Mitigating Gaseous Nitrogen and Carbon Losses From Northeastern Agricultural Soils Via Alternative Soil Management Practices

Mitigating Gaseous Nitrogen and Carbon Losses From Northeastern Agricultural Soils Via Alternative Soil Management Practices PDF Author: Kyle Michael Dittmer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Climatic changes
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
Traditional agricultural practices often result in gaseous losses of nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia (NH3), and carbon dioxide (CO2), representing a net loss of nutrients from agricultural soils, which negatively impacts crop yield and requires farmers to increase nutrient inputs. By adopting best management practices (BMPs; i.e., no-tillage, cover crops, sub-surface manure application, and proper manure application timing), there is great potential to reduce these losses. Because N2O and CO2 are also greenhouse gases (GHGs), climate change mitigation via BMP adoption and emissions reductions would be an important co-benefit. However, adopting a no-tillage and cover cropping system has had setbacks within the Northeast, primarily due to concerns regarding manure nitrogen (N) losses in no-tillage systems as well as uncertainty surrounding the benefits of cover crops. This thesis used two field-trials located in Alburgh, Vermont to assess differences in (i) GHG emissions from agricultural soils, (ii) nitrate and ammonium retention, (iii) corn yield and protein content, and (iv) N uptake and retention via cover crop scavenging under a combination of different BMPs. Chapter 1 evaluates the effects of different reduced-tillage practices and manure application methods (i.e., vertical-tillage, no-tillage, manure injection, and broadcast manure application) on reducing N2O and CO2 emissions, retaining inorganic N, and improving crop yields. Greenhouse gas measurements were collected every other week for the growing season of 2015-2017 via static chamber method using a photoacoustic gas analyzer. Results from this study showed that tillage regimes and manure application method did not interact to affect any of the three research objectives, although differences between individual BMPs were observed. Notably, vertical tillage enhanced CO2 emissions relative to no-tillage, demonstrating the role of soil disturbance and aeration on aerobic microbial C transformations. Manure injection was found to significantly enhance both N2O and CO2 emission relative to broadcast application, likely due to the formation of anerobic micro-zones created from liquid manure injection. However, plots that received manure injection retained greater concentrations of soil nitrate, a vital nutrient for quality crop production, thereby highlighting a major tradeoff between gaseous N losses and N retention with manure injection. Chapter 2 evaluates the effects of tillage practices and timing of manure application to increase N retention with the use of cover crops in order to mitigate GHG emissions, enhance soil nitrate and ammonium retention, and improve cropping system N uptake. Treatments at this field trial consisted of a combination of the presence or absence of cover crops, no-tillage or conventional-tillage, and spring or fall manure application. Greenhouse gas emissions were measured every other week via static chamber method using a gas chromatograph for the growing season of 2018. Results from this study showed that the presence of cover crops enhanced both N2O and CO2 emissions relative to fallow land, irrespective of tillage regime and manure application season, likely as a result of greater N and carbon substrates entering the soil upon cover crop decomposition. Due to enhanced N2O emissions with cover crops, cover crops did not retain significantly greater inorganic N in the system upon termination.

Mitigating Gaseous Nitrogen and Carbon Losses From Northeastern Agricultural Soils Via Alternative Soil Management Practices

Mitigating Gaseous Nitrogen and Carbon Losses From Northeastern Agricultural Soils Via Alternative Soil Management Practices PDF Author: Kyle Michael Dittmer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Climatic changes
Languages : en
Pages : 282

Get Book Here

Book Description
Traditional agricultural practices often result in gaseous losses of nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia (NH3), and carbon dioxide (CO2), representing a net loss of nutrients from agricultural soils, which negatively impacts crop yield and requires farmers to increase nutrient inputs. By adopting best management practices (BMPs; i.e., no-tillage, cover crops, sub-surface manure application, and proper manure application timing), there is great potential to reduce these losses. Because N2O and CO2 are also greenhouse gases (GHGs), climate change mitigation via BMP adoption and emissions reductions would be an important co-benefit. However, adopting a no-tillage and cover cropping system has had setbacks within the Northeast, primarily due to concerns regarding manure nitrogen (N) losses in no-tillage systems as well as uncertainty surrounding the benefits of cover crops. This thesis used two field-trials located in Alburgh, Vermont to assess differences in (i) GHG emissions from agricultural soils, (ii) nitrate and ammonium retention, (iii) corn yield and protein content, and (iv) N uptake and retention via cover crop scavenging under a combination of different BMPs. Chapter 1 evaluates the effects of different reduced-tillage practices and manure application methods (i.e., vertical-tillage, no-tillage, manure injection, and broadcast manure application) on reducing N2O and CO2 emissions, retaining inorganic N, and improving crop yields. Greenhouse gas measurements were collected every other week for the growing season of 2015-2017 via static chamber method using a photoacoustic gas analyzer. Results from this study showed that tillage regimes and manure application method did not interact to affect any of the three research objectives, although differences between individual BMPs were observed. Notably, vertical tillage enhanced CO2 emissions relative to no-tillage, demonstrating the role of soil disturbance and aeration on aerobic microbial C transformations. Manure injection was found to significantly enhance both N2O and CO2 emission relative to broadcast application, likely due to the formation of anerobic micro-zones created from liquid manure injection. However, plots that received manure injection retained greater concentrations of soil nitrate, a vital nutrient for quality crop production, thereby highlighting a major tradeoff between gaseous N losses and N retention with manure injection. Chapter 2 evaluates the effects of tillage practices and timing of manure application to increase N retention with the use of cover crops in order to mitigate GHG emissions, enhance soil nitrate and ammonium retention, and improve cropping system N uptake. Treatments at this field trial consisted of a combination of the presence or absence of cover crops, no-tillage or conventional-tillage, and spring or fall manure application. Greenhouse gas emissions were measured every other week via static chamber method using a gas chromatograph for the growing season of 2018. Results from this study showed that the presence of cover crops enhanced both N2O and CO2 emissions relative to fallow land, irrespective of tillage regime and manure application season, likely as a result of greater N and carbon substrates entering the soil upon cover crop decomposition. Due to enhanced N2O emissions with cover crops, cover crops did not retain significantly greater inorganic N in the system upon termination.

Soil Management and Climate Change

Soil Management and Climate Change PDF Author: Maria Angeles Munoz
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128121297
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 398

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Book Description
Soil Management and Climate Change: Effects on Organic Carbon, Nitrogen Dynamics, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions provides a state of the art overview of recent findings and future research challenges regarding physical, chemical and biological processes controlling soil carbon, nitrogen dynamic and greenhouse gas emissions from soils. This book is for students and academics in soil science and environmental science, land managers, public administrators and legislators, and will increase understanding of organic matter preservation in soil and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Given the central role soil plays on the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, there is an urgent need to increase our common understanding about sources, mechanisms and processes that regulate organic matter mineralization and stabilization, and to identify those management practices and processes which mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, helping increase organic matter stabilization with suitable supplies of available N. - Provides the latest findings about soil organic matter stabilization and greenhouse gas emissions - Covers the effect of practices and management on soil organic matter stabilization - Includes information for readers to select the most suitable management practices to increase soil organic matter stabilization

Nitrogen and Carbon Changes in Great Plains Soils as Influenced by Cropping and Soil Treatments

Nitrogen and Carbon Changes in Great Plains Soils as Influenced by Cropping and Soil Treatments PDF Author: Howard J. Haas
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Cropping systems
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description


Soil Carbon Stabilization to Mitigate Climate Change

Soil Carbon Stabilization to Mitigate Climate Change PDF Author: Rahul Datta
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9813367652
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
Carbon stabilization involves to capturing carbon from the atmosphere and fix it in the forms soil organic carbon stock for a long period of time, it will be present to escape as a greenhouse gas in the form of carbon dioxide. Soil carbon storage is an important ecosystem service, resulting from interactions of several ecological processes. This process is primarily mediated by plants through photosynthesis, with carbon stored in the form of soil organic carbon. Soil carbon levels have reduced over decades of conversion of pristine ecosystems into agriculture landscape, which now offers the opportunity to store carbon from air into the soil. Carbon stabilization into the agricultural soils is a novel approach of research and offers promising reduction in the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This book brings together all aspects of soil carbon sequestration and stabilization, with a special focus on diversity of microorganisms and management practices of soil in agricultural systems. It discusses the role of ecosystem functioning, recent and future prospects, soil microbial ecological studies, rhizosphere microflora, and organic matter in soil carbon stabilization. It also explores carbon transformation in soil, biological management and its genetics, microbial transformation of soil carbon, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), and their role in sustainable agriculture. The book offers a spectrum of ideas of new technological inventions and fundamentals of soil sustainability. It will be suitable for teachers, researchers, and policymakers, undergraduate and graduate students of soil science, soil microbiology, agronomy, ecology, and environmental sciences

Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Soils

Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Soils PDF Author: Alessandro Piccolo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642233848
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
This compilation of techniques, methodologies and scientific data arises from a four-year Italian research project, which took place at university research stations in Turin, Piacenza, Naples and Potenza. Soil Organic Matter (SOM) represents an active and essential pool of the total organic carbon on the planet. Consequently, even small changes in this SOM carbon pool may have a significant impact on the concentration of atmospheric CO2. Recent new understanding of the chemical nature of SOM indicates that innovative and sustainable technologies may be applied to sequester carbon in agricultural soils. Overall results of the project have been applied to develop an innovative model for the prediction and description, both quantitatively and qualitatively, of carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. This book provides experts in different areas of soil science with a complete picture of the effects of new soil management methods and their potentials for practical application in farm management.

Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management

Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management PDF Author: M.J. Shaffer
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1566705290
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 674

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Book Description
Good management practices for carbon and nitrogen are vital to crop productivity and soil sustainability, as well as to the reduction of global greenhouse gases and environmental pollution. Since the 1950's, mathematical models have advanced our understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling at both the micro- and macro-scales. However, many of the models are scattered in the literature, undergo constant modification, and similar models can have different names. Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management clarifies the confusion by presenting a systematic summary of the various models available. It provides information about strengths and weaknesses, level of complexity, easiness of use, and application range of each model. In nineteen chapters, internationally known model developers and users update you on the current status and future direction of carbon and nitrogen modeling. The book's coverage ranges from theoretical comparison of models to application of models to soil management problems, from laboratory applications to field and watershed scale applications, from short-term simulation to long-term prediction, and from DOS-based computer programs to Object-Oriented and Graphical Interface designs. With this broad scope, Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management provides the tools to manage complex carbon/nitrogen processes effectively.

Sustainable Agroecosystem Management

Sustainable Agroecosystem Management PDF Author: Patrick J. Bohlen
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1040070035
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
Sustainable Agroecosystem Management: Integrating Ecology, Economics, and Society examines the challenges for developing integrated approaches to the management of agricultural ecosystems. Providing historical background of attempts to bridge the ecological and agricultural sciences, this book highlights recent efforts to integrate natural and social science perspectives. Through various case studies with global applications, the text explores practical innovative strategies, policies, and research needs for emphasizing whole system productivity, diversification of agricultural operations, and management of agricultural systems that sustain multiple functions including ecological integrity.

Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Soil

Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Soil PDF Author: Rahul Datta
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9811372640
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 498

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Book Description
Several textbooks and edited volumes are currently available on general soil fertility but‚ to date‚ none have been dedicated to the study of “Sustainable Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Soil.” Yet this aspect is extremely important, considering the fact that the soil, as the ‘epidermis of the Earth’ (geodermis)‚ is a major component of the terrestrial biosphere. This book addresses virtually every aspect of C and N cycling, including: general concepts on the diversity of microorganisms and management practices for soil, the function of soil’s structure-function-ecosystem, the evolving role of C and N, cutting-edge methods used in soil microbial ecological studies, rhizosphere microflora, the role of organic matter (OM) in agricultural productivity, C and N transformation in soil, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and its genetics, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), PGPRs and their role in sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, etc. The book’s main objectives are: (1) to explain in detail the role of C and N cycling in sustaining agricultural productivity and its importance to sustainable soil management; (2) to show readers how to restore soil health with C and N; and (3) to help them understand the matching of C and N cycling rules from a climatic perspective. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers, as well as undergraduate and graduate students of soil science, soil microbiology, agronomy, ecology, and the environmental sciences. Gathering cutting-edge contributions from internationally respected researchers, it offers authoritative content on a broad range of topics, which is supplemented by a wealth of data, tables, figures, and photographs. Moreover, it provides a roadmap for sustainable approaches to food and nutritional security, and to soil sustainability in agricultural systems, based on C and N cycling in soil systems.

Turnover of Organic Nitrogen in Agricultural Soils and the Effects of Management Practices on Soil Fertility

Turnover of Organic Nitrogen in Agricultural Soils and the Effects of Management Practices on Soil Fertility PDF Author: Sigfús Bjarnason
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789157634122
Category : Crops and nitrogen
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description


Managing Microbially-mediated Nitrogen Cycling to Decrease Risk of Loss from Semi-arid Rainfed Agricultural Soils

Managing Microbially-mediated Nitrogen Cycling to Decrease Risk of Loss from Semi-arid Rainfed Agricultural Soils PDF Author: Louise Marjorie Fisk
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
[Truncated] More efficient management of nitrogen (N) in agricultural soils is vital to maximise food supply and minimise losses of N to the environment. Nitrification is a key pathway of detrimental N loss, as nitrate and gaseous nitrous oxide are produced. In semi-arid soils, N cycling and nitrification is not well understood during summer fallow, an important period for N loss, as most research has instead focussed on N fertiliser management during the growing season. In order to better understand and manage N cycling in cropped semi-arid soils, this thesis investigated factors contributing to risk of N loss, as well as possible solutions to decrease the risk of loss. The close link between soil N and carbon (C) cycling suggested that solutions might be found through management of soil organic matter. Soil was used from a long-term field site in the northern grainbelt of Western Australia with a range of crop residue and tillage treatments (no tillage; no tillage with burnt stubble; tillage; tillage plus additional crop residue inputs; and tillage plus crop residues run-down) that altered soil organic matter content since 2003, allowing examination of N transformation pathways without confounding effects of differing soil types or climate. Firstly, steady-state N transformations and risk of N loss (defined as gross nitrification: immobilisation ratio) were examined, in response to a range of soil temperatures, root exudate C and field treatment (tilled soil and tilled soil plus crop residues), using 15N isotopic pool dilution and turnover of 14C-labelled substrates. Tilled soil plus crop residues had 76% more total C than tilled soil. Root exudates were effective at decreasing risk of N loss by stimulating microbial N immobilisation over nitrification. In comparison, management of N loss through additional crop residue inputs was unlikely to be effective, as increased soil organic matter enhanced the supply of both C and N substrates and N cycling overall. At temperatures above 30°C, net N mineralisation was associated with decreased microbial C use efficiency, likely contributing to increases in inorganic N pools during summer fallow.