Effect of N dose, fertilisation duration and application of a nitrification inhibitor on GHG emissions from a peach orchard

Abstract

Despite only occupying 5% of the worldwide arable area, fruit tree crops are of vital economic importance in many regions. Intensive cropping practices can lead to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In order to reduce these emissions, numerous studies have been made on lowering N inputs or applying nitrification inhibitors (NIs) which tend to maintain or even increase yield while reducing N leaching and nitrogenous emissions to the atmosphere. However, very few studies have been conducted on potential GHG emissions from the peach crop. In this work, a three-year study was carried out in a commercial peach orchard with a split-plot design with three replicates, in which the main factor was N dose (25, 50 and 100 kg N ha−1 year−1, and 50 kg N ha−1 year−1 applied during a shorter period of time in 2015 and 2016; and only 70 kg N ha−1 year−1 in 2017). Subplots in the study were used to analyse the effect of the application of a NI (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate; DMPP). The aim was to qualitatively compare the effect of these factors on N2O, N2O + N2, CH4 and CO2 emissions from a peach orchard soil in order to recommend agricultural practices that minimise emissions without concurrent yield reductions. We show that N2O and N2O + N2 emissions were linked to fertilisation and increased with N dose. The N2O emissions were mitigated (up to 49%) by DMPP up to the 50 kg N ha−1 dose (not significantly). It seems that between 70 and 100 kg N ha−1 the application of DMPP loses effectiveness. Methane oxidation increased with N dose and decreased with DMPP application; CO2 emissions increased with DMPP and were unaffected by N dose. The intermediate N dose (50 kg N ha−1) applied during a shorter period of time increased yield (not significantly) and NUE without increasing GHG emissions.