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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2016, Vol. 15 Issue (2): 451-464    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61106-6
Soil & Fertilization﹒Irrigation﹒Plant Nutrition﹒ Agro-Ecology & Environment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Effects of plastic film mulching on soil greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) concentration within soil profiles in maize fields on the Loess Plateau, China
 NAN Wei-ge, YUE Shan-chao, HUANG Hai-zhou, LI Shi-qing, SHEN Yu-fang
1、State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation,
Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, P.R.China
2、Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, P.R.China
3、University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R.China
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摘要  To better understand the effects of plastic film mulching on soil greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, we compared seasonal and vertical variations of GHG concentrations at seven soil depths in maize (Zea mays L.) fields at Changwu station in Shaanxi, a semi-humid region, between 2012 and 2013. Gas samples were taken simultaneously every one week from non-mulched (BP) and plastic film-mulched (FM) field plots. The results showed that the concentration of GHGs varied distinctly at the soil-atmosphere interface and in the soil profile during the maize growing season (MS). Both carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations increased with increasement of soil depth, while the methane (CH4) concentrations decreased with increasement of soil depth. A strong seasonal variation pattern was found for CO2 and N2O concentrations, as compared to an inconspicuous seasonal variation of CH4 concentrations. The mean CO2 and N2O concentrations were higher, but the mean CH4 concentration in the soil profiles was lower in the FM plots than in the BP plots. The results of this study suggested that plastic film mulching significantly increased the potential emissions of CO2 and N2O from the soil, and promoted CH4 absorption by the soil, particularly during the MS.

Abstract  To better understand the effects of plastic film mulching on soil greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, we compared seasonal and vertical variations of GHG concentrations at seven soil depths in maize (Zea mays L.) fields at Changwu station in Shaanxi, a semi-humid region, between 2012 and 2013. Gas samples were taken simultaneously every one week from non-mulched (BP) and plastic film-mulched (FM) field plots. The results showed that the concentration of GHGs varied distinctly at the soil-atmosphere interface and in the soil profile during the maize growing season (MS). Both carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations increased with increasement of soil depth, while the methane (CH4) concentrations decreased with increasement of soil depth. A strong seasonal variation pattern was found for CO2 and N2O concentrations, as compared to an inconspicuous seasonal variation of CH4 concentrations. The mean CO2 and N2O concentrations were higher, but the mean CH4 concentration in the soil profiles was lower in the FM plots than in the BP plots. The results of this study suggested that plastic film mulching significantly increased the potential emissions of CO2 and N2O from the soil, and promoted CH4 absorption by the soil, particularly during the MS.
Keywords:  greenhouse gas       soil profile       plastic film mulching       growing season  
Received: 17 December 2014   Accepted:
Fund: 

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31270553, 51279197, 41401343) and the Special Fund for Agricultural Profession, China (201103003).

Corresponding Authors:  LI Shi-qing, Tel/Fax: +86-29-87016171,E-mail: sqli@ms.iswc.ac.cn   
About author:  NAN Wei-ge, Tel: +86-29-85409034, E-mail: nanwg2013@163.com;

Cite this article: 

NAN Wei-ge, YUE Shan-chao, HUANG Hai-zhou, LI Shi-qing, SHEN Yu-fang. 2016. Effects of plastic film mulching on soil greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) concentration within soil profiles in maize fields on the Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(2): 451-464.

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