Factors driving nitrous oxide emissions from uncropped (head ditch and tail drain) areas of irrigated cotton fields after water-run urea application

2016

Research organisaton
Funding sources
Cotton Research Develeopment Crporation (CRDC) <abbr title='Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Commonweatlh)'>DAWR</abbr> <abbr title='Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales)'>DPI NSW</abbr>

Trial details

Researcher(s) Annabelle McPherson (NSW DPI)
Clarence Mercer (NSW DPI)
Gunasekhar Nachimuthu (NSW DPI)
Graeme Schwenke (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Burren Junction, NSW
Gunnedah, NSW
Gwydir, NSW
Macquarie, NSW
Moree, NSW
Namoi, NSW
Narrabri, NSW
Narromine, NSW
Warren, NSW
Wee Waa, NSW
Emerald, QLD
Further information View external link
Factors driving nitrous oxide emissions from uncropped (head ditch and tail drain) areas of irrigated cotton fields after water-run urea application locations
Aims

To investigate factors driving nitrous oxide emissions from uncropped (head ditch and tail drain) areas of irrigated cotton fields after water-run urea application.

Key messages
  • A soil and sediment survey of 10 irrigated cotton paddocks across four cotton-growing valleys revealed the tail drain sediments were enriched in organic carbon (1.03% ± 0.05) and nitrogen (0.11% ± 0.01) compared with head ditch soils (0.73% ± 0.07 for carbon and 0.08% ± 0.01 for nitrogen) of the same paddocks. Nitrate-nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon analyses showed similar trends.
  • After irrigation, tail drain samples tended to release more nitrous oxide compared with head ditch samples. Emission rates were linked to the pre-irrigation mineral nitrogen concentrations of the soil/sediments.
  • These non-cropped areas, representing up to 2% of the paddock area, are a significant source of nitrous oxide emission per unit area of farm as they retain high soil moisture and nutrient concentrations in the absence of plants.
  • Nitrous oxide emission calculations for cotton farming systems should incorporate the emissions from head ditch and tail drain sections of the irrigation network.
     
Lead research organisation Department of Primary Industries NSW
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source Cotton Research Develeopment Crporation (CRDC)
Trial funding source DAWR
Trial funding source DPI NSW
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Investment by DAWR, CRDC and NSW DPI is gratefully acknowledged. We acknowledge the growers and farm managers for their co-operation and permission to collect the samples for the simulation study. Technical assistance from Amanda Noone (Emerald), Lloyd Finlay, Mark Watkins and Wayne McPherson is gratefully acknowledged.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other crop: Cotton
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Burren Junction 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Gunnedah 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Gwydir 2016

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Macquarie 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Moree 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Namoi 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Narrabri 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Narromine 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Warren 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Wee Waa 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Emerald 2016

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Northern grains Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/ngrt-results

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Burren Junction, NSW Not specified
Gunnedah, NSW Not specified
Gwydir, NSW Not specified
Macquarie, NSW Not specified
Moree, NSW Not specified
Namoi, NSW Not specified
Narrabri, NSW Not specified
Narromine, NSW Not specified
Warren, NSW Not specified
Wee Waa, NSW Not specified
Emerald, QLD Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Burren Junction, NSW Vertosol
Gunnedah, NSW Sodosol
Gwydir, NSW Kandosol
Macquarie, NSW Kandosol
Moree, NSW Vertosol
Namoi, NSW Vertosol
Narrabri, NSW Vertosol
Narromine, NSW Sodosol
Warren, NSW Vertosol
Wee Waa, NSW Vertosol
Emerald, QLD Kandosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Burren Junction NSW Gunnedah NSW Gwydir NSW Macquarie NSW Moree NSW Namoi NSW Narrabri NSW Narromine NSW Warren NSW Wee Waa NSW Emerald QLD
2016 131.3mm28.1mm657.6mm562.9mm30.7mm624.9mm132.6mm603.4mm168.9mm78.7mm463.1mm
2015 75.9mm40.8mm660.5mm563.8mm33.9mm580.1mm137.0mm553.9mm90.5mm35.4mm410.7mm
2014 93.1mm31.3mm622.1mm553.0mm14.9mm566.4mm169.1mm541.7mm74.5mm22.7mm392.5mm
2013 142.3mm75.3mm629.9mm554.6mm41.8mm597.0mm221.9mm536.2mm113.9mm20.8mm446.4mm
2012 195.8mm122.9mm638.3mm554.6mm166.4mm600.0mm261.1mm582.9mm155.1mm112.6mm575.8mm
2011 168.6mm67.2mm661.0mm572.3mm33.7mm590.5mm230.4mm559.6mm155.0mm55.1mm595.3mm
2010 164.5mm91.3mm675.9mm561.8mm41.4mm659.0mm287.7mm567.3mm212.5mm102.6mm585.6mm
2009 76.5mm21.8mm624.5mm560.1mm27.4mm653.9mm283.2mm473.0mm182.5mm31.7mm527.6mm
2008 59.1mm35.8mm640.2mm570.8mm33.3mm628.6mm295.6mm464.9mm184.6mm35.5mm546.8mm
2007 80.7mm31.8mm642.5mm571.9mm25.3mm638.9mm336.4mm416.4mm103.7mm30.9mm478.3mm
2006 113.3mm22.3mm648.2mm546.1mm21.5mm671.2mm424.2mm426.1mm118.3mm79.0mm393.6mm
2005 165.3mm54.0mm648.4mm548.7mm66.1mm694.4mm469.3mm446.3mm155.3mm131.3mm358.3mm
2004 153.9mm61.3mm654.6mm543.3mm80.0mm694.6mm479.0mm444.2mm156.2mm125.6mm286.2mm
2003 150.5mm135.8mm631.8mm545.6mm33.2mm679.6mm487.2mm439.9mm200.9mm144.5mm276.1mm
2002 151.8mm196.3mm632.5mm523.4mm90.0mm671.5mm500.1mm433.8mm213.1mm166.5mm363.1mm
2001 200.6mm354.8mm647.1mm558.5mm283.6mm644.7mm518.9mm479.7mm293.9mm260.5mm525.4mm
2000 388.7mm415.6mm615.6mm540.0mm322.8mm582.3mm470.7mm476.0mm391.9mm398.9mm593.0mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Burren Junction QLD

Gunnedah QLD

Gwydir QLD

Macquarie QLD

Moree QLD

Namoi QLD

Narrabri QLD

Narromine QLD

Warren QLD

Wee Waa QLD

Emerald QLD

Burren Junction QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Gunnedah QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Gwydir QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Macquarie QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Moree QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Namoi QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Narrabri QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Narromine QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Warren QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Wee Waa QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Emerald QLD

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2016 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-06-2023 10:11am AEST