Abstract

The emission of gases that may potentially intensify the greenhouse effect has received special attention due to their ability to raise global temperatures and possibly modify conditions for life on earth. The objectives of this study were the quantification of trace gas flux (N₂O, CO₂ and CH₄) in soils of the lower Amazon basin that are planted with rice and soybean, and the relation of this flux to soil physical and chemical parameters and to precipitation. This study was conducted in agricultural fields planted with rice (Oryza sativa) and soybean (Glycine max), located near the cities of Belterra and Santarém in western Pará State, Brazil, during the production years of 2005 to 2007. Measurements were done using static chambers in the field, and samples were analyzed by gas chromatography in the laboratory. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine variation in gas flux in both crops, and the results show that CO₂ flux varied between 305 and 227 mg-C m^-2 h^-1 under rice, and 243 and 156 mg-C m^-2 h^-1 under soybean. Flux of N₂O under rice varied between 4.5 and 20.4 µg-N m^-2 h^-1, and under soybean flux variation was between 4.0 and 9.4 µg-N m^-2 h^-1. Variation in flux of CH₄ under rice was between 5.1 and 14.0 µg-C m^-2 h^-1, and under soybean it was 0.4 and 1.2 µg-C m^-2 h^-1. These results demonstrate that, during the study period, the rice crop had higher flux for all trace gases than the soybean crop.

Key words: Amazon region, trace gas, crops.