The origin of ammonium-nitrogen in Indonesian coastal groundwater has not been intensively examined, meanwhile the elevated concentration remains a concern. This research aims at tracing the potential sources of ammonium-nitrogen in the groundwater of Indramayu, Indonesia where groundwater is vital for livelihood. From results, a combined examination of nitrogen isotope, coliform bacteria, land-use, and geology confirmed the natural and anthropogenic origins of ammonium-nitrogen in the groundwater. In the brackish-water aquaculture region, groundwater has δ¹⁵N_NH4 values from +1.8 to +4.8‰ signifying that ammonium-nitrogen is derived from mineralization of organic nitrogen to ammonium. Furthermore, ammonium has a significantly positive relationship with sodium indicating the exchangeable ammonium is mobilized to groundwater via cation exchange. Meanwhile ammonium-nitrogen from anthropogenic waste was detected in agricultural and residential region. The groundwater has more varied δ¹⁵N_NH4 values, from −2.9 to +16.1‰, which implies attenuation of ammonium-nitrogen from several sources namely manure, mineral fertilizer, sewage, and pit latrines. Also, the presence of E. coli confirms the indication of human and animal waste contamination. However, since ammonium has no relationship with sodium, cation exchange is not feasible and ammonium-nitrogen flows into the groundwater from anthropogenic sources along with liquid wastes.

Denitrification products nitrous oxide ((N₂O) and nitrogen (N₂)) were measured in three flooded soils (paddy soil from Vietnam, PV; mangrove soil from Vietnam, MV; paddy soil from Japan, PJ) with different nitrate (NO₃^–) concentrations. Closed incubation experiments were conducted in 100-mL bottles for 7 d at 25°C. Each bottle contained 2 g of air-dried soil and 25 mL solution with NO₃^– (concentration 0, 5 or 10 mg N L⁻¹) with or without acetylene (C₂H₂). The N₂O + N₂ emissions were estimated by the C₂H₂ inhibition method. Results showed that N₂O + N₂ emissions for 7 d were positively correlated with those of NO₃^– removal from solution with C₂H₂ (R² = 0.9872), indicating that most removed NO₃^– was transformed to N₂O and N₂ by denitrification. In PJ soil, N₂O and N₂ emissions were increased significantly (P < 0.05) by the addition of greater NO₃^– concentrations. However, N₂O and N₂ emissions from PV and MV soils were increased by the addition of 0 to 5 mg N L⁻¹, but not by 5 to 10 mg N L⁻¹. At 10 mg N L⁻¹, N₂ emissions for 7 d were greater in PJ soil (pH 7.0) than in PV (pH 5.8) or MV (pH 4.3) soils, while N₂O emissions were higher in PV and MV soils than in PJ soil. In MV soil, N₂O was the main product throughout the experiment. In conclusion, NO₃^– concentration and soil pH affected N₂O and N₂ emissions from three flooded soils.

Although the use of kitchen waste compost is very common, GHG emissions from soil amended with kitchen waste compost have not been studied. This study aimed to determine the effects of kitchen compost age and application rates on GHG emissions to identify optimal compost management. Soil samples mixed with kitchen waste compost at three different ages: 1 month (1M), 2 months (2M), and 3 months (3M) at two application rates (1% and 2% w/w) were incubated at 25°C for 28 days under aerobic conditions. Emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and methane (CH₄) were determined on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results showed that N₂O and CO₂ emissions decreased with compost age (p < 0.05). Increased application rates of compost led to increased CO₂ emissions and suppression of N₂O emissions. Furthermore, CH₄ was emitted from soil amended with kitchen compost even under aerobic conditions. This study suggests that 3M kitchen waste compost is optimal in terms of GHG emissions upon application to soil under aerobic conditions.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is a greenhouse gas, may be more emitted as an intermediate product of denitrification during biological soil disinfestation. The biological soil disinfestation is a method to suppress soil-borne pathogens under reductive soil conditions produced by the application of organic matter and water irrigation with plastic film. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of different organic matter and mulch films on N₂O emissions during biological soil disinfestation. Grey lowland soil amended with cattle compost plus rice bran (0.2%), rice husk (0.2%) or dent corn (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4%) was incubated at 100% water-holding capacity with or without plastic films made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and triple-layer polyolefin (3PO) for 72 h at 50°C. Permeation of the two films was also measured at 25°C and 50°C. Results showed that incorporation of organic matter increased N₂O emissions compared with no organic matter addition at 50°C. Incorporation of rice bran and dent corn with easily decomposable C and low C:N ratios increased N₂O emissions for the first 12 h, but thereafter, available C supply from these amendments suppressed N₂O emissions. Permeability of mulch films increased at a higher temperature and was larger for PVC than for 3PO. Our study indicated that rice husk should not be used for soil disinfestation and that application rates of organic matter must be determined based on their decomposability. Moreover, mulch film covering would not suppress N₂O emission in biological soil disinfestation because of high temperature.

Excessive application of animal manure to farmland leads to phosphorus (P) loss into the surrounding water. Manure is incinerated to convert it to P-rich ash as a slow-release P fertilizer. However, the potential P loss and P availability for plants from cattle manure ash (CMA) have not been fully understood. The aims of this study were to determine the P release mechanism from CMA and to propose appropriate application rates that mitigate P loss and increase available P to soil in Fukushima, where the soil is deficient in nutrients after the replacement of cesium-137-contaminated soil with sandy mountain soil. Different P fractions in CMA were sequentially extracted with H₂O, 0.5 M NaHCO₃, 0.1 M NaOH, and 1 M HCl. Phosphorus contents in different fractions of CMA were in the order of HCl–P > NaHCO₃–P > H₂O–P > NaOH–P. Water-soluble P release of CMA was also determined by kinetic experiments for 120 h. Results showed that total water-soluble P accounted for a maximum of 2.9% of total P in CMA over 120 h due to recalcitrant P compounds formed through incineration. The Fukushima sandy soil amended with CMA at three application rates, 94, 157, and 314 mg P kg⁻¹ (corresponding to 300, 500, 1000 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) was incubated for 56 days. Cattle manure compost and KH₂PO₄ were applied at 157 mg P kg⁻¹ for comparison. Phosphorus release in water and CaCl₂ solution from ash-amended soil was significantly lower than those from compost and KH₂PO₄-amended soil at the same P application rate of 157 mg P kg⁻¹ (p < 0.05). Available P in ash-amended soil, determined by Fe-oxide impregnated strips, was not significantly different from those in compost-amended soil after day 7 and KH₂PO₄-amended soil on day 56 at the same P application rate. Thus, CMA reduces P losses from soil to the surrounding water while it increases P availability for plants. In comparison of different rates of CMA, P release in water or CaCl₂ was significantly greater at 314 mg P kg⁻¹ than at 94 or 157 mg P kg⁻¹, while the percentage of available P to total P was the lowest at the highest application rate (p < 0.05), suggesting that the best application rates were 94 and 157 mg P kg⁻¹ in this experiment.

Ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) content in soil is a key factor affecting nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions due to its role as a primary substrate of nitrification. This study aimed at investigating the effects of different application rates of NH₄⁺-N on N₂O and CO₂ emissions from two different types of manure compost-amended soil, along with analysis of relative abundances of narG and nosZ genes under aerobic conditions. Laboratory experiments were conducted using Kochi and Ushimado soils amended with mixed compost (MC: mixture of cattle, poultry, and swine manure) or cattle manure compost (CC) at 3% (dry weight basis). In no compost- and compost-amended soils, (NH₄)₂SO₄ was added as a solution equivalent to 160, 200, and 400 mg-N kg⁻¹ of soil. Soil samples were aerobically incubated at 70% water-holding capacity (WHC) and 25°C. Emissions of N₂O and CO₂ were measured on days 0, 3, 7, 15, 21, 28, and 42. The abundances of narG and nosZ genes in Kochi (day 7) and Ushimado (day 21) soils were estimated using qPCR tests. Emissions of N₂O and CO₂ were higher in MC-amended soil because of higher mineral N content and lower C/N ratio of MC than those of CC, regardless of NH₄⁺-N rates. Emissions of N₂O and CO₂ were higher in compost-amended Kochi soil due to higher mineral N, total N and C, and clay contents, and possibly because of higher water-filled pore spaces than those in Ushimado soil at the same WHC. In both soils with CC and no compost, raising NH₄⁺-N rate from 160 to 200 increased N₂O emissions due to stimulation of nitrification. In contrast, increasing NH₄⁺-N rate from 200 to 400 decreased N₂O and CO₂ emissions except for N₂O emissions in MC- and CO₂ emissions in CC- and no compost-amended Ushimado soil possibly due to osmotic stress on microorganisms and limited C availability. Emissions of N₂O were positively related to narG gene copy numbers in Kochi soil (R²=0.78) due to high N and C contents. Our study revealed that NH₄⁺-N rate 400 suppresses N₂O and CO₂ emissions from manure compost-amended soil under aerobic conditions.