Long‐term compost use and high frequency low concentration fertigation reduce N2O emissions from a California almond orchard

Abstract

AbstractUsing compost as an agricultural amendment offers a means to reduce organic waste, as mandated in the US state of California (SB 1383). Compost can improve soil physical characteristics and soil carbon content by increasing soil organic matter. We examined the effect of compost application (7‐year duration) on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, inorganic nitrogen (N) pools, soil temperature and water content, bulk density, and total carbon (C) and N content. The orchard was composed of Nonpareil cultivars interplanted with Aldrich and Carmel cultivars, all grafted on Nemaguard peach rootstock [Prunus persica (L.) Bratsch]. Its soil was Oakdale sandy loam (coarse‐loamy, mixed, active, thermic Mollic Haploxeralf). Delivering nutrients through the irrigation system, the orchard was fertigated 14 times with urea ammonium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate, using high frequency and low concentration (HFLC) fertigation applications (total 195 kg N ha−1). Soil without compost (No Compost) tended to have higher N2O fluxes (up to 2.75‐fold) than soil with compost (Compost). Cumulative measured N2O emissions (i.e., sum of nine sampling events) from Compost were half that from No Compost. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, total C, and N tended to be greater in Compost, and bulk density tended to be lower in Compost than No Compost. No relationships between N2O emissions and soil temperature, volumetric water content, water‐filled pore space, and inorganic N pools occurred in either treatment. Our findings indicate that long‐term applications of compost in perennial crops, in combination with an HFLC nutrient management program, could reduce losses of N as N2O to the atmosphere.