Assessment of N_2O emissions from a fertilised vegetable cropping soil under different plant residue management strategies using ~(15)N tracing techniques

摘要

Combined application of plant residues and N fertilisers strongly affect soil mineral N dynamics and N_2O emissions depending on the quality of the plant residues, their application methods and other management strategies. We investigated the effect of combined application of two vegetable plant residues (cauliflower and sweet corn) and ~(15)N fertiliser on N dynamics and N_2O emission in a glasshouse pot study. The experiment was conducted under two residue management practices (soil incorporation vs surface mulching) over 98 days with growing basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants. We also assessed the efficacy of applying the nitrification inhibitor, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) to the plant residues, for reducing N loss and mitigating N_2O emissions. Application of plant residues, both on the soil surface or into soil, resulted in net N mineralisation and increased cumulative N_2O emission compared with the application of N fertiliser alone. Soil surface mulching of sweet corn decreased total and residue-induced cumulative N_2O emission compared with the incorporation method, while it showed opposite effect on N_2O emissions from cauliflower residue. The application of DMPP with sweet com residue reduced total, residue- and fertiliser-induced N_2O emissions; however its application with cauliflower residue did not show any mitigating effect on the N_2O emissions. The residue application methods and the use of DMPP did not significantly affect ~(15)N recovery by the basil plants. In contrast, soil incorporation of these residues doubled the microbial immobilisation of applied ~(15)N into soil organic matter. Linear regression analysis of N_2O emission during the experimental period indicated that in the treatments without DMPP application, soil NO_3~--N concentration was the most important factor in controlling the magnitude of N_2O emissions, while the application of DMPP changed the dominant regulating factor from NO_3~--N to NH_4~+-N concentration.