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Emissions of nitrous oxide and methane after field application of liquid organic fertilizers and biochar

Efosa, Norah; Krause, Hans-Martin; Hüppi, Roman; Krauss, Maike; Vaucher, Nadège; Zourek, Flora; Mayer, Jochen; Six, Johan and Bünemann, Else K. (2023) Emissions of nitrous oxide and methane after field application of liquid organic fertilizers and biochar. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 356 (108642), pp. 1-11.

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Document available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880923003018


Summary in the original language of the document

The use of anaerobic digestates as fertilizer is proposed as a means to close agricultural nutrient cycles. However, digestates have higher inorganic nitrogen contents than raw manures, which could translate into increased emissions of potent greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). To mitigate these emissions, the addition of biochar with high nutrient absorption capacity is suggested. To quantify the effects of anaerobic digestion and biochar amendment on N2O and CH4 emissions, we conducted a study over 33 months with four different crops (silage maize, winter wheat, winter barley, and forage grass). We measured soil parameters such as mineral nitrogen, moisture, and temperature. The N2O emissions after application of digestates were generally similar to those observed after cattle slurry or mineral fertilizer application. The highest N2O emissions were observed in the first year of the experiment during maize cultivation and were strongly influenced by high soil nitrate concentrations, which were likely linked to enhanced soil organic N mineralization after ley termination. The CH4 emissions were mostly negative. The addition of biochar to co-digested manure before application at an annual rate of 2 t ha− 1 had no effect on N2O emissions but led to short-lived CH4 peaks from organic fertilizers directly after spreading. We conclude that digestates do not promote larger N2O emissions than mineral fertilizers or cattle slurry, and that biochar addition to digestates in small application quantities does not reduce N2O emissions but bears the risk of CH4 release.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:Greenhouse gas emissions, Anaerobic digestate, Organic farming, Silage maze, Maize, Wheat, Barley, Nutrient cycling, Abacus, FiBL10183
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
greenhouse gas emissions
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36198c2c
English
organic farming -> organic agriculture
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_15911
English
cereals
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1474
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring
Environmental aspects > Air and water emissions
Research affiliation: Switzerland > Agroscope > ART - Reckenholz location
Switzerland > ETHZ - Agrarwissenschaften
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Composting and fertilizer application > Fertilizer application
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Composting and fertilizer application > Nitrogen
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Sustainability > Climate
Switzerland > Other organizations Switzerland
DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2023.108642
Related Links:https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/2110
Deposited By: Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL
ID Code:51791
Deposited On:09 Oct 2023 13:57
Last Modified:18 Oct 2023 13:20
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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