Nitrous oxide emission and fertiliser nitrogen efficiency in a tropical sugarcane cropping system applied with different formulations of urea
Weijin Wang A B E , Glen Park C , Steven Reeves A , Megan Zahmel C , Marijke Heenan A and Barry Salter D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, GPO Box 5078, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
B Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
C Sugar Research Australia, Ingham, PO Box 135, Qld 4850, Australia.
D Sugar Research Australia, Te Kowai, Qld 4741, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: weijin.wang@qld.gov.au
Soil Research 54(5) 572-584 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR15314
Submitted: 28 October 2015 Accepted: 17 March 2016 Published: 11 July 2016
Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2016 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from sugarcane cropped soils are usually high compared with those from other arable lands. Nitrogen-efficient management strategies are needed to mitigate N2O emissions from sugarcane farming whilst maintaining productivity and profitability. A year-long field experiment was conducted in wet tropical Australia to assess the efficacy of polymer-coated urea (PCU) and nitrification inhibitor (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate)-coated urea (NICU). Emissions of N2O were measured using manual and automatic gas sampling chambers in combination. The nitrogen (N) release from PCU continued for >5–6 months, and lower soil NO3– contents were recorded for ≥ 3 months in the NICU treatments compared with the conventional urea treatments. The annual cumulative N2O emissions were high, amounting to 11.4–18.2 kg N2O-N ha–1. In contrast to findings in most other cropping systems, there were no significant differences in annual N2O emissions between treatments with different urea formulations and application rates (0, 100 and 140 kg N ha–1). Daily variation in N2O emissions at this site was driven predominantly by rainfall. Urea formulations did not significantly affect sugarcane or sugar yield at the same N application rate. Decreasing fertiliser application rate from the recommended 140 kg N ha–1 to 100 kg N ha–1 led to a decrease in sugar yield by 1.3 t ha–1 and 2.2 t ha–1 for the conventional urea and PCU treatments, respectively, but no yield loss occurred for the NICU treatment. Crop N uptake also declined at the reduced N application rate with conventional urea, but not with the PCU and NICU. These results demonstrated that substituting NICU for conventional urea may substantially decrease fertiliser N application from the normal recommended rates whilst causing no yield loss or N deficiency to the crop. Further studies are required to investigate the optimal integrated fertiliser management strategies for sugarcane production, particularly choice of products and application time and rates, in relation to site and seasonal conditions.
Additional keywords: controlled-release fertiliser, DMPP, greenhouse gas, N2O, nitrification inhibitor, urea.
References
Abalos D, Jeffery S, Sanz-Cobena A, Guardia G, Vallejo A (2014) Meta-analysis of the effect of urease and nitrification inhibitors on crop productivity and nitrogen use efficiency. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 189, 136–144.| Meta-analysis of the effect of urease and nitrification inhibitors on crop productivity and nitrogen use efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXnslGqs7Y%3D&md5=05c0ff60ecf5bb5ce2cf3b91bc7194b9CAS |
Akiyama H, Yan X, Yagi K (2010) Evaluation of effectiveness of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers as mitigation options for N2O and NO emissions from agricultural soils: Meta-analysis. Global Change Biology 16, 1837–1846.
| Evaluation of effectiveness of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers as mitigation options for N2O and NO emissions from agricultural soils: Meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Allen DE, Kingston G, Rennenberg H, Dalal RC, Schmidt S (2010) Effect of nitrogen fertilizer management and waterlogging on nitrous oxide emission from subtropical sugarcane soils. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 136, 209–217.
| Effect of nitrogen fertilizer management and waterlogging on nitrous oxide emission from subtropical sugarcane soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXisFentb8%3D&md5=3d8ca5935f97bbe807b7a0c7de966c8dCAS |
Carmo JBD, Filoso S, Zotelli LC, De Sousa Neto ER, Pitombo LM, Duarte-Neto PJ, Vargas VP, Andrade CA, Gava GJC, Rossetto R, Cantarella H, Neto AE, Martinelli LA (2013) Infield greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane soils in Brazil: Effects from synthetic and organic fertilizer application and crop trash accumulation. GCB Bioenergy 5, 267–280.
| Infield greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane soils in Brazil: Effects from synthetic and organic fertilizer application and crop trash accumulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chen D, Suter H, Islam A, Edis R, Freney JR, Walker CN (2008) Prospects of improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen in Australian agriculture: a review of enhanced efficiency fertilisers. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 289–301.
| Prospects of improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen in Australian agriculture: a review of enhanced efficiency fertilisers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXns1OktLw%3D&md5=fec61f7dd15fe4ea2a2bc5ea7113200cCAS |
De Antoni Migliorati M, Scheer C, Grace PR, Rowlings DW, Bell M, McGree J (2014) Influence of different nitrogen rates and DMPP nitrification inhibitor on annual N2O emissions from a subtropical wheat–maize cropping system. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 186, 33–43.
| Influence of different nitrogen rates and DMPP nitrification inhibitor on annual N2O emissions from a subtropical wheat–maize cropping system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXmsVCjtbo%3D&md5=0844cd1e106bc3431f689d097fcc0b36CAS |
Denmead OT, Macdonald BCT, Bryant G, Naylor T, Wilson S, Griffith DWT, Wang WJ, Salter B, White I, Moody PW (2010) Emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from Australian sugarcane soils. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 150, 748–756.
| Emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from Australian sugarcane soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Department of Environment (2014) ‘National Inventory Report 2012, Volume 1.’ (The Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra)
Di Bella LP, Stacey SP, Benson A, Royle A, Holzberger G (2013) An assessment of controlled release fertiliser in the Herbert cane growing region. International Sugar Journal 115, 784–788.
FAO (2015) FAOSTAT Online Database. Available at http://faostat3.fao.org/compare/E
Galloway JN, Aber JD, Erisman JW, Seitzinger SP, Howarth RW, Cowling EB, Cosby BJ (2003) The nitrogen cascade. Bioscience 53, 341–356.
| The nitrogen cascade.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Halpin NV, Bell MJ, Rehbein WE, Short KS (2013) The impact of combinations of trash management and tillage on grain legume productivity and subsequent sugarcane productivity in the Bundaberg/Childers district. In ‘Proceedings of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists’. (Ed. RC Bruce) p. 9. (Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Ltd: Mackay, Qld) Available at https://www.assct.com.au/media/pdfs/2013-Ag38-Halpin.pdf [verified 31 May 2016]
IPCC (2007) ‘Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK and New York, USA)
IPCC (2014) Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policymakers. In ‘IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report’. p. 35. (IPCC: Geneva, Switzerland)
Isbell RF (2002) ‘Australian soil classification.’ Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
IUSS Working Group WRB (2014) World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Report No. 106. (FAO: Rome)
Lam SK, Suter H, Davies R, Bai M, Sun J, Chen D (2015) Measurement and mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions from a high nitrogen input vegetable system. Scientific Reports 5, 8208.
| Measurement and mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions from a high nitrogen input vegetable system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25644694PubMed |
Liu C, Wang K, Zheng X (2013) Effects of nitrification inhibitors (DCD and DMPP) on nitrous oxide emission, crop yield and nitrogen uptake in a wheat-maize cropping system. Biogeosciences 10, 2427–2437.
| Effects of nitrification inhibitors (DCD and DMPP) on nitrous oxide emission, crop yield and nitrogen uptake in a wheat-maize cropping system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXltlGktLg%3D&md5=7ae6f766dbe0c2a108f66906ecb09266CAS |
Meier EA, Thorburn PJ, Probert ME (2006) Occurrence and simulation of nitrification in two contrasting sugarcane soils from the australian wet tropics. Australian Journal of Soil Research 44, 1–9.
| Occurrence and simulation of nitrification in two contrasting sugarcane soils from the australian wet tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtlWjsr8%3D&md5=c819dc6010aa33371a24bc412fc4c52aCAS |
Morrill LG, Dawson JE (1967) Patterns observed for the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate by soil organisms. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 31, 757–760.
| Patterns observed for the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate by soil organisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF1cXnslalsQ%3D%3D&md5=d53d4160f471306f3f07369ffe1b9f78CAS |
Prasertsak P, Denmead OT, Freney JR, Saffigna PG, Prove BG, Reghenzani JR (2002) Effect of fertilizer placement on nitrogen loss from sugarcane in tropical Queensland. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 62, 229–239.
| Effect of fertilizer placement on nitrogen loss from sugarcane in tropical Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XovFShtr8%3D&md5=f81a8d22102f35716013fd51cb096062CAS |
Rayment GE, Lyons DJ (2010) ‘Soil chemical methods – Australasia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Reeves S, Wang WJ, Salter B, Halpin N (2016) Quantifying nitrous oxide emissions from sugarcane cropping systems: Optimum sampling time and frequency. Atmospheric Environment 136, 123–133.
| Quantifying nitrous oxide emissions from sugarcane cropping systems: Optimum sampling time and frequency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28Xms1Ort74%3D&md5=ab4d434396a229500a31cd7c5ab4f54bCAS |
Robinson N, Brackin R, Vinall K, Soper F, Holst J, Gamage H, Paungfoo-Lonhienne C, Lakshmanan P, Schmidt S (2011) Nitrate paradigm does not hold up for sugarcane. PLoS One 6, e19045.
| Nitrate paradigm does not hold up for sugarcane.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21552564PubMed |
Sahrawat KL (2008) Factors affecting nitrification in soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 39, 1436–1446.
| Factors affecting nitrification in soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXltFyitbc%3D&md5=a30169d76ba6458124abc244bc4f7d56CAS |
Scheer C, Grace PR, Rowlings DW, Payero J (2013) Soil N2O and CO2 emissions from cotton in Australia under varying irrigation management. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 95, 43–56.
| Soil N2O and CO2 emissions from cotton in Australia under varying irrigation management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXitVOjsr8%3D&md5=428d497322a79f52965f9aeb6e3e7a96CAS |
Scheer C, Rowlings DW, Firrel M, Deuter P, Morris S, Grace PR (2014) Impact of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) on soil nitrous oxide emissions from an intensive broccoli production system in sub-tropical Australia. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 77, 243–251.
| Impact of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) on soil nitrous oxide emissions from an intensive broccoli production system in sub-tropical Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXht12ntL3M&md5=ee89302220febfea18060a4a6d021cc2CAS |
Schwenke GD, Herridge DF, Scheer C, Rowlings DW, Haigh BM, McMullen KG (2015) Soil N2O emissions under N2-fixing legumes and N-fertilised canola: A reappraisal of emissions factor calculations. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 202, 232–242.
| Soil N2O emissions under N2-fixing legumes and N-fertilised canola: A reappraisal of emissions factor calculations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhtVOgsL4%3D&md5=5e74db16ebc6b862a9ac74b9a0396a34CAS |
Soares JR, Cantarella H, Vargas VP, Carmo JB, Martins AA, Sousa RM, Andrade CA (2015) Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers in nitrous oxide emissions from urea applied to sugarcane. Journal of Environmental Quality 44, 423–430.
| Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers in nitrous oxide emissions from urea applied to sugarcane.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXkvFSjs74%3D&md5=5c1fe7c445e5e38b52ccf9660ba2ecf9CAS | 26023961PubMed |
Timilsena YP, Adhikari R, Casey P, Muster T, Gill H, Adhikari B (2014) Enhanced efficiency fertilisers: A review of formulation and nutrient release patterns. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 95, 1131–1142.
| Enhanced efficiency fertilisers: A review of formulation and nutrient release patterns.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25043832PubMed |
Vallis I, Catchpoole VR, Hughes RM, Myers RJK, Ridge DR, Weir KL (1996) Recovery in plants and soils of 15N applied as subsurface bands of urea to sugarcane. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 355–370.
| Recovery in plants and soils of 15N applied as subsurface bands of urea to sugarcane.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang WJ, Dalal RC, Reeves SH, Butterbach-Bahl K, Kiese R (2011) Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes. Global Change Biology 17, 3089–3101.
| Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang WJ, Salter B, Reeves SH, Brieffies TC, Perna J (2012) Nitrous oxide emissions from a sugarcane soil under different fallow and nitrogen fertiliser management regimes. In ‘Proceedings of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists’. p. 9 (Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Ltd: Mackay, Qld) Available at https://www.assct.com.au/media/pdfs/Ag%2025%20Wang%20et%20al.pdf [verified 31 May 2016]
Wang WJ, Halpin NV, Reeves SH, Rehbein WE (2015) Soybean rotation and crop residue management to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from sugarcane soils. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists 37, 33–41.
Wang WJ, Reeves SH, Salter B, Moody PW, Dalal RC (2016) Effects of urea formulations, application rates and crop residue retention on N2O emissions from sugarcane fields in Australia. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 216, 137–146.
| Effects of urea formulations, application rates and crop residue retention on N2O emissions from sugarcane fields in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhs1GjsrvN&md5=2140ce5f0efc823ce2b1c0a3fcf4b389CAS |
Weier KL (1999) N2O and CH4 emission and CH4 consumption in a sugarcane soil after variation in nitrogen and water application. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 31, 1931–1941.
| N2O and CH4 emission and CH4 consumption in a sugarcane soil after variation in nitrogen and water application.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXntVOitb0%3D&md5=89a90fa50e7c1a682e5539149248b5aeCAS |
Wood AW, Muchow RC, Robertson MJ (1996) Growth of sugarcane under high input conditions in tropical Australia. III. Accumulation, partitioning and use of nitrogen. Field Crops Research 48, 223–233.
| Growth of sugarcane under high input conditions in tropical Australia. III. Accumulation, partitioning and use of nitrogen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zebarth BJ, Snowdon E, Burton DL, Goyer C, Dowbenko R (2012) Controlled release fertilizer product effects on potato crop response and nitrous oxide emissions under rain-fed production on a medium-textured soil. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 92, 759–769.
| Controlled release fertilizer product effects on potato crop response and nitrous oxide emissions under rain-fed production on a medium-textured soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhsVensrzL&md5=d1d0de54d48afb0d4029b6de3c9f1c76CAS |
Zerulla W, Barth T, Dressel J, Erhardt K, Locquenghien KH, Pasda G, Rädle M, Wissemeier AH (2001) 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) – a new nitrification inhibitor for agriculture and horticulture: An introduction. Biology and Fertility of Soils 34, 79–84.
| 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) – a new nitrification inhibitor for agriculture and horticulture: An introduction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXltlyqt7g%3D&md5=a15ee234ef5ce9013521b5fc5b89aeccCAS |
