Management of irrigation frequency and nitrogen fertilization to mitigate GHG and NO emissions from drip-fertigated crops

Ábalos Rodríguez, Diego and Sánchez Martín, Laura and García Torres, Lourdes and Van Groenigen, Jan Willem and Vallejo Garcia, Antonio (2014). Management of irrigation frequency and nitrogen fertilization to mitigate GHG and NO emissions from drip-fertigated crops. "Science of the Total Environment", v. 490 ; pp. 880-888. ISSN 0048-9697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.065.

Description

Title: Management of irrigation frequency and nitrogen fertilization to mitigate GHG and NO emissions from drip-fertigated crops
Author/s:
  • Ábalos Rodríguez, Diego
  • Sánchez Martín, Laura
  • García Torres, Lourdes
  • Van Groenigen, Jan Willem
  • Vallejo Garcia, Antonio
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Science of the Total Environment
Date: August 2014
ISSN: 0048-9697
Volume: 490
Subjects:
Faculty: E.T.S.I. Agrónomos (UPM) [antigua denominación]
Department: Química y Análisis Agrícola [hasta 2014]
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

Drip irrigation combined with split application of fertilizer nitrogen (N) dissolved in the irrigation water (i.e. drip fertigation) is commonly considered best management practice for water and nutrient efficiency. As a consequence, its use is becoming widespread. Some of the main factors (water-filled pore space, NH4+ and NO3−) regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases (i.e. N2O, CO2 and CH4) and NO from agroecosystems can easily be manipulated by drip fertigation without yield penalties. In this study, we tested management options to reduce these emissions in a field experiment with a melon (Cucumis melo L.) crop. Treatments included drip irrigation frequency (weekly/daily) and type of N fertilizer (urea/calcium nitrate) applied by fertigation. Crop yield, environmental parameters, soil mineral N concentrations and fluxes of N2O, NO, CH4 and CO2 were measured during 85 days. Fertigation with urea instead of calcium nitrate increased N2O and NO emissions by a factor of 2.4 and 2.9, respectively (P < 0.005). Daily irrigation reduced NO emissions by 42% (P < 0.005) but increased CO2 emissions by 21% (P < 0.05) compared with weekly irrigation. We found no relation between irrigation frequency and N2O emissions. Based on yield-scaled Global Warming Potential as well as NO cumulative emissions, we conclude that weekly fertigation with a NO3−-based fertilizer is the best option to combine agronomic productivity with environmental sustainability. Our study shows that adequate management of drip fertigation, while contributing to the attainment of water and food security, may provide an opportunity for climate change mitigation.

Funding Projects

Type
Code
Acronym
Leader
Title
Government of Spain
AGL2006-05208
Unspecified
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Unspecified
Government of Spain
AGL2009-08412-AGR
Unspecified
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Unspecified
Madrid Regional Government
S2009/AGR-1630
Unspecified
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Unspecified

More information

Item ID: 35752
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/35752/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:35752
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.065
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 29 Jun 2015 14:14
Last Modified: 30 Nov 2022 09:00
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