Emission of nitrous oxide and methane from alluvial soil through incubation

Abstract

Methane and nitrous oxide emission from alluvial soil under incubation using varying doses of urea and water content were studied for Tangibanta and Sorada. The N₂O emission was observed to increase with time and tapers off after attaining the peak. The theoretical emission was evaluated using empirical equations and matches well with the experimental values. The CH₄ and N₂O emission both increased with the increase in Water Filled Pore Space (WFPS) and urea concentration. The nitrification and denitrification reaction rates were determined with and without acetylene. Michaelis-Menten equation was used to evaluate the K_m and V_max values. The rate of emission of N₂O increased with increase of WFPS and urea concentration whereas the emission factor showed a reverse trend. The CH₄ emission rate was observed to be comparatively low with respect to N₂O emission rate around a factor of 10.

First published online: 14 May 2013