Summary
This controlled laboratory study employed the DENIS incubation system to investigate how spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrient distribution ('hot spots' of nitrogen and carbon) influences gaseous nitrogen losses from UK grassland soil. By distinguishing between nitrification and denitrification pathways, the work demonstrates that the spatial patchiness of nutrients, rather than total nutrient content alone, may be a critical driver of NO, N₂O and N₂ emissions. The findings suggest that understanding soil micro-scale heterogeneity is essential for predicting nitrogen losses from fertilised grasslands.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to UK grassland management practices, particularly regarding the spatial application of organic and inorganic fertilisers. Results may inform strategies to minimise nitrous oxide emissions—a potent greenhouse gas—from UK pastoral systems, though field-scale validation would strengthen the practical applicability of the laboratory observations.
Key measures
Gaseous nitrogen emissions (NO, N₂O, N₂); relative contribution of denitrification and nitrification pathways to NO production
Outcomes reported
The study measured emissions of nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and nitrogen gas (N₂) from UK grassland soil under controlled laboratory conditions, examining how localised distributions of nitrogen and carbon ('hot spots') influence these gaseous nitrogen losses.
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