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Laboratory Estimates of Trace Gas Emissions following Surface Application and Injection of Cattle Slurry
Author(s) -
Flessa H.,
Beese F.
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900010033x
Subject(s) - slurry , aeration , loam , organic matter , chemistry , flux (metallurgy) , environmental chemistry , environmental science , zoology , environmental engineering , soil water , soil science , organic chemistry , biology
Applying cattle slurry to soil may induce emissions of the greenhouse gases N 2 O and CH 4 . Our objective was to determine the effects of different application techniques (surface application and slit injection) of cattle ( Bostaurus ) slurry on the decomposition of slurry organic matter and the emissions of N 2 O and CH 2 . The effects of slurry application (43.6 m 3 ha −1 ) were studied for 9 wk under controlled laboratory conditions using a soil microcosm system with automated monitoring of the CO 2 , N 2 O, and CH 4 fluxes. The soil used was a silty loam (Ap horizon of a cambisol) with a constant water‐filled pore space of 67% during the experiment. About 38% of the organic matter applied with the slurry was decomposed within 9 wk. Production of CO 2 was not affected by the application technique. Emissions of N 2 O and CH 4 from the injected slurry were significantly higher than from the surface‐applied slurry, probably because of restricted aeration at the injected‐slurry treatment. Total N 2 O‐N emissions were 0.2% (surface application) and 3.3% (slit injection) of the slurry N added. Methane emission occurred only during the first few days following application. The total net flux of CH 4 ‐C for 2 wk was −12 g ha −1 for the control (CH 4 uptake), 2 g ha −1 for the surface‐applied slurry, and 39 g ha −1 for the injected slurry. Slurry injection, which is recommended to reduce NH 3 volatilization, appears to increase emissions of the greenhouse gases N 2 O and CH 4 from the fertilized fields.