Research shows that application of N fertilizer increases nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions linearly from irrigated cropping systems in Colorado. Conventional-till continuous corn had a higher level of N2O emissions than no-till continuous corn. Inclusion of soybean or dry bean in the no-till corn rotation increased the level of N2O emissions during the corn year of the rotation. Use of controlled release and stabilized N sources reduced N2O emissions under no-till when compared to urea and UAN fertilizer sources. Results of this work indicate that there are crop and fertilizer N management alternatives to reduce N2O emissions from irrigated systems.
