Nitrous Oxide Emissions From Agriculture: Sources, Sinks, and Mitigation.
Poster Number 1300
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tampa Convention Center, East Hall, Third Floor
Hannah Waterhouse, Soils and Biogeochemistry, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA
Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions contribute about one third of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from California’s agricultural sector. Relatively little California specific data exists on N2O emissions from agriculture and how agricultural management practices can affect N2O emissions, making modeling and predictions difficult. Furthermore, N2O pathways, including sinks as well as sources, are not well understood. Nine treatments were examined including five fertilizer rates ranging from 0 kg/ha N to 337 kg/ha N, two fertilizer sources, UAN vs. Aqua Ammonia, a fertilizer efficiency enhancer, Agrotain, 1 fertilizer band vs. two fertilizer bands, and drip irrigation vs. furrow irrigation in a corn field. Seasonal fluxes from each treatment will be analyzed and practices that reduce emissions will be identified. Future research will include greenhouse experiments examing N2O absorption and metabolism by the plant canopy to better understand N2O sinks.