N2O emission from maize crops in Southern Italy

Agricultural practices contribute to the atmospheric N2O increase being the major source of this gas and accounting for 24% of the global annual emission (IPCC 2007).Soil nitrification and denitrification are the microbial processes liable for the production of N2O, which also depends on soil characteristics and management. These processes are controlled by different factors, such as soil moisture and soil temperature (Han Jian-gang et al, 2007). Addition of N to the soil via mineral fertilisers, animal manure, crop residues, sewage sludge generally increases N2O evolution (Boeckx et al, 2001). The IPCC (2007) provides a description of the methods and equation to be adopted for the inventory of nitrous oxide emissions from managed soils.Few experiments aimed at evaluating N2O exchange from cropland in Mediterranean climate showed that peak emissions follows N application and irrigation events (Lee et al, 2008).The aim of this study was to investigate N2O evolution under different agronomic management in a Mediterranean area.