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Nitric and nitrous oxide emissions following fertilizer application to agricultural soil: Biotic and abiotic mechanisms and kinetics
Abstract
Emissions of nitric and nitrous oxide (NO and N2O) from agricultural soils may have several consequences, including impacts on local tropospheric and global stratospheric chemistry. Elevated NO and N2O emissions following application of anhydrous ammonia to an agricultural field in California were driven by the biological generation of nitrite (NO2-) and subsequent abiotic decomposition of nitrous acid (HNO2). Maximum fluxes of >1000 ng NO-N cm-2 h-1 and >400ngN2O-Ncm-2h-1 were observed, and emissions of >100 ng NO-N cm-2 h-1 and >50ngN2O-Ncm-2h-1 persisted for >4 weeks. Laboratory experiments were performed to determine rate coefficients and activation energies for HNO2-mediated NO and N2O production. Kinetic parameters describing the conversion of NO to N2O were measured and were found to vary with water-filled pore space (WFPS). Regression models incorporating HNO2, WFPS, and temperature accounted for 75-77% of the variability in field fluxes. A previously developed NO emissions model was modified to incorporate a kinetic expression for HNO2- and temperature-dependent production. The model tended to underestimate fluxes under low-flux conditions and overestimate fluxes under high-flux conditions. These data indicate that (1) control of acidity may be an effective means for minimizing gaseous N losses from fertilized soils and possibly for improving air quality in rural areas, (2) the transformation of HNO2-derived NO may be an important mechanism of N2O production even under relatively aerobic conditions, and (3) mechanistic models which account for spatial heterogeneity and transient conditions may be required to better predict field NO fluxes.
... Although the amount of NO x released as a by-product during the combustion of ammonia is less than the amount of CO 2 released during the combustion of methane, NO x gases such as NO 2 turn into nitrous acid (HNO 2 ) in the air and cannot remain suspended in the air due to being heavier than air, thus accumulating on the soil surface. 44 Therefore, NO x has no direct effect on air quality with this aspect. 44 The hydrogen produced during the process as a raw material input during ammonia production must be able to be stored before ammonia production. ...
... 44 Therefore, NO x has no direct effect on air quality with this aspect. 44 The hydrogen produced during the process as a raw material input during ammonia production must be able to be stored before ammonia production. In order for hydrogen to be stored, it is important to bring it to a temperature of −253 °C in the pressure range of 35-71 MPa. ...
... The decrease in pH is due to the production of H + during the processes of the volatilization and nitrification of NH3 [16]. Venterea and Rolston [17] demonstrated that a decrease in soil pH during nitrification could result in a critical pH level, where nitrification was restricted. The oxidation of NH3 has been identified as a limiting step in nitrification [18], which occurs through two steps of mutualistic symbiosis between ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) [19]. ...
Urea present in cattle urine contributes large amounts of nitrogen (N) to grazed pastures, which can be the equivalent to approximately 1000 kg N ha−1. However, there are no studies in volcanic soils of southern Chile on the effect of different concentrations of urinary N deposited in the soil, nor of the effect different wetting and drying conditions mimicking the variation in weather conditions on the nitrification process from urea to NH4+ and total oxidized nitrogen (TON) over time. In addition, the inhibition of nitrification driven by the accumulation of NH3 at high rates of N applied to Andisol has not been evaluated. Fresh cattle urine was applied at three different rates of N equivalent to 247 kg N ha−1 (Low N), 461 kg N ha−1 (Medium N), and 921 kg N ha−1 (High N), as well as deionized water as a control. Further, three moisture conditions were imposed: constant moisture (CM), drying–rewetting (DRW) cycles at 7-day intervals, and soil drying (SD). Destructive soil core samples were evaluated for top and bottom halves individually every 7 days over a 36-day period to measure changes on inorganic N and pH. There were no interaction effects for N rates and soil moisture. The main effect of the different rates of N on mineralization was significant throughout the incubation period, while the effect of the different moisture conditions was variable over time. High N was associated with elevated NH3 concentrations and could explain why total N mineralization was partially inhibited. These results suggest that the presence of different nitrifying microorganisms in soil under different chemical and physical conditions determines nitrification, and thus, the oxidation of ammonia should be studied in more detail as the first step of nitrification, specifically in volcanic soils.
... Although buses and cars were typically the major sources of NO and NO2 emissions, this relationship was weaker during the first lockdown and pollutants were more affected by other factors, with buses and OGVs the main emissions source at this time ( Table 2). This spring period also coincides with agricultural fertilizer spreading: a recognized important source of NOx emissions (amongst others) [48]. The relationship between traffic factors and NO and NO2 was also observed to be relatively stronger during the second lockdown than during the first and inter-lockdown periods, where the contribution of buses, cars and LGVs to the pollutant concentrations was increased significantly during the second lockdown ( Table 2). ...
The COVID-19 lockdown provided a unique opportunity to test the impacts of changes in travel patterns on air quality and the environment. Therefore, this study provides insights into the impacts of COVID-19 emergency public health “lockdown” measures upon traffic flow, active travel and gaseous pollutant concentrations (NO, NO2 and O3) in Oxford city centre during 2020 using time-series analysis and linear regression methods. Comparisons of traffic counts indicated pronounced changes in traffic volume associated with national lockdown periods. Car volume reduced by 77.5% (statistically significant) during the first national lockdown, with lesser changes in goods vehicles and public transport (bus) activity during the second lockdown. Cycle flow reduced substantively during the first lockdown only. These changes resulted in a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations of 75.1% and 47.4%, respectively, at roadside, and 71.8% and 34.1% at urban background during the first lockdown period. In contrast ozone (O3) concentrations increased at the urban background site by 22.3% during the first lockdown period, with no significant changes in gaseous concentrations during the second lockdown at either roadside or urban background location. The diurnal pattern of peak mean NO and NO2 concentrations reduced in magnitude and was shifted approximately 2 h earlier in the morning and 2 h later in the evening (roadside) and 3 h earlier in the morning and 3 h later in the evening (urban background). Our findings provide an example of how gaseous air quality in urban environments could respond to future urban traffic restrictions, suggesting benefits from reductions in peak and daily NO2 exposures may be offset by health harms arising from increases in ground level O3 concentrations in the summer months.
... This spring period also coincides with agricultural fertiliser spreading; a recognized important source of NO x emissions (amongst others) (Venterea and Rolston, 2000). The relationship between tra c factors and NO and NO 2 was also observed to be relatively stronger during the second lockdown than during the rst and inter-lockdown periods, where the contribution of buses, cars and LGVs to the pollutant concentrations was increased signi cantly during the second lockdown (Table 2). ...
This study provides valuable insight into impacts of COVID-19 emergency public health “lockdown” measures upon traffic flow, active travel and gaseous pollutant concentrations (NO, NO 2 , and O 3 ) in Oxford city centre during 2020. Comparisons of traffic counts indicated pronounced changes in traffic volume associated with national lockdown periods. Car volume reduced by 77.5% (statistically significant) during the first national lockdown, with lesser changes in goods vehicles and public transport (bus) activity during the second lockdown. Cycle flow reduced substantively during the first lockdown only. These changes resulted in a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentrations of 75.1% and 47.4%, respectively at roadside, and 71.8% and 34.1% at urban background during the first lockdown period. In contrast ozone (O 3 ) concentrations increased at the urban background site by 22.3% during the first lockdown period, with no significant changes in gaseous concentrations during the second lockdown at either roadside or urban background location. The diurnal pattern of peak mean NO and NO 2 concentrations reduced in magnitude and was shifted approximately 2 hours earlier in the morning and 2 hours later in the evening (roadside) and 3 hours earlier in the morning and 3 hours later in the evening (urban background). Our findings provide an example of how gaseous air quality in urban environments could respond to future urban traffic restrictions, suggesting benefits from reductions in peak and daily NO 2 exposures may be offset by health harms arising from increases in ground level O 3 concentrations in the summer months.
... Moreover, residue decomposition in soils potentially releases ammonia gas which is a precursor of secondary aerosol, a harmful pollutant for the environment and human health (Ruijter and Huijsmans 2012;Sutton et al. 2011 (Kuenen 2008). These soil microbial processes are heavily dependent on the availability of carbon and nitrogen substrates, but also on abiotic factors such as temperature, soil water content, pH as well as soil physico-chemical properties (He et al. 2006, Loick et al. 2017, Pelster et al. 2019, Venterea and Rolston 2000. ...
Agriculture is a prime source of gaseous mineral nitrogen emissions. The strong greenhouse gas nitrous oxide and the strong air pollutant ammonia are some of them, whose mitigation has become a necessity in the modern world. These gases are usually produced from organic and inorganic inputs to soil. In the present scenario of sustainable agriculture, the contributions of crop residue incorporation to these gas fluxes are increasing year by year. To study how this agriculture methodology influences soil biophysical and chemical properties yielding gas fluxes, we have done an extensive literature review. Our findings show that the crucial factor determining the extent of these gaseous emissions is the position of the residue incorporation. We carried out laboratory incubations of soil microcosms with a large particled soil and two small particled soils with nitrogen rich red clover and nitrogen deficient wheat residues incorporated in them in three positions - on the soil surface, mixed in top soil layer and layered at a depth of 4 cm in soil. Gas measurements were made in an incubator for 50-60 days at 15°C and 60% Water Filled Pore Space (WFPS). We found the mixed and layered residue treatment to have higher nitrous oxide fluxes than the surface treatments. In case of ammonia, fluxes were higher from surface treatment than the others. Next, we tried to create a coupled model (CANTIS-NOE-NH3 Volatilisation) to simulate these gaseous emissions. We used the experimental data to optimise the model parameters and we then ran a simulation and compared the results with experimental data. Our model qualitatively performed well but quantitatively fluxes were underestimated. This probably arose due to the usage of default parameters of NOE model rather than soil specific parameters. More work on microbial diversity is needed to refine these outcomes for better predictability of these gas emissions.
... A higher NO3 is linked with a decrease in the abundance of denitrifiers that can reduce NO3 into N2. Nitrification process is associated with pH reduction prior to NO2 -accumulation period (Venterea & Rolston, 2000), which decreased in this work of 0.75 pH unit. Hence, the impact of soil diversity on seedling microbiota structure could not be solely due to the level of microbial diversity but to local changes of physicochemical parameters. ...
Le microbiote des plantes peut moduler leur fitness. Comprendre les processus écologiques qui dirigent son assemblage est nécessaire pour promouvoir la croissance et la santé des plantes via la manipulation de sa composition. La graine et le sol sont les deux principaux réservoirs du microbiote de la plante et donc essentiels pour son assemblage. Dans cette thèse, nous avons montré que la structure du microbiote des graines de Brassica napus est surtout façonnée par l’environnement mais également par le génotype de l’hôte. Le produit de la coalescence des communautés des graines et du sol a été évalué avec des sols de diversité microbienne contrastée et des lots de graines distincts. Seule la diversité microbienne du sol module la structure du microbiote des racines et des tiges.Les plantules favorisent l’émergence de taxons rares issus des graines et du sol. L’influence de ces niveaux de diversité sur une maladie a été mesurée avec le champignon pathogène Rhizoctonia solani. Le sol de diversité élevée entraîne une réduction de maladie pour un lot de graines, révélant un rôle du microbiote des graines. Aucun lien entre le microbiote des graines, le microbiote des plantules et la maladie n’a pu être établi. La transmission de communautés synthétiques bactériennes a ensuite été mesurée. Leur inoculation sur graines impacte la diversité du microbiote des plantules et la maladie. La connaissance de la coalescence, la transmission de taxons rares et l’utilisation de communautés synthétiques révèlent de nouveaux leviers de pilotage de l’assemblage du microbiote des plantules et
A set of experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of compost on soil nitrification, mineralization, and N2O production sources in different soils. Using 15N-labeled soil N and fertilizer N, we differentiated the sources of N2O production. In sandy soils, compost application significantly increased N2O emissions and nitrification rates, acting as an N source for N2O and boosting soil nitrification that yields nitrate, a precursor for leaching and N2O emissions. Clay loam soils, however, showed no significant differences in N2O emissions and nitrification rates between compost and non-compost treatments, likely due to their higher capacity to buffer biochemical changes. Interestingly, compost suppressed N2O derived from soil N, suggesting a potential to reduce overall N2O emissions in high N2O-producing soils. These results underscore the importance of a soil-specific understanding for compost application and its effect on soil N cycling and environmental impacts.
Agricultural practices can lead to fluctuations in soil pH and salinity, likely affecting soil nutrient cycling. Compost addition may reduce the impact of these stresses, leading to more stable and resilient systems. We tested nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycling responses to the imposition and relief of an acute stress in an agricultural soil, and whether these responses were moderated by compost. In greenhouse pots, we mixed soil with elemental sulfur (S) and compost in a complete 2-way factorial design and incubated at ambient temperatures. Sulfur induced strong acidity and mild salinity stress. After 70 d, stress was partially alleviated by leaching with liquid lime. We took samples 21 and 42 d after S addition and one week after alleviation, measured enzyme activity, microbial biomass, and soluble organic C and N, and performed N and C cycle assays by incubating subsamples with and without ground legume residues to stimulate mineralization and microbial growth. Net N mineralization increased in response to the applied stress, and declined after alleviation. Conversely, stress reduced most C cycling indicators and inhibited nitrification. Stress limited microbial growth more than respiration. Unexpectedly, compost additions to the stressed soils consistently stimulated net N mineralization compared to stressed soils without compost. Compost thus exacerbated rather than buffered the effects of stress on net N mineralization. Compost addition did not affect microbial growth or respiration in any treatment, or how any C cycle parameter responded to stress. The decoupled C and N responses suggest that the localized stresses associated with intensive agriculture may have important implications for C and N turnover in these systems, and warrant further study. Additionally, they demonstrate that biogeochemical processes should be evaluated concurrently when accessing the effect of stressors in soil systems.
Dicyandiamide (DCD) is a nitrification inhibitor (NI) used to reduce reactive nitrogen (N) losses from soils. While commonly used, its effectiveness varies widely. Few studies have measured DCD and temperature effects on a complete set of soil N variables, including nitrite (NO2⁻) measured separately from nitrate (NO3⁻). Here the DCD reduction efficiencies (RE) for nine N availability metrics were quantified in two soils (a loam and silt loam) using aerobic laboratory microcosms at 5–30 °C. Both regression analysis and process modeling were used to characterize the responses. Four metrics accounted for NO3⁻ production and included total mobilized N, net nitrification, maximum nitrification rate, and cumulative NO3⁻ (cNO3⁻). The REs for these NO3⁻-associated production variables decreased linearly with temperature, and in all cases were below 60% at temperatures ≥22 °C, except for cNO3⁻ in one soil. In contrast, REs for NO2⁻ and nitric oxide (NO) gas production were less sensitive to temperature, ranging from 80 to 99% at 22 °C and 50–95% at 30 °C. Addition of DCD suppressed nitrous oxide (N2O) production in both soils by 20–80%, but increased ammonia volatilization by 36–210%. The time at which the maximum reduction efficiency occurred decreased exponentially with increasing temperature for most variables. The two-step nitrification process model (2SN) was modified to include competitive inhibition coupled to first-order DCD decomposition. Model versus data comparisons suggested that DCD had indirect effects on NO2⁻ kinetics that contributed to the greater suppression of NO2⁻ and NO relative to NO3⁻. This study also points to the need for NIs that are more stable under increased temperature. The methods used here could help to assess the efficacy and temperature sensitivity of other NIs as well as new microbial inhibitors that may be developed.
Emissions of nitric oxide from soils of equatorial rain forest were measured in the Dimonika Natural Park (4°30′S, 12°30′E) in the Mayombe Forest in Congo. Three research campaigns were carried out in June and July 1991 and in February 1992. Fluxes were measured by dynamic chamber techniques using a chemiluminescence instrument Scintrex LMA3. NO fluxes measured on natural soils are in between 5 and 17 × 10 9 molecules cm -2 s -1 ; they are of the same order of magnitude as those observed in similar tropical forest media. Soil treatment experiments show that the auto-decomposition of HNO 2 in these acid soils (pH# 4) (chemodenitrification) is a potentially important cause of nitric oxide production in this type of ecosystem. Nitrous acid comes from autotrophic nitrification all the year round, and also from biological denitrification, shown by N 2 0 emissions, during the rainy season. The regulation of NO release from soils is linked to ammonia production from litter mineralisation and to direct NH 4 input by throughfall. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1994.t01-3-00001.x
Presents an in-depth review of research associated with the effects of O3 on crops and selected information on the effects of other pollutants, especially SO2, on plants. The in-depth information presented supports the thesis that O3 has a major impact on crop production in the US. Details of assessment methodology are developed along with results of field research that are critical to the prediction of O3 effects on crop productivity. I summarize current knowledge on the effects of O3 on crops and highlight areas of uncertainties in relation to the assessment of effects. -from Author
Since the first paper on soil NOx emissions was published in 1978, the understanding of NOx flux from soil has grown enormously. While rapid strides have been made, progress across the suite of disciplines required to understand NOx emission, transport, chemistry, and deposition has been uneven and has resulted in gaps in knowledge and, indeed, somewhat conflicting ideas about the regional and global importance of NOx from soils. This paper summarizes some of the findings of the papers presented at the 1996 Tsukuba NOx workshop and suggests gaps in knowledge that may limit estimation and management of NOx emissions from soils. I discuss the causes and consequences of uncertainties in global estimates of soil NOx emissions and argue for use of process simulation models for NOx estimates. I also suggest three other missing pieces that limit our understanding of and ability to predict or manage NOx fluxes: 1) information on canopy uptake of NOx emitted from soils; 2) information on NOx response to agricultural management practices and approaches for simulating those high resolution effects; and 3) information on the consequences of atmospheric transport and deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen on NOx emissions from soils.
Emissions of nitric oxide from soils of equatorial rain forest were measured in the Dimonika Natural Park in the Mayombe Forest in Congo. No fluxes were measured on natural soils by dynamic chamber techniques using a chemiluminescence instrument Scintrex LMA3, and are of the same order of magnitude as those observed in similar tropical forest media. Soil treatment experiments show that the auto-decomposition of nitrous acid in these acid soils (chemodenitrification) is a potentially important cause of NO production in this type of ecosystem. Nitrous acid comes from autotrophic nitrification all the year round, and also from biological denitrification shown by N2O emissions, during the rainy season. The regulation of NO release from soils is linked to ammonia production from litter mineralisation and to direct NH4 input by throughfall. -Authors
Nitrogen management for conventional tillage (CT) corn (Zea mays L.) production is highly dependent on local soil and climatic conditions. Nitrogen fertilizer source, time of application, and use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) are components of an N management program which easily can be varied by the producer. An 8-yr study was undertaken in Ohio to assess N fertilizer management for CT corn production on a Crosby silt loam soil (fine, mixed, mesic Aerie Ochraqualf). Nitrogen fertilizer treatments compared in the study were fall and spring-preplant broadcast and incorporated urea, and fall and spring-preplant anhydrous ammonia (AA), with and without the NI, nitrapyrin [2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine]. Each N treatment was applied at rates of 80 and 160 lb/acre. Spring urea also was applied at 240 and 320 lb N/acre. Both grain yield and percent N in the ear leaf at tasseling were increased with increases in N rate for all N source × application time × NI treatments. For increasing rates of N, anhydrous ammonia produced higher yields and gave greater increases in percent ear-leaf N than did urea. Spring-preplant application of both N sources gave higher yields than fall application. Nitrapyrin with spring-applied AA gave no yield or percent ear-leaf N increases. However, NI with fall-applied AA did increase grain yield over fall-applied AA without NI. While significant year-to-year and treatment year variability was present in the study, the 8-yr average results can be used in formulating N management recommendations for CT corn production in similar soils in the North Central USA.
Please view the pdf by using the Full Text (PDF) link under 'View' to the left. Copyright © 1990. . Copyright © 1990 by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
The fluxes of NO and NO2 have been measured at a grassland site in Colorado, United States. The measurements were made using an enclosure technique during the period between Aug. 16, 1985, and Nov. 15, 1985. The fluxes ranged between 0.028 and 65 ng N m2 s-1 with an average value for all measurements of 3.0 ng N m-2 s-1. The NO flux was found to increase rapidly with increasing temperature. Large variations of NO flux with soil moisture were also observed. Under dry soil conditions, NO2 was present in the effluent from the sampling enclosure but was not present when the soil and/or vegetation covering the soil was moist. Overall, the NO2 totalled approximately 10% of the NO emissions. The results are compared with NO soil emission measurements carried out elsewhere.