Emissions of biogenic sulfur gases from maize and wheat fields

Emission rates of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), carbonyl sulfide (COS), and carbon disulfide (CS2) to the atmosphere from maize and wheat fields were measured by using the closed chamber method. DMS was a predominant sulfur gas emitted from these fields mainly through the plants. The highest DMS fluxes occurred just before the harvest of maize plants from plots treated with nitrogen fertilizer. Annual DMS emission rates were also higher in the plots treated with nitrogen fertilizer than in the plots without nitrogen fertilizer application. Annual emission rates of CS2 were higher than those of COS, because COS was absorbed by the plants. Annual sulfur emission rates from the fields were in the range of 5.6 to 17.0 mg S m-2 y-1.