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Profile Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in a Soil Subject to Freezing
Author(s) -
Burton D. L.,
Beauchamp E. G.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800010016x
Subject(s) - carbon dioxide , soil water , nitrous oxide , soil horizon , loam , chemistry , greenhouse gas , atmosphere (unit) , environmental chemistry , environmental science , soil science , geology , oceanography , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Soil is an important source for the production of greenhouse gases such as CO 2 and N 2 O. Significant temporal trends exist in the production and concentration of these gases in temperate climates where soils are subject to freezing. We examined the effect freeze‐thaw cycles had on soil profile CO 2 and N 2 O concentrations. A multilevel sampling probe was designed to allow sampling the atmosphere composition of soil profiles. Changes in CO 2 and N 2 O gas concentrations in the profile of a loamy sand were studied during two winter periods. Fluxes of N 2 O were strongly influenced by the formation of a frozen layer that segregated the soil profile into two distinct regions. The surface region was characterized by brief, intense events, which contribute to highly variable CO 2 and N 2 O concentrations near the surface. The subsurface region beneath the ice layer allowed N 2 O accumulation. The highest concentrations of N 2 O were observed in the subsurface region following ice‐layer formation, indicating that N 2 O production is not restricted to surface horizons in this soil. Thawing of the frozen layer in the spring resulted in the release of N 2 O from the subsurface region. The formation of a frozen layer influenced subsurface CO 2 accumulation through its influence on water percolation.