Js. Levine et al., BIOGENIC SOIL EMISSIONS OF NITRIC-OXIDE (NO) AND NITROUS-OXIDE (N2O) FROM SAVANNAS IN SOUTH-AFRICA - THE IMPACT OF WETTING AND BURNING, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, 101(D19), 1996, pp. 23689-23697
In this paper we report on the first measurements of microbial soil em
issions of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from the savannas
in South Africa. In addition to natural, unperturbed emission measure
ments, we investigated the impact of natural rainfall, artificial irri
gation, and fire on these emissions. Wetting and burning resulted in a
significant enhancement in the emissions of NO. Mean background NO em
issions from the dry sites ranged from 0.4 to 6.2 ng N m(-2) s(-1) and
from the wetted sites ranged from 4.7 to 34.0 ng N m(-2) s(-1). After
burning, the mean NO emissions from the dry sites increased and range
d from 13.3 to 15.2 ng N m(-2) s(-1) and from the wetted sites increas
ed, exceeding 60 ng N m(-2) s(-1). Measurements of biogenic emissions
of N2O were attempted, but emissions were not detected throughout the
measurement period, indicating emissions below the minimum delectabili
ty of the instrumentation (2 ng N m(-2) s(-1)).