Mitigating Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensities by Applying Composted Manure in Cornfield: A 3-Year Field Study in an Andosol Soil

Abstract

Abstract:A 3-year study was conducted in cornfield to evaluate how composted cattle manure application affects net global warming potential (GWP; the sum of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and methane (CH 4 ) minus net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB)) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI; net GWP per unit of plant biomass yield). In the first experiment, conducted from 2010 to 2012, five fertilization strategies that included an unfertilized control plot, inorganic fertilizer-only plot, two plots with inorganic fertilizer plus composted cattle manure, and composted cattle manure-only plot were established. In the second experiment composted cattle manure was applied in autumn 2012 and the field was subdivided into three plots in spring 2013, with one plot receiving additional composted cattle manure, the second plot received additional inorganic fertilizer and the third plot did not receive any additional fertilization. Fluxes of N 2 O, CH 4 and CO 2 were measured using the static closed chamber method. NECB was calculated as carbon (C) inputs minus C output (where a negative value indicates net C loss). In experiment 1, manure application significantly increased NECB and reduced net GWP by more than 30% in each of the three years of the study. GHGI in the manure-amended plots was lower than in other plots, except in 2012 when the manure-only plot had higher GHGI than fertilizer-only plot. Application of inorganic fertilizer alone increased GWP by 5% and 20% in 2010 and 2011, but showed a 30% reduction in 2012 relative to the unfertilized control plot. However, due to higher net primary production (NPP), fertilizer-only plot had lower GHGI compared to the control. Application of inorganic fertilizer together with manure showed the greatest potential to reduce GWP and GHGI, while increasing NPP and NECB. In experiment 2, additional manure or inorganic fertilizer application in spring increased NPP by a similar amount, but additional manure application also increased NECB, and decreased GWP and GHGI. Manure application, as a partial substitute or supplemental fertilizer, shows potential to mitigate GWP and GHGI.

Effects of Three Types of Organic Fertilizers on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in a Grassland on Andosol in Southern Hokkaido, Japan

“…However, there was no significant difference among the organic fertilizer treatments and between organic and chemical fertilizer treatments. Similarly, in a previous study conducted in the same Andosols, no significant difference was found between the manure treatment and the chemical fertilizer treatment, although it tended to be higher in the manure treatment (Shimizu et al, 2010;Mukumbuta et al, 2017a). These results suggest that the high soil organic matter content of the Andosols reduce the effect of organic matter application.…”

“…This indicates that organic fertilizers have larger carbon storage than do chemical fertilizers. Previous studies conducted on grasslands also showed higher NECB in manure treatment than in chemical fertilizer treatment (Matsuura et al, 2014;Shimizu et al, 2015;Mukumbuta et al, 2017a). In this study, NECB was negative for 3 years and all treatment plots became carbon sources.…”

“…Evaluation of carbon storage in agricultural land includes carbon output from the harvest system and carbon input into the system by the application of organic matter in addition to carbon cycling in the ecosystem through the atmosphere, plants, and soil (Shimizu et al, 2009). Studies on the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) and GHG balance caused by manure application in southern Hokkaido, Japan showed that although CO 2 emissions increased because of manure application, there were no differences in CH 4 and N 2 O emissions, and the carbon input from manure application reduced the global warming potential (GWP) (Mukumbuta et al, 2017a). However, N 2 O emissions in the manure and chemical fertilizer combinedly applied grasslands tended to be higher than the chemical fertilizer only applied grasslands (Shimizu et al, 2013).…”

Short-Term Assessment of Nitrous Oxide and Methane Emissions on a Crop Yield Basis in Response to Different Organic Amendment Types in Sichuan Basin

“…Our study showed significantly lower soil N 2 O emissions in both wheat and maize seasons during the first few weeks following fertilization and significantly lower cumulative N 2 O emissions during the maize season from plots amended with organic amendments compared to the synthetic N treatment (p < 0.05). The findings were consistent with the results reported by Nyamadzawo et al (2017) and Mukumbuta et al (2017), who also noted that partial substitution of organic amendments resulted in lower N 2 O in organic amended soils when compared to full synthetic N fertilizer treatments [63,64]. Nyamadzawo et al (2017) observed between 15% to 37% N 2 O emission reduction in soils amended with different proportions of cattle manure in a Hapilic Lixisol maize system [63].…”

Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes From Maize Production Under Different Soil Fertility Management Practices in East Africa

“…The SR had 32% more rainfall than the LR, causing higher soil water content, which tends to result in higher denitrification rates when NO 3 − is available (Linn & Doran, 1984). Many studies measured greater soil N 2 O fluxes from animal manures (Chantigny et al, 2010; Ding et al, 2007; Sosulski et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2018), while other studies show higher N 2 O fluxes from inorganic fertilizers (Chantigny et al, 2010; Ellert & Janzen, 2008; Mukumbuta et al, 2017). According to Pelster et al (2012), studies where manure applications caused more N 2 O emissions than mineral fertilizers were largely on coarse‐textured, well‐drained soils with low C content, whereas studies with no differences or greater emissions from mineral N fertilizers tended to be from moderate to fine‐textured soils with high C concentrations.…”