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RESEARCH ARTICLE

The effectiveness of dicyandiamide in reducing nitrous oxide emissions from a cattle-grazed, winter forage crop in Southland, New Zealand

L. C. Smith A D , C. A. M. de Klein B , R. M. Monaghan B and W. D. Catto C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A AgResearch Woodlands, RD1, Invercargill, New Zealand.

B AgResearch, Invermay Agriculture Centre, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.

C Ballance Agri-Nutrients, PO Box 12503, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand.

D Corresponding author. Email: chris.smith@agresearch.co.nz

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(2) 160-164 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA07262
Submitted: 7 August 2007  Accepted: 18 October 2007   Published: 2 January 2008

Abstract

A study was conducted in Southland, New Zealand to: (i) measure nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3-N) leaching losses from a cattle-grazed, winter forage crop; and (ii) quantify the effect of dicyandiamide (DCD) in reducing these losses. Drainage losses were measured for 12 months (December 2005–November 2006) from a December-sown kale crop using 12 hydrologically isolated drainage plots at the Woodlands Research Station. N2O emissions were measured for 6 months (June–November) following simulated grazing of the crop in mid-June. N2O emissions from the bare ground following grazing of the crop amounted to 3.6 kg nitrogen (N)/ha for the winter–spring period. This figure is higher than that measured for pasture on the same soil type over a similar period. DCD application significantly reduced N2O emissions for the whole crop area by 25% over this period and reduced the N2O emission factor for urine by 54%. DCD application increased the length of time mineral N (0–10 cm soil depth) was maintained in the ammonium form and significantly reduced soil NO3-N levels for 6 weeks following the simulated grazing. Annual NO3-N losses in drainage under this winter forage crop were relatively high at 79 kg N/ha.year, with the majority of this (67%) being lost over the wet summer months (December–January rainfall 434 mm or 200% of normal) during crop growth. The application of DCD following the grazing resulted in a 47% decrease in NO3-N leached over the winter–spring period (26 kg N/ha v. 14 kg N/ha) with this equating to a 29% decrease over the full 12-month measurement period. This study suggested that winter forage crops are major contributors to N losses from livestock farming systems in Southland and that DCD application following the grazing of such crops by cattle can significantly reduce N2O emissions and leaching N losses.


Acknowledgements

We thank Beth Henderson and Christel Howden for collecting the field samples, Adrienne Cavanagh for analysis of the gas samples, Stewart Lindsey for analysis of the soil extracts and Roger Littlejohn for statistical advice. This study was funded by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.


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