Effect of Broccoli Residue and Wheat Straw Addition on Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Silt Loam Soil

oleh: Rajan Budhathoki, Dinesh Panday, Perik Seiz, Reiner Ruser, Torsten Müller

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-03-01

Deskripsi

Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) is one of the main greenhouse gases and its emissions from vegetable production systems have brought a sustainability challenge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of reducing N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from silt loam soil by mixing nitrogen (N)-rich broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>italica</i>) residue with wheat straw or water-washed wheat straw. An experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with five treatments; unamended or control (BS), wheat straw (+S), broccoli residue (+CR), broccoli residue and wheat straw (+CR+S) and broccoli residue and washed wheat straw (+CR+Sw) and was replicated four times. The +CR and +S were added at the rate of 3.5 kg and 2.0 kg fresh matter m<sup>−2</sup> and their mixtures, +CR+S and +CR+Sw, were incorporated in 3.5 kg of silt loam soil at 60% water-filled pore space (WFPS) and packed in soil microcosms. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured once a day during the 14-day of study period. Daily fluxes of N<sub>2</sub>O were found to be reduced on +CR+W and +CR+Sw when compared to single-amended +CR treatment. Similarly, N<sub>2</sub>O fluxes on +CR+Sw (2772 µg N m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>) were significantly lower than +CR+S (3606 µg N m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>) soon after the amendment but did not vary significantly thereafter. Moreover, the amendment mixture, +CR+S and +Cr+Sw, resulted in lower net N<sub>2</sub>O emissions by 73.3% and 74.2%, respectively, relative to +CR treatment. While the results clearly suggest that the +CR+S or +CR+Sw reduced N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, it necessitated further studies, possibly by increasing the frequency of sampling to clarify if washed wheat straw would further mitigate N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from the vegetable production system.