The effect of growing soybean (Glycine max. L.) on N2O emission from soil

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of growing soybean on N2O emission from soil. When soybean was growing in pots, the cumulative N2O emission during the growing season was 2.26 mg N pot−1, which was 5.9 times greater than that from the identical but unplanted pots (CK). However, the difference in N2O fluxes between the two treatments was not significant until the grain-filling stage. Of the total N2O emission, 94% took place during the period from grain-filling to ripening. Premature harvesting of the aerial parts of the plants at various growth stages substantially stimulated N2O emission from the soil. These results implied that the process of symbiotic N fixation per se does not stimulate N2O production or emission, but rather senescence and decomposition of the roots and nodules in the late growth stage. Therefore, additional N2O would be emitted from the soil after harvesting of soybean with roots, litter, and residues left in situ.