Carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from a barley field amended with organic fertilizers under Mediterranean climatic conditions

A field experiment was carried out in a non-irrigated barley crop (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Bornova) with the aims of evaluating the effects of applying organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes and assessing the residual effect of these fertilizers after the first rainfall events of autumn. Both soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes seemed to be dependent on temperature. The soils were a net sink for CH4 and the application of inorganic fertilizers reduced the sink potential. CO2 emissions increased following the application of fertilizers and after the first rainfall events in the autumn. The use of digested pig slurry caused a reduction of the CO2 equivalents produced per unit of crop yield.