Plant morphophysiological and anatomical factors associated with nitrous oxide flux from wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to study the dynamics of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from wheat varieties viz., Sonalika, HUW 468, HUW 234 and DBW 14 grown in alluvial soils of North Bank Plain Agroclimatic Zone of Assam, India. Attempts were made to find out the relationship of N₂O emission with plant morphophysiological, anatomical and soil properties. N₂O fluxes from wheat varieties ranged from 40 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹ to 295 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹. Soil organic carbon and soil temperature have shown significant relationship with N₂O flux. The rate of leaf transpiration recorded from the wheat varieties at different growth stages exhibited a positive correlation with N₂O emission suggesting that movement of N₂O along with the transpirational water flow may be an important mechanism of N₂O transport and emission through wheat plants. Anatomical investigation by scanning electron microscope revealed that N₂O emission has relationship with stomatal frequency of leaf and leaf sheaths. Variety HUW 234 with the highest stomatal frequency of leaf and leaf sheath also recorded higher seasonal N₂O emission compared to other varieties. Seasonal N₂O emission (E(sif)) of the varieties ranged from 3.25 to 3.81 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹. Significant variations in E(sif) values were recorded within the varieties.