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The interaction between types of cover crop residue and digestate application methods affects ammonia volatilization during maize cropping season
Author(s) -
Maris Stefania Codruta,
Capra Federico,
Ardenti Federico,
Boselli Roberta,
Pochintesta Davide,
Beone Gian Maria,
Tabaglio Vincenzo,
Fiorini Andrea
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.1002/jeq2.20205
Subject(s) - digestate , volatilisation , ammonia volatilization from urea , chemistry , agronomy , secale , white mustard , cover crop , sowing , ammonia , brassica , urea , environmental chemistry , environmental science , anaerobic digestion , biology , organic chemistry , methane
Organic and mineral fertilizers are important sources of ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions from agricultural fields. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate how different cover crop (CC) residues (i.e., rye [ Secale cereale L.], white mustard [ Sinapis alba L.], and bare soil as control) in combination with different application methods of digestate (surface broadcast vs. shallow injection) affect NH 3 volatilization before planting maize ( Zea mays L.) and (b) to assess the residual effect of previous CCs on NH 3 volatilization after urea top‐dress application at the V5‐V6 phonological stage of maize. Ammonia volatilization was measured using semi‐static chambers for 14 d (335 h) after planting and for 6 d (150 h) at the V5‐V6 stage. Overall, NH 3 emissions decreased by 67–77% with digestate injection compared with surface broadcasting. However, the reduction in NH 3 volatilization using the injection method was significantly lower with mustard residue (6.72 kg NH 3 –N ha –1 ) than with rye residue (14.15 kg NH 3 –N ha –1 ), which allowed for more volatilization by increasing the exposure of digestate to the air. Broadcast digestate method did not affect the cumulative NH 3 –N losses obtained with different CC types. After urea top‐dressing at the V5‐V6 stage of maize, the cumulative losses of NH 3 (during 150 h) were 2.99 kg NH 3 –N ha –1 with rye as previous CC and 2.49 kg NH 3 –N ha –1 with mustard. Our study shows that digestate injection before maize planting and urea top‐dressing application followed immediately by irrigation (15 mm) could be considered as useful strategies to mitigate NH 3 volatilization and increase N use efficiency in maize.