Greenhouse gas emissions from an irrigated dairy forage rotation as influenced by fertilizer and manure applications

Dungan, R.S. and Leytem, A.B. and Tarkalson, D.D. and Ippolito, J.A. and Bjorneberg, D.L. (2017) Greenhouse gas emissions from an irrigated dairy forage rotation as influenced by fertilizer and manure applications. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 81:537-545. 30 June 2017.

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Abstract

Information is needed regarding the effect of nitrogen source on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from irrigated semiarid agricultural soils. We report nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane emissions from a silage corn (Zea mays L.) (2013)–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (2014)–alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (2015) rotation under conventional tillage and sprinkler irrigation. We evaluated the effectiveness of an enhanced-efficiency fertilizer (SuperU, a stabilized granular urea with urease and nitrification inhibitors) to reduce nitrous oxide emissions compared with granular urea and to determine GHG emissions from fall-applied dairy manure or composted dairy manure and spring-applied dairy manure. Nitrogen was applied during the first 2 yr of the study. SuperU plots emitted 53% less nitrous oxide than urea with corn, whereas no emission reductions occurred in 2014 with barley. The nitrous oxide -N emission losses as a percentage of total nitrogen applied were 0.21 and 0.04% for urea and SuperU in 2013, respectively, with losses of 0.05% from both urea fertilizers in 2014. On average, nitrous oxide fluxes from fall and spring manure were statistically similar and greater than the other nitrogen treatments in 2014 and a lasting manure treatment effect on emissions occurred under alfalfa. Carbon dioxide fluxes were greatest from fall- and spring-applied manure during the first 2 yr. Methane fluxes were negative, indicating microbial oxidation, and no differences occurred among the treatments. Corn, barley, and alfalfa yields were similar among all nitrogen treatments. This work demonstrates that SuperU can reduce nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated cropping systems in the semiarid western United States without affecting yields.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1601
Subjects:	Air Quality > Air Emissions Manure > Chemistry Manure
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	14 Aug 2017 21:25
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2017 21:25
Item ID:	1643
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1643