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Copyright Copernicus GmbH 2012

Abstract

A field study was conducted to determine the effect of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on N2 O and N2 emissions after cattle slurry (CS) application in the presence of nitrate (NO3 ) fertiliser on seven different occasions (between March 2009 and March 2011). N2 O emissions from CS in the presence of NO3 fertiliser were very high (0.4-8.7% of applied N) over a 20-day period, under mild moist conditions. Emissions were significantly larger from the CS treatment compared to an NH4+ -N source, supplying the same rate of N as in the slurry. This study supports the view that organic fertilisers should not be applied at the same time as nitrate-based fertilisers, as significant increases in N2 O emissions occur. The average N2 O mole fraction (N2 O/(N2 O + N2 )) over all seven application dates was 0.34 for CSNO3 compared to 0.24 for the NH4 ClNO3 treatment, indicating the dominance of N2 emissions. The rate of nitrification in CSNO3 was slower than in NH4 ClNO3 , and DCD was found to be an effective nitrification inhibitor in both treatments. However, as N2 O emissions were found to be predominantly associated with the NO3 pool, the effect of DCD in lowering N2 O emissions is limited in the presence of a NO3 fertiliser. To obtain the maximum cost-benefit of DCD in lowering N2 O emissions, under mild moist conditions, it should not be applied to a nitrate containing fertiliser (e.g. ammonium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate), and therefore the application of DCD should be restricted to ammonium-based organic or synthetic fertilisers.

Details

Title
The effect of cattle slurry in combination with nitrate and the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide on in situ nitrous oxide and dinitrogen emissions
Author
McGeough, K. L.; Laughlin, R. J.; Watson, C. J.; Müller, C.; Ernfors, M.; Cahalan, E.; Richards, K. G.
First page
4909
Publication year
2012
Publication date
2012
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
17264170
e-ISSN
17264189
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1266382590
Copyright
Copyright Copernicus GmbH 2012