N2O emissions from different cropping systems and from aerated, nitrifying and denitrifying tanks of a municipal waste water treatment plant

Abstract

Nitrous oxide emissions, nitrate, water-soluble carbon and biological O2 demand (BOD5) were quantified in different cropping systems fertilized with varying amounts of nitrogen (clayey loam, October 1991 to May 1992), in an aerated tank (March 1993 to March 1994), and in the nitrification-denitrification unit (March to July 1994) of a municipal waste water treatment plant. In addition, the N2O present in the soil body at different depths was determined (February to July 1994). N2O was emitted by all cropping systems (mean releases 0.13–0.35 mg N2O m-2 h-1), and all the units of the domestic waste water treatment plant (aerated tank 0–6.2 mg N2O m-2 h-1, nitrification tank 0–204,3 mg N2O m-2, h-1, denitrifying unit 0–2.2 mg N2O m-2 h-1). During the N2O-sampling periods estimated amounts of 0.9, 1.5, 2.4 and 1.4 kg N2O−N ha-1, respectively, were released by the cropping systems. The aerated, nitrifying and denitrifying tanks of the municipal waste water treatment plant released mean amounts of 9.1, 71.6 and 1.8 g N2O−N m-2, respectively, during the sampling periods.