Nitrous oxide emissions from urine patches - experiment 3. Terang, Victoria, 2012-2013 [Theme 1: Inhibitors for reducing emissions]

A study of the impact of the nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) on nitrous oxide emissions from dairy cows urine deposited on pasture was conducted at Terang in south-western Victoria, Australia from July 2012 to August 2013. It was originally planned to apply components of treatment over 4 times periods (however due to issues around the use of DCD the experiment was terminated before the fourth application of urine). Initial experimental design was (4 treatments by 6 replicates) for soil sampling and two replicates of the 4 treatments for emissions measurement. Measurement system used automated chambers liked to a Fourier Transform infrared spectometer for gas analysis. Daily flux (g N2O-N/ha/day) was calculated for each chamber. Soil water (surface 0-65 mm) and soil temperature (50mm) was measured continuously in each chamber base. Soil mineral N content of all treatment and replicates was measured (0-100 mm) routinely. Initial site soil physical and chemical status were defined. Standard meteorological information was collected for an on-site weather station.