Effects of trampling of a wet dairy pasture soil on nitrous oxide emissions and the efficacy of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide.

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emitted from urine patches in grazed dairy pastures is a major contributor to the total greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand. The nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) has been shown to reduce N2O emissions in grazed pasture systems. However, the N2O emission rates and efficacy of DCD are both subject to a range of soil and environmental conditions. During winter, pastures and winter-feed paddocks sustain substantial trampling damage by grazing stock, leading to soil compaction and may influence N2O emissions from the soil.