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Greenhouse gas emissions from soils in corn-based cropping systems
Maciej J Kazula1, Joseph G Lauer1
1Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Journal of Environmental Quality
|September 23, 2023
Summary
Crop rotation, like corn-soybean or corn-soybean-wheat, significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N2O), compared to continuous corn, especially with high nitrogen fertilizer use.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
Background:
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential of crop rotation is often overlooked due to economic factors.
- Understanding GHG emissions variability across different crop rotations is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
- Long-term studies are essential to assess the impact of agricultural practices on GHG emissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) emissions across continuous corn (CC), corn-soybean (CS), and corn-soybean-wheat (CSW) rotations.
- To assess the influence of weather and nitrogen (N) application on GHG emissions in different cropping systems.
- To evaluate the GHG mitigating potential of CS and CSW rotations compared to CC.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a static chamber method to measure N2O, CO2, and CH4 emissions over three years.
- Selected three long-term rotation studies in Wisconsin representing diverse environmental conditions.
- Analyzed emissions data in relation to weather patterns and nitrogen fertilization rates.
Main Results:
- Continuous corn (CC) exhibited significantly higher N2O emissions (5.80 and 4.40 kg N ha-1) in high N input environments compared to CS and CSW rotations (1.52–3.33 kg N ha-1).
- N2O emissions did not differ significantly among CC, CS, and CSW in a low N input environment.
- CO2 emissions were highest in CC (4.16 Mg C ha-1), while CH4 emissions were small and inconsistent across all rotations.
Conclusions:
- Corn-soybean (CS) and corn-soybean-wheat (CSW) rotations are effective in reducing N2O emissions compared to continuous corn (CC), particularly under high nitrogen application rates.
- Weather conditions and nitrogen management significantly influence GHG emissions in agricultural systems.
- Implementing 2-year or 3-year crop rotations offers a viable strategy for mitigating GHG emissions in agriculture.
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