Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under a drip drip irrigation as influenced by nitrogen fertilizer placement depth and rate.

Irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in arid areas of China receive very high nitrogen inputs of up to 240 kg/ha-1. The crop also receives large inputs of irrigation water mostly under drip irrigation system. This system will be used to determine the contribution of processes of nitrification and denitrification (microbial processes involved in the production of nitrous oxide) to total nitrous oxide fluxes from the soil. Urea will be applied at different depths and rates. Each microbial process will be linked to these aforementioned variables. The study will be established at the beginning of the cotton cycle with labeled nitrogen (15N) applied to distinguish the contribution of nitrification and denitrification to nitrous oxide fluxes. We expect deeper placement of nitrogen to have a mitigatory effect on nitrous oxide emissions especially when the application rates are high. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Mario Tenuta

Student:

Partner:

University of Manitoba;Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

University of Manitoba

Program:

Globalink Research Award