Response of CH4 and N2O emissions and wheat yields to tillage method changes in the North China plain

The objective of this study was to quantify soil methane (CH(4)) and nitrous oxide (N(2)O) emissions when converting from minimum and no-tillage systems to subsoiling (tilled soil to a depth of 40 cm to 45 cm) in the North China Plain. The relationships between CH(4) and N(2)O flux and soil temperature, moisture, NH(4) (+)-N, organic carbon (SOC) and pH were investigated over 18 months using a split-plot design. The soil absorption of CH(4) appeared to increase after conversion from no-tillage (NT) to subsoiling (NTS), from harrow tillage (HT) to subsoiling (HTS) and from rotary tillage (RT) to subsoiling (RTS). N(2)O emissions also increased after conversion. Furthermore, after conversion to subsoiling, the combined global warming potential (GWP) of CH(4) and N(2)O increased by approximately 0.05 kg CO(2) ha(-1) for HTS, 0.02 kg CO(2) ha(-1) for RTS and 0.23 kg CO(2) ha(-1) for NTS. Soil temperature, moisture, SOC, NH(4) (+)-N and pH also changed after conversion to subsoiling. These changes were correlated with CH(4) uptake and N(2)O emissions. However, there was no significant correlation between N(2)O emissions and soil temperature in this study. The grain yields of wheat improved after conversion to subsoiling. Under HTS, RTS and NTS, the average grain yield was elevated by approximately 42.5%, 27.8% and 60.3% respectively. Our findings indicate that RTS and HTS would be ideal rotation tillage systems to balance GWP decreases and grain yield improvements in the North China Plain region.