Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrous oxide emissions from five UK fertilised grasslands

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Cardenas, L. M., Bhogal, A., Chadwick, D. R., McGeough, K., Misselbrook, T. H., Rees, R. M., Thorman, R. E., Watson, C. J., Williams, J. R., Smith, K. A. and Calvet, S. 2019. Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrous oxide emissions from five UK fertilised grasslands. Science of the Total Environment. 661 (15 April), pp. 696-710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.082

AuthorsCardenas, L. M., Bhogal, A., Chadwick, D. R., McGeough, K., Misselbrook, T. H., Rees, R. M., Thorman, R. E., Watson, C. J., Williams, J. R., Smith, K. A. and Calvet, S.
Abstract

Intensification of grasslands is necessary to meet the increasing demand of livestock products. The application of nitrogen (N) on grasslands affects the N balance therefore the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). Emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) are produced due to N fertilisation and low NUE. These emissions depend on the type and rates of N applied. In this study we have compiled data from 5 UK N fertilised grassland sites (Crichton, Drayton, North Wyke, Hillsborough and Pwllpeiran) covering a range of soil types and climates. The experiments evaluated the effect of increasing rates of inorganic N fertiliser provided as ammonium nitrate (AN) or calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN). The following fertiliser strategies were also explored for a rate of 320 kg N ha-1: using the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD), changing to urea as an N source and splitting fertiliser applications. We measured N2O emissions for a full year in each experiment, as well as soil mineral N, climate data, pasture yield and N offtake. N2O emissions were greater at Crichton and North Wyke whereas Drayton, Hillsborough and Pwllpeiran had the smallest emissions. The resulting average emission factor (EF) of 1.12% total N applied showed a range of values for all the sites between 0.6 and 2.08%. NUE depended on the site and for an application rate of 320 kg N ha-1, N surplus was on average higher than 80 kg N ha-1, which is proposed as a maximum by the EU Nitrogen Expert Panel. N2O emissions tended to be lower when urea was applied instead of AN or CAN, and were particularly reduced when using urea with DCD. Finally, correlations between the factors studied showed that total N input was related to Nofftake and Nexcess; whilst cumulative emissions and EF were related to yield scaled emissions.

KeywordsSynthetic fertiliser; Yield scaled N2O emissions; Intensification; Nitrogen use efficiency; Emission factor
Year of Publication2019
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Journal citation661 (15 April), pp. 696-710
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.082
PubMed ID30684838
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Funder project or codeS2N - Soil to Nutrition - Work package 2 (WP2) - Adaptive management systems for improved efficiency and nutritional quality
InveN20ry project AC0116
Publisher's version
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online09 Jan 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted08 Jan 2019
Copyright licenseCC BY
PublisherElsevier Science Bv
ISSN0048-9697
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