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Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Clayey Soils Amended with Paper Sludges and Biosolids of Separated Pig Slurry
Author(s) -
Chantigny Martin H.,
Pelster David E.,
Perron MarieHélène,
Rochette Philippe,
Angers Denis A.,
Parent LéonÉtienne,
Massé Daniel,
Ziadi Noura
Publication year - 2013
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/jeq2012.0196
Subject(s) - biosolids , nitrous oxide , slurry , soil water , clay soil , environmental science , sewage sludge , waste management , environmental chemistry , chemistry , agronomy , environmental engineering , sewage , soil science , biology , engineering , organic chemistry
Wastes from animal production and from the paper industry are often used as amendments to agricultural soils. Although data exist on the impacts of raw animal wastes on N 2 O production, little is known regarding the effects of paper wastes and biosolids from treated animal waste. We measured N 2 O emissions for two consecutive snow‐free seasons (mid‐May through the end of October) from poorly drained clayey soils under corn ( Zea mays L.). Soils were amended with raw pig slurry (PS) or biosolids (four PS‐derived and two paper sludges) and compared with soils with mineral N fertilizer (CaNH 4 NO 3 ) or without N addition (Control). Area‐based N 2 O emissions from the mineral N fertilizer (average, 8.2 kg N 2 O–N ha −1 ; 4.2% of applied N) were higher ( P < 0.001) than emissions from the organic amendments, which ranged from 1.5 to 6.1 kg N 2 O–N ha −1 (−0.4 to 2.5% of applied N). The N 2 O emissions were positively correlated with mean soil NO 3 availability (calculated as “NO 3 exposure”), which was highest with mineral N fertilizer. In plots treated with organic amendments (i.e., biosolids and raw PS), NO 3 exposure was negatively correlated to the C:N ratio of the amendment. This resulted in lower N 2 O emissions from the higher C:N ratio biosolids, especially compared with the low C:N ratio PS. Application of paper sludge or PS‐derived biosolids to these fine‐textured soils, therefore, reduced N 2 O emissions compared with raw PS and/or mineral N fertilizers ( P < 0.01).