Nitrous oxide emissions in maize on mollisols in the Pampas of Argentina

The objectives of this study were i) to measure the soil N2O fluxes in a cropping system currently adopted by farmers region (FP), and an ecologically intensified (EI) over two consecutive maize growing seasons (2011–12 2012–13), ii) relate factors. Gas measured using vented static chambers, from October through April each season. Fluxes ranged 3 88 ?g N2O-N m?2 h?1 2011–12, between 97 2012–13. There was significant (p < 0.05) interaction management systems sampling dates both seasons. highest observed often following precipitation event shortly after N fertilization. While impacted on grain yield, it had no > effect cumulative emissions, which were, average across seasons, 558 g ha?1 for EI treatment 578 FP treatment. Cumulative emissions tended be 20% greater 153 days 2012–13 compared with 156 2011–12 mainly due differences total timing precipitations. As there managements but yield higher under EI, lower yield-based (75 Mg?1 grain) (94 grain). results showed that moderate increase rate (10 kg ha?1), combined split-application UAN (urea-ammonium nitrate) as source, well other crop practices, can viable alternative improve productivity without increasing environmental impact.