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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #435876
Research Project: Innovative Cropping System Solutions for Sustainable Production on Spatially Variable Landscapes

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Nitrous oxide emissions from a long-term research site with varying top soil depths to claypan horizons

Author
item GARZA, ESPERANZA - University Of Missouri
item BJORN, SUMMER - Iowa State University
item DAVIS, MORGAN - University Of Missouri
item Abendroth, Lori
item Schreiner-Mcgraw, Adam

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils in the Midwest have been intensively studied over the past three decades. However, few studies have examined the effect of topsoil depth on nitrous oxide emissions. We measured soil gas flux from long-term research plots located at the University of Missouri. Plots were initially established in 1982 with varying levels of topsoil thickness (0, 12.5, 25, and 37.5 cm) on a Mexico silt loam (Vertic Epiaqualfs). Crop rotations were replicated four times for each topsoil treatment levels, including soybean – soybean – corn, wheat – summer rye cover crop – soybean – corn, summer rye cover crop – corn – soybean – wheat, soybean – wheat – summer rye cover crop – corn. Static chamber gas flux measurements were collected weekly to bi-weekly from June 2021 through August 2024. Treatments were analyzed for cumulative nitrous oxide emissions among top soil depth treatments. Nitrous oxide emissions from corn were similar, ranging from 3.1 to 3.6 kg N2O-N ha-1. Nitrous oxide emissions from wheat were lower on average, but had a greater range (0.6 - 2.7 kg N2O-N ha-1). The range of wheat emissions was likely driven by top soil thickness and depth to claypan, representing effects of soil organic matter and soil moisture respectively. The results of this research will help improve the profitability and productivity of crop production systems. The outcomes of this research will identify key times of nitrogen loss during the season. Farmers will be equipped to better manage these losses through management strategies such as fertilizer application and crop selection.