Assessment of nitrogen fertilization for the CO2 balance during the production of poplar and rye

This study was designed to consider all nitrogen fertilizer-related effects on crop production and emission of greenhouse gases on loamy sandy soils in Germany over a period of nine years (1999–2007). In order to set up a CO₂ balance for the production of energy crops, different nitrogen pathways were investigated, such as direct N₂O emissions from the soil and indirect emissions related to NO₃ leaching and fertilizer production. Fluxes of N₂O were measured in an experimental field using closed chambers. Poplar (Populus maximowiczii × P. nigra) and rye (Secale cereale L.) as one perennial and one annual crop were fertilized at rates of 0 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, 75 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and 150 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. The mean N₂O emissions from the soil ranged between 0.5 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and 2.5 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 depending on fertilization rate, crop variety and year. The CO₂ fixed in the biomass of energy crops is reduced by up to 16% if direct N₂O emissions from soil and indirect N₂O emissions from NO₃ leaching and fertilizer production are included. Taking into account the main greenhouse gas emissions, which derive from the production and the use of N fertilizer, the growth of poplar and rye may replace the global warming potential of fossil fuels by up to 17.7 t CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1 and 12.1 t CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively.