Summary
This laboratory study examined how soil water saturation influences denitrification and nitrification processes in grassland soil, focusing on the interaction between water-filled pore space (WFPS) and soil compaction at the micropore scale. Results indicate that flux variability increases under less saturated conditions, likely due to nutrient distribution heterogeneity created by soil cracks, whilst isotopic analysis reveals two distinct nitrogen pools with different dynamics depending on saturation level. The findings advance understanding of greenhouse gas emission mechanisms in agricultural soils under varying moisture conditions.
UK applicability
The study used a grassland soil under controlled laboratory conditions, making it directly relevant to UK pasture management and nitrous oxide mitigation strategies. The interaction between soil saturation and compaction has important implications for UK grazing management and soil structure preservation, particularly in wet climates where high WFPS is common.
Key measures
N2O and N2 gas fluxes; N2O isotopocule composition; water-filled pore space (WFPS); soil compaction effects at micropore scale
Outcomes reported
The study measured nitrous oxide (N2O) and dinitrogen (N2) emissions, along with N2O isotopocule signatures, from grassland soil incubated at different saturation levels. Findings indicated that flux variability was larger in less saturated soils, with denitrification dominating at highest saturation and potential nitrification contribution at lower saturation.
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