Nitrogen losses from agricultural soils through denitrification ‐ a critical evaluation

Rheinbaben, W. Von

doi:10.1002/jpln.19901530305

Cited by 39 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…1). Numerous reviews of the C 2 H 2 method, and its application, have been published (Tiedje et al 1982, Keeney 1986, Nieder et al 1989, Revsbech and Sørensen 1990, von Rheinbaben 1990, Payne 1991, Aulakh et al 1992, Barton et al 1999, Groffman et al 1999.…”

Section: The Acetylene Inhibition Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for Measuring Denitrification: Diverse Approaches to a Difficult Problem

Groffman

Altabet

Böhlke

et al. 2006

Ecological Applications

814

754

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Denitrification, the reduction of the nitrogen (N) oxides, nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-), to the gases nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and dinitrogen (N2), is important to primary production, water quality, and the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere at ecosystem, landscape, regional, and global scales. Unfortunately, this process is very difficult to measure, and existing methods are problematic for different reasons in different places at different times. In this paper, we review the major approaches that have been taken to measure denitrification in terrestrial and aquatic environments and discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and future prospects for the different methods. Methodological approaches covered include (1) acetylene-based methods, (2) 15N tracers, (3) direct N2 quantification, (4) N2:Ar ratio quantification, (5) mass balance approaches, (6) stoichiometric approaches, (7) methods based on stable isotopes, (8) in situ gradients with atmospheric environmental tracers, and (9) molecular approaches. Our review makes it clear that the prospects for improved quantification of denitrification vary greatly in different environments and at different scales. While current methodology allows for the production of accurate estimates of denitrification at scales relevant to water and air quality and ecosystem fertility questions in some systems (e.g., aquatic sediments, well-defined aquifers), methodology for other systems, especially upland terrestrial areas, still needs development. Comparison of mass balance and stoichiometric approaches that constrain estimates of denitrification at large scales with point measurements (made using multiple methods), in multiple systems, is likely to propel more improvement in denitrification methods over the next few years.

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Section: The Acetylene Inhibition Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for Measuring Denitrification: Diverse Approaches to a Difficult Problem

Groffman

Altabet

Böhlke

et al. 2006

Ecological Applications

814

754

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“…Nitrogen input through irrigation water for paddy rice fields was 7.5 kg N ha −1 year −1 and 1.5 kg N ha −1 year −1 for paddy rice and vegetables, respectively (Kimura 2005). Denitrification loss was estimated at 12.6% (SD 16.2%, n = 107) of the sum of applied chemical fertilizer N, manure N and N 2 fixation (von Rheinbaben 1990). The amount of nitrogen in crop biomass was obtained by multiplying the fresh weight of each crop by the standard N concentration in Japan (Resource Council, Science and Technology Agency 1982; Saika 1990).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-balance analysis of six agricultural land uses in the Ikushunbetsu watershed

Kimura

Toma

et al. 2007

Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

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This study quantified and evaluated the greenhouse gas emissions of farmland soils at a watershed scale using parameters available at a regional scale. The estimation was based on field monitoring data in the Ikushunbetsu River Watershed, Hokkaido, Japan. Simple regression models were created for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane emissions associated with six major agricultural land uses, and forest as an alternative land use to farmland. An eco‐balance method involves conducting an analysis on the basis of farmland surplus nitrogen (N) and global warming potential (GWP). Uncertainties associating the estimations were estimated using Mote Carlo simulation. The eco‐balance is the analysis of the relationship between production and environmental load. In this study, production and environmental load were compared by changing each of the land use combinations by 10%. Farmland surplus N was lowest for soybean with 8.2 kg N ha−1 year−1, followed by paddy rice. The highest value was recorded for vegetables with 99.8 kg N ha−1 year−1. The weighted mean of total farmland based on the land use proportion was 44 ± 33.8 kg N ha−1 year−1. The calculated GWP was 7.3 Mg CO2 eq ha−1 year−1 for paddy rice and 0.1 to 6.8 Mg CO2 eq ha−1 year−1 for upland crops. The weighted mean of the total farmland area was 4.0 ± 3.4 Mg CO2 eq ha−1 year−1. The eco‐balance analysis showed that there were 59 combinations out of 8008 combinations able to reduce GWP more than 6%, but less than 7%, than the value in 2005. Among them, in 30 combinations, farmland surplus N became less than the value in 2005; production was reduced compared with the value in 2005 in 27 combinations. Soybean occupied 20–80% in the seven combinations where production was increased compared with 2005, while keeping farmland surplus N below the value in 2005. The estimation of greenhouse gases in this study exhibited high uncertainty because of variability in management and errors in evaluation procedures. Quantification of the data variability is set at maximum, which comprises the measured values in this area. Based on the quantification of the uncertainty, more efficient quantification methods can be established to clarify mitigation potential. This type of quantification and comparison between production and emission enables decision makers to set some threshold values that allow a compromise between production and environmental load.

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“…Denitrification rate expressed as percentage of applied N was reported to be in the range upto 11% using acetylene inhibition technique and 11-67% using 15 N mass balance (Table 3), whereas the US and European study showed the range of 0-77% (Colbourn and Dowdell 1984;Nieder et al 1989;von Rheinbaben 1990). Xing and Zhu (2002) reviewed the Chinese case study, and showed to be the value of 13-29% of synthetic (chemical) fertilizer N and 10-30% of organic fertilizer N. Following to those studies, we used the denitrification factor of 20% for both chemical and organic fertilizer N.…”

Section: And the Common Values In Food Compositionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Nitrogen Cycling with Respect to Environmental Load in Farm Systems in Southwest China

Lei

Nagumo

Hatano

2005

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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In Qibainong, a steep-mountainous karst region in southwestern China, self-sustaining societies have long existed, but increasing socioeconomic liberation has fuelled the recent rapid structural change of its economy. Consequently, environmental deterioration and exhaustion of resources have become problematic issues. We carried out a field survey in Qibainong in southwestern China and used both estimated and measured N flows and N balances from obtained results. Our results are summarized as follows (1) farmers used large amounts of chemical N fertilizers at intensities of 113-1124 kg N ha À1 ; (2) substantial application of chemical fertilizer in Qibainong has contributed to an increase in potential NO 3 -N leaching of 6-511 kg N ha À1 , followed by NH 3 volatilization; (3) crop products are largely distributed to feed livestock, the products of which are a major income source; (4) this area has a great requirement for imported food; (5) in addition, unused manure N (up to 191 kg N ha À1 ) is generated by the increase in manure N production. Chemical fertilizer application, in addition to unused manure can be regarded as a major source of environmental damage. Based on the relationship between the N application rate and the NO 3 -N leaching potential, we estimated the critical limit of the N application rate of chemical fertilizer + manure to be 297 kg N ha À1 . In Qibainong, unused manure, which is an important nutrient resource, was applicable within the critical limit. We recommend that all manure N produced within the village be used effectively on arable land, and that any shortages be supplemented by chemical N fertilizer up to 297 kg N ha À1 to maintain water resource quality. Further improvement might be achieved through incorporating chemical fertilizers, P and K supplemented manure, and so on.

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Nitrogen losses from agricultural soils through denitrification ‐ a critical evaluation

Cited by 39 publications

References 62 publications

Methods for Measuring Denitrification: Diverse Approaches to a Difficult Problem

Methods for Measuring Denitrification: Diverse Approaches to a Difficult Problem

Eco-balance analysis of six agricultural land uses in the Ikushunbetsu watershed

Nitrogen Cycling with Respect to Environmental Load in Farm Systems in Southwest China

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