Nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated cotton fields – variations in time and space

2015

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Annabelle McPherson (NSW DPI)
Graeme Schwenke (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Gunnedah, NSW
Further information View external link
Nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated cotton fields – variations in time and space locations
Aims

To explore the assumptions used in our regular N2O emissions sampling. These campaigns examined:

  1. the variation in N2O emissions in relation to chamber closure time.
  2. the variation in N2O emissions over a full 24-hour period 
  3. the variation in N2O across a two metre cross section of hills and furrows within a cotton crop.
Key messages
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission into a closed chamber was found to be linear over our standard closure time of 60 minutes in three of the four chambers tested.
  • Beginning N2O sampling at 9:00–9:30 am appeared to underestimate the daily average N2O flux, although there was no significant time effect in the higher emitting treatment. The sampling time was changed for the following season to start at 10:00–10:30 am.
  • The average flux from the four manual chamber locations used in the main experiments (irrigated furrow, non-irrigated furrow, fertilised side of plant bed, non-fertilised side of plant bed) were found to give a good approximation of the N2O flux averaged across 12 chambers covering all possible locations in a two metre cross section of the cotton field.
  • These tests validated the assumptions made in devising the sampling strategy used in subsequent experiments.
     
Lead research organisation Department of Primary Industries NSW
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source DPI NSW AOTG14013
Trial funding source DAWR
Related program Determining optimum nitrogen strategies for abatement of emissions for different irrigated cotton systems
Acknowledgments

These experiments were part of the project Determining optimum nitrogen strategies for abatement of emissions for different irrigated cotton systems (AOTG14013; 2013–17), with joint investment by NSW DPI and DAWR, and administered by CRDC. Thanks to Rod Smith for providing the experimental sites and for applying the N fertiliser treatments into the required plots. Thanks to Mandy Holland for assistance in field sampling. All soil and plant N analyses were carried out by Clarence Mercer, NSW DPI at the ISO9001accredited laboratory at Tamworth Agricultural Institute, NSW DPI.


Other trial partners Co-operator: Rod Smith
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Method

Crop type Other crop: Cotton
Treatment type(s)
  • Management systems: Other
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Gunnedah 2015

Sow date 1 October 2015
Harvest date 8 May 2016
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Psuedoreplication 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/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/802900/NNSWRR2017-web-access-fixedMar2018.pdf

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
Gunnedah, NSW Black vertisol
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Gunnedah, NSW Sodosol
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 Gunnedah NSW
2015 40.8mm
2014 31.3mm
2013 75.3mm
2012 122.9mm
2011 67.2mm
2010 91.3mm
2009 21.8mm
2008 35.8mm
2007 31.8mm
2006 22.3mm
2005 54.0mm
2004 61.3mm
2003 135.8mm
2002 196.3mm
2001 354.8mm
2000 415.6mm
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.

Gunnedah NSW

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

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 05-06-2023 15:30pm AEST