Nitrification and denitrification derived N2O production from a grassland soil under application of DCD and Actilith F2

The relative contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O production was investigated by means of soil incubations with acetylene in a mixed clover/ryegrass sown sward 5 days after application of a mineral fertiliser (calcium ammonium nitrate) or an organic one (cattle slurry) with and without the addition of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and the commercial slurry additive Actilith-F2. At this time, maximum field N₂O emissions were taking place. N₂O production by the slurry amended soil was twice as high as that of the mineral amended one. N₂O came in a greater proportion from nitrification rather than from denitrification in the slurry treatment, while for the mineral fertilisation most N₂O came from denitrification. The addition of DCD to slurry produced a decrease in N₂O production both from nitrification and denitrification. No reduction in N₂O losses was observed from addition of DCD to the mineral fertilisation, although DCD resulted effective in reducing the nitrification rate by 53% both in the slurry and the mineral fertilisation. Actilith F2 induced a high nitrification rate and N₂O production from denitrification was reduced while that from nitrification was not. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.