the sandy soil and the clay soil, respectively. Emission factors for the sandy soil averaged 0.08, 0.51 and 0.26% of the N applied via fertilizer, slurry, and combinations of both. For the clay soil, these numbers were 1.18, 1.21 and 1.69%, respectively. Surplus N was linearly related to N₂O emission for both the sandy soil (R²=0.60) and the clay soil (R²=0.40), indicating a possible alternative emission factor. We concluded that, in our study, N₂O emission was not linearly related to N application rates, and varied with type and application rate of fertilizer. Finally, the relatively high emission from the clay soil indicates that background emissions might have to be taken into account in N₂O budgets.     

Estimation of nitrous oxide, nitric oxide and ammonia emissions from croplands in East, Southeast and South Asia

Agricultural activities have greatly altered the global nitrogen (N) cycle and produced nitrogenous gases of environmental significance. More than half of all chemical N fertilizer produced globally is used in crop production in East, Southeast and South Asia, where rice is central to nutrition. Emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH₃) from croplands in this region were estimated by considering background emission and emissions resulting from N added to croplands, including chemical N, animal manure, biologically fixed N and N in crop residues returned to fields. Background emission fluxes of N₂O and NO from croplands were estimated to be 1.22 and 0.57 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. Separate fertilizer‐induced emission factors were estimated for upland fields and rice fields. Total N₂O emission from croplands in the study region was estimated to be 1.19 Tg N yr^?1, with 43% contributed by background emissions. The average fertilizer‐induced N₂O emission, however, accounts for only 0.93% of the applied N, which is less than the default IPCC value of 1.25%, because of the low emission factor from paddy fields. Total NO emission was 591 Gg N yr^?1 in the study region, with 40% from background emissions. The average fertilizer‐induced NO emission factor was 0.48%. Total NH₃ emission was estimated to be 11.8 Tg N yr^?1. The use of urea and ammonium bicarbonate and the cultivation of rice led to a high average NH₃ loss rate from chemical N fertilizer in the study region. Emissions were displayed at a 0.5° × 0.5° resolution with the use of a global landuse database.     

Plant-mediated nitrous oxide emissions from beech (Fagus sylvatica) leaves

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission estimates from forest ecosystems are based currently on emission measurements using soil enclosures. Such enclosures exclude emissions via tall plants and trees and may therefore underestimate the whole-ecosystem N2O emissions. Here, we measured plant-mediated N2O emissions from the leaves of potted beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings after fertilizing the soil with 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate (15NH4(15)NO3), and after exposing the roots to elevated concentrations of N2O. Ammonium nitrate fertilization induced N2O + 15N2O emissions from beech leaves. Likewise, the foliage emitted N2O after beech roots were exposed to elevated concentrations of N2O. The average N2O emissions from the fertilization and the root exposure experiments were 0.4 and 2.0 microg N m(-2) leaf area h(-1), respectively. Higher than ambient atmospheric concentrations of N2O in the leaves of the forest trees indicate a potential for canopy N2O emissions in the forest. Our experiments demonstrate the existence of a previously overlooked pathway of N2O to the atmosphere in forest ecosystems, and bring about a need to investigate the magnitude of this phenomenon at larger scales.     

Interannual variation in nitrous oxide emissions from perennial ryegrass/white clover grassland used for dairy production

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions are subject to intra‐ and interannual variation due to changes in weather and management. This creates significant uncertainties when quantifying estimates of annual N₂O emissions from grazed grasslands. Despite these uncertainties, the majority of studies are short‐term in nature (<1 year) and as a consequence, there is a lack of data on interannual variation in N₂O emissions. The objectives of this study were to (i) quantify annual N₂O emissions and (ii) assess the causes of interannual variation in emissions from grazed perennial ryegrass/white clover grassland. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured from fertilized and grazed perennial ryegrass/white clover grassland (WC) and from perennial ryegrass plots that were not grazed and did not receive N input (GB), over 4 years from 2008 to 2012 in Ireland (52°51′N, 08°21′W). The annual N₂O‐N emissions (kg ha^?1; mean ± SE) ranged from 4.4 ± 0.2 to 34.4 ± 5.5 from WC and from 1.7 ± 0.8 to 6.3 ± 1.2 from GB. Interannual variation in N₂O emissions was attributed to differences in annual rainfall, monthly (December) soil temperatures and variation in N input. Such substantial interannual variation in N₂O emissions highlights the need for long‐term studies of emissions from managed pastoral systems.     

Modeling nitrous oxide emission from rivers: a global assessment

Estimates of global riverine nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions contain great uncertainty. We conducted a meta‐analysis incorporating 169 observations from published literature to estimate global riverine N₂O emission rates and emission factors. Riverine N₂O flux was significantly correlated with NH₄, NO₃ and DIN (NH₄ + NO₃) concentrations, loads and yields. The emission factors EF(a) (i.e., the ratio of N₂O emission rate and DIN load) and EF(b) (i.e., the ratio of N₂O and DIN concentrations) values were comparable and showed negative correlations with nitrogen concentration, load and yield and water discharge, but positive correlations with the dissolved organic carbon : DIN ratio. After individually evaluating 82 potential regression models based on EF(a) or EF(b) for global, temperate zone and subtropical zone datasets, a power function of DIN yield multiplied by watershed area was determined to provide the best fit between modeled and observed riverine N₂O emission rates (EF(a): R² = 0.92 for both global and climatic zone models, n = 70; EF(b): R² = 0.91 for global model and R² = 0.90 for climatic zone models, n = 70). Using recent estimates of DIN loads for 6400 rivers, models estimated global riverine N₂O emission rates of 29.6–35.3 (mean = 32.2) Gg N₂O–N yr⁻¹ and emission factors of 0.16–0.19% (mean = 0.17%). Global riverine N₂O emission rates are forecasted to increase by 35%, 25%, 18% and 3% in 2050 compared to the 2000s under the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment's Global Orchestration, Order from Strength, Technogarden, and Adapting Mosaic scenarios, respectively. Previous studies may overestimate global riverine N₂O emission rates (300–2100 Gg N₂O–N yr⁻¹) because they ignore declining emission factor values with increasing nitrogen levels and channel size, as well as neglect differences in emission factors corresponding to different nitrogen forms. Riverine N₂O emission estimates will be further enhanced through refining emission factor estimates, extending measurements longitudinally along entire river networks and improving estimates of global riverine nitrogen loads.     

Annual nitrous oxide emissions from open-air and greenhouse vegetable cropping systems in China

Aims

A field experiment was conducted to quantify annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes from control and fertilized plots under open-air and greenhouse vegetable cropping systems in southeast China. We compiled the reported global field annual N₂O flux measurements to estimate the emission factor of N fertilizer for N₂O and its background emissions from vegetable fields.

Methods

Fluxes of N₂O were measured using static chamber-GC techniques over the 2010–2011 annual cycle with multiple cropping seasons.

Results

The mean annual N₂O fluxes from the controls were 46.1?±?2.3 μg N₂O-N m^?2 hr^?1 and 68.3?±?4.1 μg N₂O-N m^?2 hr^?1 in the open-air and greenhouse vegetable systems, respectively. For the plots receiving 900 kg?N?ha^?1, annual N₂O emissions averaged 90.6?±?8.9 μg N₂O-N m^?2 hr^?1 and 106.4?±?6.6 μg N₂O-N?m^?2 hr^?1 in the open-air and greenhouse vegetable systems, respectively. By pooling published field N₂O flux measurements taken over or close to a full year, the N₂O emission factor for N fertilizer averaged 0.63?±?0.09 %, with a background emission of 2.67?±?0.80 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 in Chinese vegetable fields. Annual N₂O emissions from Chinese vegetable systems were estimated to be 84.7 Gg N₂O-N yr^?1, consisting of 72.5 Gg N₂O-N yr^?1 and 12.2 Gg N₂O-N yr^?1 in the open-air and greenhouse vegetable systems, respectively.

Conclusions

While N₂O emissions from the greenhouse vegetable cropping system tended to be slightly higher compared to the open-air system in our experiment, the synthesis of literature data suggests that N₂O emissions would be greater at low N-rates but smaller at high N-rates in greenhouse systems than in open-air vegetable cropping systems. The estimates of this study suggest that vegetable cropping systems covering 11.4 % in national total cropping area, contributed 21–25 % to the total N₂O emission from Chinese croplands.     

Expression of nitrous oxide reductase from Pseudomonas stutzeri in transgenic tobacco roots using the root-specific rolD promoter from Agrobacterium rhizogenes

The nitrous oxide (N(2)O) reduction pathway from a soil bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri, was engineered in plants to reduce N(2)O emissions. As a proof of principle, transgenic plants expressing nitrous oxide reductase (N(2)OR) from P. stutzeri, encoded by the nosZ gene, and other transgenic plants expressing N(2)OR along with the more complete operon from P. stutzeri, encoded by nosFLZDY, were generated. Gene constructs were engineered under the control of a root-specific promoter and with a secretion signal peptide. Expression and rhizosecretion of the transgene protein were achieved, and N(2)OR from transgenic Nicotiana tabacum proved functional using the methyl viologen assay. Transgenic plant line 1.10 showed the highest specific activity of 16.7 μmol N(2)O reduced min(-1) g(-1) root protein. Another event, plant line 1.9, also demonstrated high specific activity of N(2)OR, 13.2 μmol N(2)O reduced min(-1) g(-1) root protein. The availability now of these transgenic seed stocks may enable canopy studies in field test plots to monitor whole rhizosphere N flux. By incorporating one bacterial gene into genetically modified organism (GMO) crops (e.g., cotton, corn, and soybean) in this way, it may be possible to reduce the atmospheric concentration of N(2)O that has continued to increase linearly (about 0.26% year(-1)) over the past half-century.     

Climate- and crop-responsive emission factors significantly alter estimates of current and future nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use

The current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default methodology (tier 1) for calculating nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from nitrogen applied to agricultural soils takes no account of either crop type or climatic conditions. As a result, the methodology omits factors that are crucial in determining current emissions, and has no mechanism to assess the potential impact of future climate and land‐use change. Scotland is used as a case study to illustrate the development of a new methodology, which retains the simple structure of the IPCC tier 1 methodology, but incorporates crop‐ and climate‐dependent emission factors (EFs). It also includes a factor to account for the effect of soil compaction because of trampling by grazing animals. These factors are based on recent field studies in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. Under current conditions, the new methodology produces significantly higher estimates of annual N₂O emissions than the IPCC default methodology, almost entirely because of the increased contribution of grazed pasture. Total emissions from applied fertilizer and N deposited by grazing animals are estimated at 10 662 t N₂O‐N yr^?1 using the newly derived EFs, as opposed to 6 796 t N₂O‐N yr^?1 using the IPCC default EFs. On a spatial basis, emission levels are closer to those calculated using field observations and detailed soil modelling than to estimates made using the IPCC default methodology. This can be illustrated by parts of the western Ayrshire basin, which have previously been calculated to emit 8–9 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 yr^?1 and are estimated here as 6.25–8.75 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 yr^?1, while the IPCC default methodology gives a maximum emission level of only 3.75 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 yr^?1 for the whole area. The new methodology is also applied in conjunction with scenarios for future climate‐ and land‐use patterns, to assess how these emissions may change in the future. The results suggest that by 2080, Scottish N₂O emissions may increase by up to 14%, depending on the climate scenario, if fertilizer and land management practices remain unchanged. Reductions in agricultural land use, however, have the potential to mitigate these increases and, depending on the replacement land use, may even reduce emissions to below current levels.     

Estimation of annual nitrous oxide emissions from a transitional grassland-forest region in Saskatchewan, Canada

The increasing atmospheric N₂O concentration and the imbalance in its global budget have triggered the interest in quantifying N₂O fluxes from various ecosystems. This study was conducted to estimate the annual N₂O emissions from a transitional grassland-forest region in Saskatchewan, Canada. The study region was stratified according to soil texture and land use types, and we selected seven landscapes (sites) to cover the range of soil texture and land use characteristics in the region. The study sites were, in turn, stratified into distinguishable spatial sampling units (i.e., footslope and shoulder complexes), which reflected the differences in soils and soil moisture regimes within a landscape. N₂O emission was measured using a sealed chamber method. Our results showed that water-filled pore space (WFPS) was the variable most correlated to N₂O fluxes. With this finding, we estimated the total N₂O emissions by using regression equations that relate WFPS to N₂O emission, and linking these regression equations with a soil moisture model for predicting WFPS. The average annual fluxes from fertilized cropland, pasture/hay land, and forest areas were 2.00, 0.04, and 0.02 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 yr^–1, respectively. The average annual fluxes for the medium- to fine-textured and sandy-textured areas were 1.40 and 0.04 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 yr^–1, respectively. The weighted-average annual flux for the study region is 0.95 kg N₂O-N ha^–1yr^–1. The fertilized cropped areas covered only 47% of the regional area but contributed about 98% of the regional flux. We found that in the clay loam, cropped site, 2% and 3% of the applied fertilizer were emitted as N₂O on the shoulders and footslopes, respectively.Contribution no. R824 of Saskatchewan Center for Soil Research, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada