Water-filled Pore Space Research Articles

Effects of warming, wetting and nitrogen addition on substrate-induced respiration and temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration in a temperate forest soil

Soil heterotrophic respiration and its temperature sensitivity are affected by various climatic and environmental factors. However, little is known about the combined effects of concurrent climatic and environmental changes, such as climatic warming, changing precipitation regimes, and increasing nitrogen (N) deposition. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the individual and combined effects of warming, wetting, and N addition on soil heterotrophic respiration and temperature sensitivity. We incubated soils collected from a temperate forest in South Korea for 60 d at two temperature levels (15 and 20 °C, representing the annual mean temperature of the study site and 5 °C warming, respectively), three moisture levels (10%, 28%, and 50% water-filled pore space (WFPS), representing dry, moist, and wet conditions, respectively), and two N levels (without N and with N addition equivalent to 50 kg N ha–1 year–1). On day 30, soils were distributed across five different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C) for 24 h to determine short-term changes in temperature sensitivity (Q10, change in respiration with 10 °C increase in temperature) of soil heterotrophic respiration. After completing the incubation on day 60, we measured substrate-induced respiration (SIR) by adding six labile substrates to the three types of treatments. Wetting treatment (increase from 28% to 50% WFPS) reduced SIR by 40.8% (3.77 to 2.23 µg CO2-C g–1 h–1), but warming (increase from 15 to 20 °C) and N addition increased SIR by 47.7% (3.77 to 5.57 µg CO2-C g–1 h–1) and 42.0% (3.77 to 5.35 µg CO2-C g–1 h–1), respectively. A combination of any two treatments did not affect SIR, but the combination of three treatments reduced SIR by 42.4% (3.70 to 2.20 µg CO2-C g–1 h–1). Wetting treatment increased Q10 by 25.0% (2.4 to 3.0). However, warming and N addition reduced Q10 by 37.5% (2.4 to 1.5) and 16.7% (2.4 to 2.0), respectively. Warming coupled with wetting did not significantly change Q10, while warming coupled with N addition reduced Q10 by 33.3% (2.4 to 1.6). The combination of three treatments increased Q10 by 12.5% (2.4 to 2.7). Our results demonstrated that among the three factors, soil moisture is the most important one controlling SIR and Q10. The results suggest that the effect of warming on SIR and Q10 can be modified significantly by rainfall variability and elevated N availability. Therefore, this study emphasizes that concurrent climatic and environmental changes, such as increasing rainfall variability and N deposition, should be considered when predicting changes induced by warming in soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity.

Nitrapyrin effectiveness in reducing nitrous oxide emissions decreases at low doses of urea in an Andosol

In the tropics, frequent nitrogen (N) fertilization of grazing areas can potentially increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The application of nitrification inhibitors has been reported as an effective management practice for potentially reducing N loss from the soil-plant system and improving N use efficiency (NUE). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the co-application of nitrapyrin (a nitrification inhibitor, NI) and urea in a tropical Andosol on the behavior of N and the emissions of N2O from autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification. A greenhouse experiment was performed using a soil (pH 5.9, organic matter content 78 g kg–1, and N 5.6 g kg–1) sown with Cynodon nlemfuensis at 60% water-filled pore space to quantify total N2O emissions, N2O derived from fertilizer, soil ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3–), and NUE. The study included treatments that received deionized water only (control, CK) and two doses of 15N-enriched urea (65 (UR) and 129 mg N kg–1 (UD)) without or with 350 g nitrapyrin for each 100 kg N (UR + NI and UD + NI). No significant differences were observed in soil NH+ content between the UR and UR + NI treatments, probably because of soil mineralization and immobilization (influenced by high soil organic matter content). Nitrapyrin application failed to maintain a stable pool of labeled NO3− due to the additional NO− produced by heterotrophic nitrification, which is not effectively inhibited by nitrapyrin. After 56 d, N2O emissions in UR (0.51 ± 0.12 mg N2O-N kg–1) and UR + NI (0.45 ± 0.13 mg N2O-N kg–1) were not significantly different; by contrast, emissions were 36.3% lower in UD + NI than in UD. It was concluded that the soil organic N mineralization and heterotrophic nitrification are the main processes of NH4+ and NO3– production. Additionally, it was found that N2O emissions were partially a consequence of the direct oxidation of the soil's organic N via heterotrophic nitrification coupled to denitrification. Finally, the results suggest that nitrapyrin would likely exert significant mitigation on N2O emissions only if a substantial N surplus exists in soils with high organic matter content.

Modelling dynamics of emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O) from soils in agroecosystems

Problem formulation. One of the main factors affecting climate change is the greenhouse effect conditioned by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, among which CO2, CH4 and N2O are the most dangerous heat-trapping gases. In addition to anthropogenic activities, the source of greenhouse gases is emissions from natural ecosystems and agroecosystems. Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions, nitrous oxide (N2O) also has large global warming potential, being nearly 300 times higher than CO2 on a weight basis. The purpose of the study is to create the integrated model of greenhouse gas emissions from soils in the agroecosystems on the basis of studies concerning modelling carbon dioxide emissions from mineral soils, quantitatively describing nitrous oxide emissions and modelling agroecosystem productivity. Methods. Mathematical modelling of environmental processes, the synthesis of quantitative approaches to their description. Results. The results of modelling greenhouse gas emissions from soils in agro-ecosystems during 2017-2019 obtained by means of the integrated model developed showed that there is an interseasonal and interannual variability of CO2 and N2O fluxes. The higher CO2 flow rate was observed in 2017, in 2018 the lower CO2 emission intensity was discovered and in 2019 the CO2 flow rate was even lower. The emission of greenhouse gases varies depending on soil temperature, moisture and humus level of the soil. The equally low level of CO2 fluxes was observed at sufficiently low (from 1 to 6°C) soil temperatures. It was 0.072 – 0.401 g C-CO2/m2/day. The highest level of CO2 emission was observed in 2017 with a combination of high soil temperature (24-27°C) and sufficient soil moisture, and varies between 1,058 to 1,307 g С- CO2/m2/day. It was revealed that the most intense emission of N2O was observed during periods of high soil moisture when anaerobic conditions were established in the soil. The denitrification process was particularly intense in the spring of 2019, when the seasonal precipitation sum was 226 mm, and water-filled pore space (WFPS) reached more than 0.8 relative units. The average emission level of N2O was 15.592 g N-N2O/m2/day over this period, and the total N2O emission was the highest (1.134 kg of N-N2O/ha). The N2O emission intensity varied depending on the meteorological seasons. In the spring of 2017 and spring of 2018, the total N2O emission was 0.153–0.173 kg N-N2O/ha. The N2O emissions reached to 0.202-0.503 kg N-N2O/ha in the summer season and 0.192-0.660 kg N-N2O/ha in the autumn. The highest emission levels were observed in the spring seasons (2018 and 2019) and in the autumn months (2017 and 2018), an increase in soil moisture worsened soil aeration, which led to an intensive denitrification process. In total, for the three meteorological seasons the highest emission was in 2019 (1.567 kg N- N2O/ha). The emission level was lower in 2018 (1.323 kg N-N2O/ha) and even lower in 2017 (0.569 kg N-N2O/ha). Conclusions. Based on the synthesis of approaches to modelling CO2, N2O emissions and agroecosystem productivity, an integrated model of greenhouse gas emissions from soils in agro-ecosystems has been developed (plant-agrosoil-GHG-model). The interseasonal and interannual variability of CO2 and N2O fluxes and their dependence on weather conditions and humus level of the soil have been obtained.

Sources and priming of nitrous oxide production across a range of moisture contents in a soil with high organic matter.

Adding nitrogen fertilizers to agricultural soils contributes to increasing concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2 O) in the atmosphere. However, the impacts of N addition on soil organic matter (SOM) turnover, SOM availability, and the ensuing SOM-derived N2 O emissions remain elusive. Within this context, the net change in direction and rate of SOM-derived N2 O production triggered by added N is termed the N2 O priming effect. This incubation study examined the sources and priming of N2 O production as a function of urea addition and multiple moisture contents in a soil with high SOM (55g organic C kg-1 ). We assessed four water-filled pore space (WFPS) conditions: 28, 40, 52, and 64%. Relative to controls receiving no N, urea addition increased N2 O production by 2.6 times (P<.001). Cumulative N2 O production correlated well with nitrification rates (r=.75; P=.03). We used 15 N-labeled urea to trace the added urea into N2 O. Of the N added via urea, the recovery as N2 O-N shifted from 0.02 to 0.17% when WFPS increased from 28 to 64% (P<.05). We also partitioned the N2 O production into urea vs. SOM sources. More N2 O was sourced from SOM than urea, with 59 ± 2% N2 O originating from SOM. The magnitude of SOM-derived N2 O under urea was larger than that of the control, revealing that positive N2 O priming was triggered by urea addition. Upon subtracting the controls, the primed N2 O was a consistent 19 ± 2% of the total N2 O produced by urea-amended soils. Nevertheless, the priming magnitude rose sharply with increasing moisture by more than one order of magnitude from 4 to 48μg N2 O-N kg-1 soil and in exponential mode (R2 =.98). Soil moisture, SOM, and nitrification interacted to drive the sources and priming of N2 O.

Low pH of a High Carbon Gleysol Contributes to Nitrification Inhibition Resulting in Low N2O Soil Emissions and Limited Effectiveness of Nitrification Inhibitors

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas, and drained tropical/subtropical wetland soils that are high in carbon (C) make a substantial contribution to global anthropogenic N2O emissions. However, we previously reported negligible N2O emissions from an acidic, C-rich Gleysol under aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the subtropics despite ample moisture and fertiliser nitrogen (N). In a field experiment, seasonal cumulative N2O emissions in the field following the application of 90 kg ha−1 N as urea were low (0.15 kg N2O-N ha−1·season−1). An incubation study examining the effects of temperature (20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C) and water-filled pore space (WFPS; 40% vs. 60%) on N transformations showed that incubation temperature had a larger influence on nitrification than WFPS (40% vs. 60%). There was limited nitrification at 20 °C at either WFPS over 30 days, but low concentrations of NO3− (&lt;100 mg kg−1) began to accumulate between 16–23 days at 30 °C and between 23–30 days at 25 °C. Liming soil resulted in nitrification after 10 days, while only minor nitrification was evident in the unlimed soil. The presence of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) with urea delayed nitrification for up to 4 days in the limed soil, suggesting such inhibitors may not provide substantial benefits in high C soils. Our results suggest that a low soil pH contributes to impaired nitrification in the C-rich Gleysol examined, which is associated with low fluxes of N2O in the field. We suggest that soil pH could potentially be manipulated to sustain low rates of nitrification and lower N losses, without compromising crop growth.

Modeling the effect of salt-affected soil on water balance fluxes and nitrous oxide emission using modified DNDC

Soil salinity restricts plant growth, affects soil water balance and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and can contaminate surface and groundwater. In this study, the Denitrification Decomposition (DNDC) model was modified to couple salt and water balance equations (SALT-DNDC) to investigate the effect of salinity on water balance and N2O fluxes. The model was examined against four growing seasons (2008–11) of observed data from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Then, the model was used to simulate water filled pore space (WFPS), salt concentration and the N2O flux from agricultural soils. The results show that the effects of salinity on WFPS vary in different soil layers. Within shallow soil layers (<20 cm from soil surface) the salt concentration does not affect the average WFPS when initial salt concentrations range from 5 to 20 dS/m. However, in deeper soil layers (>20 cm from soil surface), when the initial salt concentration ranges from 5 to 20 dS/m it could indirectly affect the average WFPS due to changes of osmotic potential and transpiration. When AW is greater than 40%, the average growing season N2O emissions increase to a range of 0.6–1.0 g-N/ha/d at initial salt concentrations (5–20 dS/m) from a range of 0.5–0.7 g-N/ha/d when the salt concentrations is 0 dS/m. The newly developed SALT-DNDC model provides a unique tool to help investigate interactive effects among salt, soil, water, vegetation, and weather conditions on N2O fluxes.

Contingent Effects of Liming on N2O-Emissions Driven by Autotrophic Nitrification

Liming acidic soils is often found to reduce their N2O emission due to lowered N2O/(N2O + N2) product ratio of denitrification. Some field experiments have shown the opposite effect, however, and the reason for this could be that liming stimulates nitrification-driven N2O production by enhancing nitrification rates, and by favoring ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) over ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA). AOB produce more N2O than AOA, and high nitrification rates induce transient/local hypoxia, thereby stimulating heterotrophic denitrification. To study these phenomena, we investigated nitrification and denitrification kinetics and the abundance of AOB and AOA in soils sampled from a field experiment 2–3 years after liming. The field trial compared traditional liming (carbonates) with powdered siliceous rocks. As expected, the N2O/(N2O + N2) product ratio of heterotrophic denitrification declined with increasing pH, and the potential nitrification rate and its N2O yield (YN2O: N2O-N/NO3–-N), as measured in fully oxic soil slurries, increased with pH, and both correlated strongly with the AOB/AOA gene abundance ratio. Soil microcosm experiments were monitored for nitrification, its O2-consumption and N2O emissions, as induced by ammonium fertilization. Here we observed a conspicuous dependency on water filled pore space (WFPS): at 60 and 70% WFPS, YN2O was 0.03-0.06% and 0.06–0.15%, respectively, increasing with increasing pH, as in the aerobic soil slurries. At 85% WFPS, however, YN2O was more than two orders of magnitude higher, and decreased with increasing pH. A plausible interpretation is that O2 consumption by fertilizer-induced nitrification cause hypoxia in wet soils, hence induce heterotrophic nitrification, whose YN2O decline with increasing pH. We conclude that while low emissions from nitrification in well-drained soils may be enhanced by liming, the spikes of high N2O emission induced by ammonium fertilization at high soil moisture may be reduced by liming, because the heterotrophic N2O reduction is enhanced by high pH.

Application of a triple 15N tracing technique to elucidate N transformations in a UK grassland soil

To identify the production and consumption pathways and temporal dynamics of N2O emitted from soil, this study uses 15N-labelled substrate-N to quantify the underlying gross N transformation rates using the Ntrace analysis tool and link them to N-emissions. In three experiments twelve soil cores each were incubated in a lab incubation system to measure gaseous emissions, while parallel incubations under the same conditions were set up for destructive soil sampling at 7 time points. Using the triple labelling technique (applying NH4NO3 with either the NH4+-N or the NO3−-N, or both being 15N labelled), this study investigated the effects of 55, 70 and 85% water filled pore space (deemed to promote nitrification, both nitrification and denitrification, and denitrification, respectively) in a clay soil on gaseous N emissions and investigates the source and processes leading to N2O emissions.To assess the utilisation of applied NO3− vs. nitrified NO3− from applied NH4+, the 15N tracing tool Ntrace was used to quantify the rates of immobilisation of NO3− and NH4+, oxidation of NH4+, mineralisation of organic N and subsequent nitrification by the analysis of the 15N in the soil. Gross transformation rates were calculated, indicating the relative importance of added NO3− and NO3− derived from nitrified added NH4+.Results show an important contribution of heterotrophic nitrification (organic N oxidation to NO3−) which was highest at the 55% water filled pore space (WFPS), decreasing in its contribution to N-transformation processes with increasing WFPS, while nitrification (NH4+ oxidation to NO3−) was contributing the most at 70% WFPS. The contribution of denitrification increased with increasing WFPS, but only became dominant at 85% WFPS. While denitrification still showed to be most important at high and nitrification at lower WFPS, the actual % WFPS values were not as expected and highlight the fact that WFPS is a contributor, but not the sole/most important parameter determining the type of N-transformation processes taking place.

Responses of soil WEOM quantity and quality to freeze–thaw and litter manipulation with contrasting soil water content: A laboratory experiment

Future climatic change is likely to increase the occurrence of soil freeze–thaw (FT) events in high latitude and/or high altitude zones, which can substantially influence the dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) released into the soils. However, it is not clear how the quantity and quality of soil DOM respond to changing FT patterns under different soil moisture and litter manipulation conditions in northern temperate forest stands. In this study, litter-amended and non-amended forest soils were incubated for 360 days at three soil moisture levels (30%, 60%, and 90% water-filled pore space) and three intensities of FT disturbance (low, high, and none). We quantified heterotrophic respiration, enzyme activity, microbial biomass, and water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) as a proxy for DOM in soils during the incubation experiment. The quality of WEOM was characterized by biodegradability, UV absorbance and parallel factor analysis modelling of fluorescence excitation emission matrices. Concentrations of water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) and biodegradable WEOC declined continuously in all treatments over the 360-day incubation period. The dominant component of fluorescent WEOM shifted from humic- and fulvic- like components during the first 108 days of incubation, to protein-like components of microbial origin, characterized by high aromaticity, at the end of the incubation period. Litter amendment, FT disturbance, and their interaction increased WEOC concentrations in soils during the early 108-day incubation period, particularly in soils with low moisture and high FT intensity, but these increases disappeared after 252 days incubation at 15 °C. Litter-derived fluorescent WEOM in soils without FT disturbance was dominated by protein-like components after 14 days of incubation, but these were replaced by humic- and fulvic-like components after 108 days. This replacement effect was weaker in soils with FT disturbance, which we attribute to changes in microbial properties, including enzyme activity, microbial biomass and activity.

The effect of soil moisture on the response by fungi and bacteria to nitrogen additions for N2O production

In addition to bacteria, the contribution of fungi to nitrous oxide (N2O) production has been recognized but the responses of these two broad and unrelated groups of microorganisms to global environmental changes, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, and precipitation in terms of N2O production are unclear. We studied how these two microbial-mediated N2O production pathways responded to soil moisture conditions and to N addition in an N-limited temperate forest. Soils from a long-term N addition experiment in Changbai Mountain, northeastern China were incubated. Varied concentrations of cycloheximide and streptomycin, both inhibitors of fungal and bacterial activity, were used to determine the contributions of both to N2O production in 66%, 98% and 130% water-filled pore spaces (WFPS). The results showed that N2O production decreased significantly with increasing cycloheximide concentration whereas streptomycin was only inhibiting N2O emissions at 98% and 130% WFPS. The bacterial pathway of N2O production in N-addition (Nadd) soil was significantly more dominant than that in untreated (Namb) soil. The difference in the fungal pathway of N2O production between the soil with nitrogen addition and the untreated soil was not significant. Net N2O emissions increased with increasing soil moisture, especially at 130% WFPS, a completely flooded condition. Bacteria dominated carbon dioxide (CO2) and N2O emissions in Nadd soil and at 130% WFPS regardless of N status, while fungi dominated CO2 and N2O emissions in soil without N addition at 66% and 98% WFPS. The results suggest that flooded soil is an important source of N2O emissions and that bacteria might be better adapted to compete in fertile soils under anoxic conditions.

Soil greenhouse gas fluxes following conventional selective and reduced-impact logging in a Congo Basin rainforest

Selective logging is among the main causes of tropical forest degradation, but little is known about its effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from highly weathered Ferralsol soils in Africa. We measured soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes, and their soil controlling factors at two forests that had undergone conventional selective logging and reduced-impact logging in Cameroon. Each logging system had four replicate plots, each included the disturbed strata (road, logging deck, skidding trail, and felling gap) and an undisturbed reference area. Measurements were conducted monthly from September 2016 to October 2017. Annual GHG fluxes ranged from 4.9 to 18.6 Mg CO2–C, from 1.5 to 79 kg N2O–N, and from − 4.3 to 71.1 kg CH4–C ha−1 year−1. Compared to undisturbed areas, soil CO2 emissions were reduced and soil CH4 emissions increased in skidding trails, logging decks and roads (P < 0.01) whereas soil N2O emissions increased in skidding trails (P = 0.03–0.05). The combined disturbed strata had 28% decrease in soil CO2 emissions, 83% increase in soil N2O emissions, and seven times higher soil CH4 emissions compared to undisturbed area (P ≤ 0.01). However, the disturbed strata represented only 4–5% of the area impacted in both logging systems, which reduced considerably the changes in soil GHG fluxes at the landscape level. Across all strata, soil GHG fluxes were regulated by soil bulk density and water-filled pore space, indicating the influence of soil aeration and gas diffusion, and by soil organic carbon and nitrogen, suggesting the control of substrate availability on microbial processes of these GHG.

Advancement of the Acetylene Inhibition Technique Using Time Series Analysis on Air-Dried Floodplain Soils to Quantify Denitrification Potential

Denitrification in floodplain soils is one key process that determines the buffering capacity of riparian zones in terms of diffuse nitrate pollution. One widely used approach to measure the denitrification potential is the acetylene inhibition technique that requires fresh soil samples. We conducted experiments with air-dried soils using a time series analysis to determine the optimal rewetting period. Thus, air-dried soil samples from six different floodplain areas in Germany were rewetted for 1 to 13days to 100% water-filled pore space. We analyzed nitrogen accumulated as N2O in the top of anaerobic flasks with and without acetylene by gas chromatography after four hours of incubation. We observed an overall optimal rewetting of at least seven days for complete denitrification. We also saw the strong influence of pH and field capacity on the denitrification product ratio; in soils with pH &lt; 7, we hardly assumed complete denitrification, whereas the treatments with pH &gt; 7 achieved stable values after seven days of rewetting. This advanced method provides the opportunity to carry out campaigns with large soil sample sizes on the landscape scale, as samples can be stored dry until measurements are taken.

Assessment of nitrous oxide emission factors for arable and grassland ecosystems

ABSTRACT We quantified seasonal nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and the associated emission factors (EFs) from: (i) winter oilseed rape (WOSR) cultivated under conventional tillage (CT) and strip tillage (ST) at four fertilizer rates (0, 160, 240 and 320 kg N ha−1) in 2014/2015, and (ii) grassland plots receiving no fertilizer (0 kg N ha−1), or mineral nitrogen (67 kg N ha−1), and either cattle or pig slurry (50, 100 and 200 m3 ha−1). Greater fluxes were observed at higher soil temperatures and a higher water filled pore space, suggesting that denitrification was the main source of N2O-N from the applied fertilizer/slurry. For WOSR, the N2O EFs ranged from 0.03 to 1.20% with no effect of the cultivation practice on EFs for equal rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Lower EF values were linked to differences in plant growth at individual sites rather than a specific management effect. For the grassland, the N2O EFs were highly variable, ranging from −0.70 to 0.49%, but were generally the highest in treatments receiving the highest concentrations of slurry. The EF values for WOSR illustrates that the Tier 1 approach for calculating EFs may be inadequate and the identification of site-specific effects can aid in refining N2O EF inventories. For the grassland plots all the EFs were significantly lower than the IPCC default values. Although the reason(s) for the low EFs with slurry amendments on grassland is not known, ammonia volatilization could decrease the pool of inorganic N that is available to nitrifying bacteria thereby lowering N2O fluxes.

Understanding N2O Emissions in African Ecosystems: Assessments from a Semi-Arid Savanna Grassland in Senegal and Sub-Tropical Agricultural Fields in Kenya

This study is based on the analysis of field-measured nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from a Sahelian semi-arid grassland site in Senegal (Dahra), tropical humid agricultural plots in Kenya (Mbita region) and simulations using a 1D model designed for semi arid ecosystems in Dahra. This study aims at improving present knowledge and inventories of N2O emissions from the African continent. N2O emissions were larger at the agricultural sites in the Mbita region (range: 0.0 ± 0.0 to 42.1 ± 10.7 ngN m−2 s−1) than at the Dahra site (range: 0.3 ± 0 to 7.4 ± 6.5 ngN m−2 s−1). Soil water and nitrate (NO3−) contents appeared to be the most important drivers of N2O emissions in Dahra at the seasonal scale in both regions. The seasonal pattern of modelled N2O emissions is well represented, though the model performed better during the rainy season than between the rainy and dry seasons. This study highlighted that the water-filled pore space threshold recognised as a trigger for N2O emissions should be reconsidered for semi-arid ecosystems. Based on both measurements and simulated results, an annual N2O budget was estimated for African savanna/grassland and agricultural land ranging between 0.17–0.26 and 1.15–1.20 TgN per year, respectively.

Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and high N application rate promote N2O emission and suppress CH4 uptake in a rotational vegetable system

Understanding the influence of management practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from greenhouse cropping is of great importance for assessing the environmental impacts of the greenhouse cropping industry and improving its sustainability. A tomato–cucumber–tomato rotation experiment was carried out in a typical solar greenhouse in northwest China with four treatments including two irrigation levels (regular (RI) and low (LI)) and two fertilizer types (organic fertilizer (N1) and inorganic fertilizer (N2)). Greenhouse gas fluxes (nitrous oxide, N2O, and methane, CH4) were measured regularly using the closed chamber method during the three growing seasons, along with soil water-filled pore space (WFPS), temperature, mineral-N concentration and nitrobacteria, nitrosomonas and denitrifying bacteria abundance. Over the rotation, the soil acted as a source for N2O and a sink for CH4, with the mean fluxes of 0.12 mg N2O-N m−2 h−1 and -0.31 mg CH4-C m−2 h−1, respectively. The stepwise multiple linear regressions indicated that WFPS and soil temperature accounted for significant portion of N2O emission and CH4 uptake variations, respectively for both fertilizer types. Fertilization rate and type resulted in much greater difference of cumulative GHG emission between treatments than the irrigation level. Inorganic fertilizer with higher nitrogen application rate usually resulted in higher cumulative N2O emission and lower CH4 uptake than organic fertilizer application. Over the rotation, total greenhouse emission (GHGt) and greenhouse emission intensity (GHGI) on average followed the same order of RIN2 > LIN2 > LIN1 > RIN1 with N2O emission as the dominant component for each treatment. Overall, organic fertilizer with proper water application under drip irrigation can effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and maintain relatively high and stable vegetable yields in solar greenhouse cropping in northwest China.

Intensive Rain Hampers the Effectiveness of Nitrification Inhibition in Controlling N2O Emissions from Dairy Slurry-Fertilized Soils

Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as a tool to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture, which are caused mainly by fertilization. The nitrification inhibitor 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) was tested in a winter rapeseed field after dairy slurry application in Central Estonia. N2O emissions were monitored using the closed chamber method. Soil and leachate chemical parameters were also analyzed. N2O emissions increased from pre-slurry application values of 316 and 264 µg m−2 h−1 for the control and treatment plot, respectively, to maximum values of 3130.71 and 4834 µg m−2 h−1, with cumulative emissions during the study period of 12.30 kg ha−1 for the control plot and 17.70 kg ha−1 for the treatment plot. The intense precipitation period that began with the application of the slurry resulted in changes in soil moisture and water-filled pore space (WFPS), modifying the nitrification/denitrification balance. Positive significant correlations (p = 0.016 and p = 0.037, for the control and treatment plot, respectively) were found between N2O fluxes and WFPS. Future studies should consider the role of nitrifier and denitrifier communities in order to better assess in-field nitrification inhibitor effectiveness.

Mechanism of Lithotripsy by Superpulse Thulium Fiber Laser and Its Clinical Efficiency

Thulium fiber laser with a wavelength of 1.94 µm is widely used in urology for lithotripsy. This paper studies the mechanism of lithotripsy and evaluates its clinical efficiency using the superpulse thulium fiber laser with a wavelength of 1.94 µm and a peak power of 500 W. An experimental setup was developed to study the mechanism of lithotripsy. The superpulse thulium fiber laser (TFL) with a wavelength of 1.94 µm with a peak power of 500 W (FiberLase U2 from “IRE-POLUS” Ltd., Fryazino, Moscow Region, Russia) was used for the lithotripsy of stone phantoms (BegoStone). The processes were recorded with a high-speed camera. The acoustic signals registered during lithotripsy were studied with wideband and needle hydrophones. The main mechanism of lithotripsy performed by using superpulse TFL was thermal cavitation in the water-filled pore space and thermal destruction of the phantom. During the clinical application of the superpulse thulium fiber laser, the high efficiency of laser lithotripsy was established. The performed optical and acoustic studies showed that the mechanism of the destruction of stones was based on the synergic effect of the explosive boiling of water in the pore space of the stone, and its thermal destruction is associated with the heating of the stone to several hundred degrees with laser radiation.

Soil texture strongly controls exogenous organic matter mineralization indirectly via moisture upon progressive drying — Evidence from incubation experiments

Soil texture is well known to directly affect bioavailability of organic matter to heterotrophs, but it also steers their activity by moderating soil moisture fluctuation. Disentangling these direct and indirect textural controls is, however, not trivial and attempts to do so are very scarce. Most attention has just gone to the stimulation of soil carbon (C) mineralization by soil moisture fluctuation per se. To quantify the indirect moisture-mediation control of soil texture on C mineralization, we monitored maize straw degradation in various soil texture/moisture regime combinations. Moisture levels were firstly kept fixed at 32% WFPS (experiment Fixed32) in a sand, sandy loam and silt loam soil or allowed to fluctuate between 20% and 50% water-filled pore space (WFPS, Dry-wet20-50). Total maize-C (Cmaize) mineralized was highly similar between these three textures and thus the direct textural control was minor. On the contrary with the fluctuating moisture level, around threefold more added Cmaize was mineralized (P < 0.01) in the sand (86%) than in the silt loam (25%) soil. We owe this boost in Cmaize mineralization to the rewetting of larger pores in the sandy soil which should contain most of the ground maize residue. This determining control of texture on distribution of moisture as well as the maize substrate clearly exceeded the direct impact of texture on organic matter stability. In a third and fourth experiment, timing and dose to remoisten a silt loam soil back to 50% (experiment Equal20-50) or 35% WFPS (experiment Equal20-35) when dried out to 20% WFPS were additionally mimicked in the sand and sandy loam soils. These scenarios correspond more closely to a field situation in which nearby differently textured soils all receive the same precipitation input. After several rewetting cycles, the silt loam soil eventually had a 13.9% higher WFPS than the sandy soils. By then moisture stress clearly limited Cmaize mineralization in the sandy soil (0.13 (Equal20-50) and 0.05 (Equal20-35) mg kg−1 h−1) as it proceeded at only half of the rate as in the silt loam soil (0.21 (Equal20-50) and 0.12 (Equal20-35) mg kg−1 h−1). The amount of Cmaize mineralized after 120 days in the silt loam soil was simulated to surpass that in the sandy soil. We conclude that the effect of soil texture on decomposition of a fresh substrate is largely indirect, i.e. through mediation of soil water content and its distribution in the soil matrix. Moreover, our data suggests that in the event of prolonged drought Cmaize mineralization will be less limited in finer textured soil, contradicting the widespread idea that organic matter would degrade more rapidly in coarser textured soils.

Precrops alleviate soil physical limitations for soybean root growth in an Oxisol from southern Brazil

The impact of soil compaction on soybean root growth and grain yield can be alleviated by the presence of biopores and root channels in the soil profile. We hypothesize that cover crops (ruzigrass and oats) are better than grain crops (wheat and maize) to reduce the soil physical limitation to soybean root growth. We aimed to identify which precrops have higher potential to reduce the mechanical and water stresses resulting from soil compaction and soil desegregation, and to enhance soybean (Glycine max L) root growth and yield in an Oxisol (Rhodic Eutrudox), with clayey soil texture. Soybean was grown after four precrops (ruzigrass, oats, wheat, or maize), under four soil compaction levels [soil chiselling (MTC), no-tillage (NT), NT additionally compacted with four passes of a tractor (NTCT), and NT additionally compacted with eight passes of a grain harvester (NTCH)]. Soil physical attributes (bulk density, macroporosity, water-filled pore space and soil penentration resistance) in the soil profile (0−50 cm) and soybean components (grain yield, cumulative root length density and root dry mass) were investigated. Soil physical attributes were improved over time due to the combined effects of natural wetting-drying cycles and biopores created by the roots of precrops. Ruzigrass increased soybean root biomass and length density, mainly at deeper soil layers of compacted treatments (NTCT and NTCH). The rate of increase of soybean root length density in the soil profile was higher after ruzigrass cultivation in comparison with maize and oats. Soil compaction effects on grain yield were partially (NTCH) or totally (NTCT) alleviated after two years and ruzigrass intensified the mitigation process. Ruzigrass also resulted in higher soybean yields in comparison with maize, whereas NTCH and MTC reduced yields in approximately 400 kg ha−1 (∼13 %) compared to NT and NTCT. Soil strengthening was more evident after ruzigrass and oats cultivation than maize or wheat cropping. Soil compaction in clayey Oxisols can be alleviated over time as a result of root channels provided by precrops combined with natural wetting-drying cycles. Among the evaluated precrops, ruzigrass is of particular interest, as it provides the most suitable soil physical environment for soybean root growth and grain yield. In contrast, chiselling was demonstrated to be a non-viable strategy to mitigate soil physical constraints for root growth and grain yields.

Fall-applied manure with cover crop did not increase nitrous oxide emissions during spring freeze-thaw periods

In cold humid temperate regions, peak nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes from agricultural soils occur during spring freeze-thaw periods. Fall-applied manure that adds water-soluble nutrients to the soil prior to freeze-up could contribute to spring N2O emissions. The objective of our field experiment was to evaluate the relationship between water-soluble nutrients and N2O emissions during the spring freeze-thaw period in a sandy-loam soil with fall-applied manure and fall-sown cover crops in Québec, Canada. Dairy cattle manure (solid or liquid form) was applied in September, then 100% ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and 50% ryegrass and 50% hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) were sown. In the following spring (March–April), soil N2O fluxes were measured in non-steady-state closed chambers, and soil samples were analyzed for soil reactive nitrogen (ammonium, NH4+ and nitrate NO3−), dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, soil moisture (water-filled pore space), and denitrification activity. Spring N2O fluxes were not related to the fall-applied manure and cover crop treatments, possibly due to nitrogen transformations or loss from soil after manure application. The NH4+ concentration, water-filled pore space, and denitrification activity were significant predictors of soil N2O emissions during the spring freeze-thaw period, but only explained about 24% of the variation in these N2O emissions. This suggests that N2O was produced by biological processes such as nitrifier denitrification. N2O emission may be the result of stochastic diffusion processes through pores with ice-water mixtures, as well as through cracks that form during freezing-thawing processes. Therefore, water-soluble soil nutrients may be poor predictors of spring N2O emissions from manure-amended soils in our region.