The effect of nitrification inhibitors on nitrous oxide emissions from cattle urine depositions to grassland under summer conditions in the UK. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barneze, A.S.; Minet, E.P.; Cerri, C.C.; Misselbrook, T.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 119(2015)
• Page Start: 122
• Page End: 129
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Cattle urine -- Nitrous oxide emission -- Mitigation potential -- Dicyandiamide -- Pyrazole derivative; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.06.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Highlights: We evaluated the effects of DCD and pyrazole derivatives on N2 O emission. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted under UK summer conditions. N2 O emissions showed similar temporal dynamics in both experiments. The nitrification inhibitors did not significantly reduce N2 O emissions. The lack of effectiveness was presumably due to the higher soil temperature. Abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2 O) has become the prime ozone depleting atmospheric emission and the third most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential approximately 300 times higher than CO2 . Nitrification and denitrification are processes responsible for N2 O emission from the soil after nitrogen input. The application of a nitrification inhibitor can reduce N2 O emissions from these processes. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of two different nitrification inhibitors (dicyandiamide (DCD) and a commercial formulation containing two pyrazole derivatives (PD), 1H-1, 2, 4-triazole and 3-methylpyrazole) on N2 O emissions from cattle urine applications for summer grazing conditions in the UK. Experiments were conducted under controlled conditions in a laboratory incubator and under field conditions on a grassland soil. The N2 O emissions showed similar temporal dynamics in both experiments. DCD concentration in the soil showed an exponential degradation during the experiment, with a half-life of the order of only 10 d (air temperature c. 15 °C). DCD (10 kg ha −1 ) and PD at the highest application rate (3.76 kg ha −1 ) reduced N2 O emissions by 13% and 29% in the incubation experiment and by 33% and 6% in the field experiment, respectively, although these reductions were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Under UK summer grazing conditions, these nitrification inhibitors appear to be less effective at reducing N2 O emissions than reported for other conditions elsewhere in the literature, presumably due to the higher soil temperature.