Strategies to mitigate the nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertilizer applied with organic fertilizers in sugarcane

Author(s)

Lourenco, Kesia Silva ^{[1, 2]} ; Rossetto, Raffaella ^[3] ; Vitti, Andre Cesar ^[3] ; Montezano, Zaqueu Fernando ^[2] ; Soares, Johnny Rodrigues ^[4] ; Sousa, Rafael de Melo ^[2] ; do Carmo, Janaina Braga ^[5] ; Kuramae, Eiko Eurya ^[1] ; Cantarella, Heitor ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Netherlands Inst Ecol NIOO, Microbial Ecol Dept, Droevendaalsesteeg 10, NL-6708 PB Wageningen - Netherlands

^[2] Agron Inst Campinas IAC, Soils & Environm Resources Ctr, Av Barao de Itapura 1481, BR-13020902 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Paulista Agcy Agribusiness Technol APTA, Ctr South Reg Pole, Rod SP 127 Km 30, BR-13400970 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[4] Campinas Univ UNICAMP, Sch Agr Engn FEAGRI, Av Candido Rondon 501, BR-13083875 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[5] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Environm Sci, Rod Joao Leme dos Santos Km 110, BR-18052780 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 650, n. 1, p. 1476-1486, FEB 10 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Vinasse is a major byproduct of the sugarcane Would industry, recycled in the fields. However, there is evidence that the application of vinasse with mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizers in sugarcane enhances the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Therefore, strategies are needed to decrease the environmental impacts caused by both inputs. We carried out three sugarcane field experiments by applying N fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) with types of vinasses (concentrated-CV and standard-V) in different combinations (vinasses with N fertilizer and vinasses one month before or after mineral N fertilization). The gases nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) were measured in one experiment fertilized in the beginning (fall/winter dry season) and two experiments fertilized in the end (spring rainy season) of the harvest season. Sugarcane fields were sinks rather than sources of CH4, while total carbon emitted as CO2 was similar between seasons and treatments. The effect of mineral fertilization and vinasses (CV and V) on N2O emissions was highly dependent on soil moisture (rain events). The N2O-N fertilizer emission factor (EF) varied from 007% to 0.51%, whereas the average EF of V and CV were 0.66% and 0.34%, respectively. On average across the three experiments, the combination of vinasse (CV or V) with N fertilizer increased the N2O emissions 29-fold compared to that of N fertilizer alone. For CV + N, the EF was 0.94% of the applied N and 0.23% of the ammonium nitrate-N, and for V + N (El 047%), increased emissions were observed in two out of three experiments. The strategy of anticipating or postponing vinasse application by one month with respect to mineral N reduced the N2O emissions by 51% for CV, but not for V. Therefore, to avoid boosting N2O emissions, we suggest applying vinasses (CV and V) before or after mineral N fertilization. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50365-5 - Microbial networks in control of greenhouse gases emissions in biobased agriculture - MiniBag
• Grantee: Heitor Cantarella
• Support type: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/12716-0 - Greenhouse gas flows (CO2, N2O and CH4) from soil with sugarcane as affected by regular or concentrate vinasse at different application times
• Grantee: Késia Silva Lourenço
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/24141-5 - Microbial networks in control of greenhouse gases emissions from soil with sugarcane as affected by regular or concentrate vinasse
• Grantee: Késia Silva Lourenço
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate