Impact of Kura Clover Living Mulch on Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Corn–Soybean System

Nitrous oxide (N2O), produced primarily in agricultural soils, is a potent greenhouse gas and is the dominant ozone‐depleting substance. Efforts to reduce N2O emissions are underway, but mitigation results have been inconsistent. The leguminous perennial kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) (KC) can grow side‐by‐side with cash crops in rotational corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) systems. With biological nitrogen fixation, KC provides land managers an opportunity to reduce external fertilizer inputs, which may diminish problematic N2O emissions. To investigate the effect of a KC living mulch on N2O emissions, automated soil chambers coupled to a N2O analyzer were used to measure hourly fluxes from April through October in a 2‐yr corn–soybean (CS) rotation. Emissions from the KC treatment were significantly greater than those from the conventional CS treatment despite the fact that the KC treatment received substantially less inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. A seasonal tradeoff was observed with the KC treatment wherein emissions before strip‐tillage were reduced but were surpassed by high losses after strip‐tillage and postanthesis. These results represent the first reported measurements of N2O emissions from a KC‐based living mulch. The findings cast doubt on the efficacy of KC for mitigating N2O loss in CS systems. However, if KC reduces nitrate leaching losses, as has been reported elsewhere, it may result in lower indirect (offsite) N2O emissions. Core Ideas Kura clover living mulch increased total N2O emissions. Nitrogen scavenging by the kura clover living mulch may have reduced spring N2O emissions. Emissions in the kura clover treatment were affected by soil disturbance and plant stress. Corn and soybean yield were only marginally affected by kura clover living mulch.