Measurement of nitrous oxide evolution rates from agricultural soils

A gas chromatograph equipped with a Ni-63 electron capture detector and a 10 ft by 1/8 inch porapak Q coukum column was used to measure rates of flux of nitrous oxide from soils under natural field conditions. Data collected from several agricultural situations indicates considerable fluctuation from site to site and from day to day. Moderately large flux rates, exhibited even by well aerated sandy soil, shows that N2O is released by bacterial nitrification as well as by bacterial denitrification in soils and this should be taken into account for global estimates. The possibility of a strong correlation between flux rate and fertilizer treatment is suggested.