Abstract
Application of feedlot manure (FLM) to cropping and grazing soils could provide a valuable N nutrient resource. However, because of its high but variable N concentration, FLM has the potential for environmental pollution of water bodies and N2O emission to the atmosphere. As a potential management tool, we utilised the low-nutrient green waste compost (GWC) to assess its effectiveness in regulating N release and the amount of N2O emission from two Vertisols when both FLM and GWC were applied together. Cumulative soil N2O emission over 32 weeks at 24°C and field capacity (70% water-filled pore space) for a black Vertisol (Udic Paleustert) was 45 mg N2O m−2 from unamended soil. This increased to 274 mg N2O m−2 when FLM was applied at 1 kg m−2 and to 403 mg N2O m−2 at 2 kg m−2. In contrast, the emissions of 60 mg N2O m−2 when the soil was amended with GWC 1 kg m−2 and 48 mg N2O m−2 at 2 kg m−2 were not significantly greater than the unamended soil. Emission from a mixture of FLM and GWC applied in equal amounts (0.5 kg m−2) was 106 mg N2O m−2 and FLM applied at 0.5 kg m−2 and GWC at 1.5 kg GWC m−2 was 117 mg N2O m−2. Although cumulative N2O emissions from an unamended grey Vertisol (Typic Chromustert) were only slightly higher than black Vertisol (57 mg N2O m−2), FLM application at 1 kg m−2 increased N2O emissions by 14 times (792 mg N2O m−2) and at 2 kg m−2 application by 22 times (1260 mg N2O m-2). Application of GWC did not significantly increase N2O emission (99 mg N2O m−2 at 1 kg m−2 and 65 mg N2O m−2 at 2 kg m−2) above the unamended soil. As observed for the black Vertisol, a mixture of FLM (0.5 kg m−2) and GWC (0.5 or 1.5 kg m−2) reduced N2O emission by >50% of that from the FLM alone, most likely by reducing the amount of mineral N (NH +4 –N and NO −3 –N) in the soil, as mineral N in soil and the N2O emission were closely correlated.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research for funding, Aronui Feedlot for bulk FLM supply and our colleagues Steven Reeves, Judy Brady, Tod Eadie and Dave Rowlings for laboratory assistance and Weijin Wang for setting up the gas chromatograph. We also thank the reviewers for constructive comments and suggestions.
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Dalal, R.C., Gibson, I.R. & Menzies, N.W. Nitrous oxide emission from feedlot manure and green waste compost applied to Vertisols. Biol Fertil Soils 45, 809–819 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0394-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0394-7