Burton, D.(Nova Scotia Agricultural College, 20 Tower Road, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada; Phone: 902-893-6250; Fax: 902-893-0335; Email: dburton@nsac.ns.ca)

Utilization of Animal Manure in Potato Production: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Improved Nitrogen Management

D. Burton *, J.A. MacLeod, B. Thangaraj, B.J. Zebarth

The study, conducted at the Crops and Livestock Research Station, Charlottetown examines greenhouse gas emissions from a potato-barley-sweet clover rotation. The objectives of the project were to i) collect baseline information from the standard three-year potato rotation in Prince Edward Island; ii) determine the effect of different manure management strategies within the potato rotation on nitrous oxide emissions; and iii) identify the potential to reduce nitrous oxide emissions through improved nitrogen management practices. The experiment had four N fertility treatments, replicated three times. The treatments are: i) mineral fertilizer (NH₄NO₃) applied in the spring of the potato year of the rotation; ii) solid swine manure applied in the fall before the potato year; iii) solid swine manure applied in the spring of the potato year; and iv) liquid swine manure applied in the spring of the potato year. Spring and early summer periods (mid-May to end of June) were the times of greatest N₂O emission. The potato year of the rotation resulted in the greatest N₂O emissions. In the potato year solid manure resulted in less N₂O emission than did liquid manure or NH₄NO₃. Differences in N₂O emissions between years and treatments corresponded with treatment effects on soil NO₃- concentration. Nitrate and N₂O emissions in tile drainage water was monitored as part of parallel studies.