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Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2007 Publication Date: 7/25/2007 Citation: Dell, C.J. 2007. Potential Impacts of Drainage Management on Nitrous Oxide Emissions[abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society. p.77 Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required. Technical Abstract: Artificial drainage is an essential component of agricultural production in many regions of the U.S., but it can increase the export of nitrogen (primarily as nitrate) and other nutrients from fields to water bodies. Several management practices have the potential to remove nitrate from water either before it enters drainage ditches or within the ditches. These practices can reduce nitrate concentrations by creating conditions that are favorable for denitrification, the microbially-mediated reduction of nitrate to nitrous oxide or dinitrogen gas under anaerobic conditions. Dinitrogen is the primary constituent of the atmosphere, and its emission has no adverse environmental impact. However, nitrous oxide is highly effective as a greenhouse gas (about 300 time greater than carbon dioxide), and its emission contributes to climate change. Several factors influence the balance between complete reduction to dinitrogen and partial reduction to nitrous oxide, including oxidation/reduction potential, nitrate concentrations, and pH. These factors, how they are influenced by drainage management practices, and how they may be manipulated to achieve maximum conversion of nitrate to dinitrogen will be discussed. |
