Nitrous oxide emissions from dung and urine, seasonal deposition study, Terang, Victoria 2013-2014 [Theme 1: Inhibitors for reducing emissions]

A study of nitrous oxide emissions from dairy cow urine and dung deposition on pasture with and without the addition of a nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin was conducted on a chromosol at Terang in south western Victoria, Australia.

Four replicates of 6 treatments were measured for emissions (nil N applied, nil N applied + nitrapyrin, urine, urine + nitrapyrin, dung, dung + nitrapyrin). The study was conducted 4 times commencing 16 October 2013, 22 January 2014, 16 April 2014 and 16 July 2014. Each study was conducted on a previously untreated area of pasture.

Emissions measurement were conducted weekly for about 3 months using manual chambers with gas analysed by a GC and nitrous oxide flux calculated for each plot. Soil water (surface 0-65 mm) and soil temperature (50mm) was measured continuously at one site. Soil mineral N content to depth was measured 3 months after treatments applied, and again 9 to 12 months after treatments applied. Standard meteorological information was collected for an on-site weather station.