Colorado alpine soils were studied to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization on N2O and CH4 fluxes. Measurements were taken from five fertilized and five unfertilized plots in two distinct meadow communities. The dataset was collected by SCIOPS and published in August 1992.
Use Cases
- Analyze the relationship between nitrogen fertilization and N2O emission rates, comparing the 22-fold increase in dry meadows to the 45-fold increase in wet meadows.
- Model methane uptake reduction in dry meadow communities, using the measured 52% decrease due to fertilization.
- Compare net nitrification and mineralization rates between fertilized and non-fertilized plots across the growing season.
- Investigate the effect of fertilization on net CH4 production in wet meadow plots where emission rates were not significantly affected.
- Study the impact of fertilization on soil organic nitrogen and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in both wet and dry meadow communities.
Strengths
- Experimental design includes five fertilized and five unfertilized plots for each of two meadow communities.
- Results quantify specific fold increases (22-fold, 45-fold) and percentage reductions (52%) in gas fluxes.
Limitations
- Sample size is limited to 10 plots per community type.
- Data is from a single study in 1992, limiting temporal and geographic applicability.
Provenance
- Source
- SCIOPS via NASA EarthData.
- Collection Method
- Field measurements of gas fluxes from fertilized and unfertilized soil plots.
- Time Range
- Growing season of the study year.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Niwot Ridge, Colorado, USA.