Effect of N Fertilization on N2O Emission from a Tropical Peat Soil: A Laboratory Incubation Study

Authors:
Aileen Kai Fang Sim, Che Fauziah Ishak, Ahmad Husni Mohd Hanif and Lulie Melling

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
ammonium-sulphate, nitrous-oxide, tropical-peat-soil, urea

Documentfile:
Sim et al 2012: Effect of N Fertilization on N2O Emission from a Tropical Peat Soil: A Laboratory Incubation Study

Summary:

Theme IX. Tropical peatlands

SUMMARY

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) from two different fertilizers (ammonium sulphate and urea) on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from tropical peat soil. A 28-day laboratory incubation study was carried out to investigate the dynamics of N2O production with N2O fluxes measured by the linear regression of emissions over the incubation period. In general, N2O flux decreased from Day 1 till the end of the incubation period for soil treated with ammonium sulphate. Preliminary results showed that the ammonium sulphate treatment produced higher N2O emissions than the urea treatment or the control. The results might be attributable to the low nitrification rate of ammonium sulphate in peat soils, resulting in an accumulation of NH4+, which could enhance denitrification in anoxic conditions.