Nitrous oxide emission potential of 21 acidic tea field soils in Japan

Abstract

The nitrous oxide (N2O) emission potential of 21 acidic tea field soils in Japan was evaluated using a laboratory incubation method. The range of pH values of the soils was 6.26-2.96, and 17 of the 21 soils were strongly acidified below pH 5.0 due to long-term heavy application of nitrogen fertilizer. The N2O emission potential ranged from 0.001 to 1.463 μg N2O-N g-1 d-1. There was a negative exponential relationship between the soil pH value and N2O emission potential. The application of more than 1, 000 kg N ha-1 y-1 of nitrogen fertilizer significantly enhanced the N2O emission potential of acidic tea field soils.