Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Land-use type affects N2O production pathways in subtropical acidic soils

Yushu Zhang, Hong Ding, Xiangzhou Zheng, Xiangyun Ren, L. M. Cardenas, Alison Carswell, T. H. Misselbrook

Environmental Pollution · 2018

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This 2018 study examined how land-use type shapes the production pathways of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, in subtropical acidic soils. The findings suggest that soil management and land-use decisions influence not only the magnitude of N2O emissions but also the underlying microbial processes (nitrification versus denitrification) responsible for their generation. Understanding these pathway-level differences may inform mitigation strategies tailored to specific land-use contexts.

UK applicability

Direct application to UK conditions is limited, as the study focused on subtropical acidic soils; however, the methodological approach to distinguishing N2O production pathways may be relevant for UK research on soil greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems, particularly in acidic upland and moorland soils.

Key measures

N2O emission rates; nitrification and denitrification pathway contributions; soil pH and other edaphic properties

Outcomes reported

The study investigated how different land-use types (as suggested by the title, likely including agricultural and non-agricultural uses) influence the biochemical pathways producing nitrous oxide in subtropical acidic soils. Nitrous oxide flux and the relative contribution of nitrification and denitrification pathways were measured.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
China
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.045
Catalogue ID
MGmorzbmr9-3rawrh

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.