Does Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rate to Corn Affect Nitrous Oxide Emissions from the Rotated Soybean Crop?

作者:Iqbal Javed; Mitchell David C; Barker Daniel W; Miguez Fernando; Sawyer John E; Pantoja Jose; Castellano Michael J
来源:Journal of Environmental Quality, 2015, 44(3): 711-719.
DOI:10.2134/jeq2014.09.0378

摘要

Little information exists on the potential for N fertilizer application to corn (Zea mays L.) to affect N2O emissions during subsequent unfertilized crops in a rotation. To determine if N fertilizer application to corn affects N2O emissions during subsequent crops in rotation, we measured N2O emissions for 3 yr (2011-2013) in an Iowa, corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation with three N fertilizer rates applied to corn (0 kg N ha(-1), the recommended rate of 135 kg N ha(-1), and a high rate of 225 kg N ha(-1)); soybean received no N fertilizer. We further investigated the potential for a winter cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop to interact with N fertilizer rate to affect N2O emissions from both crops. The cover crop did not consistently affect N2O emissions. Across all years and irrespective of cover crop, N fertilizer application above the recommended rate resulted in a 16% increase in mean N2O flux rate during the corn phase of the rotation. In 2 of the 3 yr, N fertilizer application to corn (0-225 kg N ha(-1)) did not affect mean N2O flux rates from the subsequent unfertilized soybean crop. However, in 1 yr after a drought, mean N2O flux rates from the soybean crops that received 135 and 225 kg N ha(-1) N application in the corn year were 35 and 70% higher than those from the soybean crop that received no N application in the corn year. Our results are consistent with previous studies demonstrating that cover crop effects on N2O emissions are not easily generalizable. When N fertilizer affects N2O emissions during a subsequent unfertilized crop, it will be important to determine if total fertilizer-induced N2O emissions are altered or only spread across a greater period of time.

  • 出版日期2015-6