Annual Variability in Nitrous Oxide Emission from Agricultural Field Soils

농경지 아산화질소 배출계수의 연간 변동 특성 분석

We aimed at investigating the difference in $N_2O$ emission factors of chemical and organic fertilizers and identifying the main factors influencing annual fluctuations in $N_2O$ emission. We conducted two-year experiments in 2016 and 2017 in an agricultural field planted with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Treatments included chemical NPK fertilizer (NPK) and chicken compost application at $10\;ton\;ha^{-1}$, $20\;ton\;ha^{-1}$, and $30\;ton\;ha^{-1}$ rates (CK1, CK2 and CK3). Control was also employed with no addition. Results showed that $N_2O$ emission rates were significantly related with soil water status and soil available N contents. Significant correlation between % water filled pore space (WFPS) and $N_2O$ emission was observed only when the %WFPS was greater than 40% and during the initial stage of the experiment (<60 d). Comparison of the emission factors in 2016 and 2017 showed us that the emission factor was greater in 2016 when the %WFPS was maintained higher by 16.5% compared to that in 2017. In 2016, the emission factor of organic fertilizer was higher than that of chemical fertilizer, while in 2017, the pattern was reversed. Annual variability in $N_2O$ emission could also be originated from the available N contents remaining in soil after being taken up by plants. If we apply excessive N fertilizer, the soil would contain excess amount of N which was not uptaken by plants, leading to a huge increase in $N_2O$ emission. This case would overestimate emission factor, which was the case for the organic fertilizer in 2016. Over-fertilization should be avoided when we set up an experiment to determine $N_2O$ emission factor.