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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #178245
Title: Dynamic Atmospheric Chamber Systems: Applications to Trace Gas Emissions from Soil and Plant Uptake

Author
item ANEJA, VINEY - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item BLUNDEN, JESSICA - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item CLAIBORN, CANDIS - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item Rogers Jr, Hugo

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2005
Publication Date: 2/2/2006
Citation: Aneja, V.P., Blunden, J., Claiborn, C.S., Rogers Jr, H.H. 2006. Dynamic Atmospheric Chamber Systems: Applications to Trace Gas Emissions from Soil and Plant Uptake. International Journal of Global Environmental Issues. 6(2/3):253-269.

Interpretive Summary: It is important to accurately understand the environmental consequences of agricultural management practices on the release of trace gases to the atmosphere. A chamber type system was successfully developed and tested in laboratory and field environments. This system was capable of measuring emission of traces gasses (nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon based compounds) associated with animal waste storage lagoons, different nitrogen fertilizer practices, and was also capable of measuring the uptake of trace gases by plants in the field. Measurements from this system are in good agreement with model predictions including those produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WATER 9 Model.

Technical Abstract: Atmospheric emissions, transport, transformation, and deposition of trace gases may be simulated through chambers. The dynamic flow-through chamber system has been developed in response to a need to measure emissions of nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon compounds for a variety of field applications. The cylindrical chamber system is constructed of chemically inert materials and internally lined with 5mil thick transparent fluorinated ethylene polypropylene (FEP) Teflon to reduce chemical reactions and build up of temperature inside the chamber. The chamber (diameter = 27cm, height = 42 cm, volume = 24.05 L) is designed with an open-ended bottom that can penetrate either soil or liquid to a depth of ~6-8 cm, thus creating a completely enclosed system. Carrier gas (e.g. compressed zero-grade air) is pumped at a constant flow rate (~2 to ~5 lpm), depending on the season. The air inside the chamber is well mixed by a variable-speed, motor-driven Teflon impeller (~40 to ~100 rpm). Many different laboratory and field experiments have been conducted using this dynamic chamber system. Oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2, NOy) emissions have been measured from agricultural soils where nitrogen-rich fertilizers have been applied. Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and reduced organic sulfur compounds emissions have been measured using this same technique across a gas-liquid interface at swine waste treatment anaerobic storage lagoons, and agricultural fields. Similar chamber systems have also been deployed to measure uptake of nitrogen, sulfur, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide gases by crops and vegetation to examine atmospheric-biospheric interactions. Emissions measurements have been validated by a coupled gas-liquid transfer with chemical reaction model as well as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WATER 9 model.