scholarly journals Optimizing Nitrogen and Residue Management to Reduce GHG Emissions while Maintaining Crop Yield: A Case Study in a Mono-Cropping System of Northeast China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 5015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianzheng Li ◽  
Zhongkui Luo ◽  
Yingchun Wang ◽  
Hu Li ◽  
Hongtao Xing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
N2o Emissions

Reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers and returning straw to field are being promoted in northeast China (NEC). In this paper, the agricultural production system model (APSIM) was applied to assess the long-term variations of crop yield and soil GHG emissions in a maize mono-cropping system of NEC, and the simulation results were combined with lifecycle assessment to estimate annual GHG emissions (GHGL) and GHG emission intensity (GHGI, GHG emissions per unit yield) of different agricultural practices. Under current farmers’ practice, emissions due to machinery input (including production, transportation, repair, and maintenance) and soil organic carbon (SOC) decline accounted for 15% of GHGL, while emissions from nitrogen fertilizer input (production and transportation) and direct N2O emissions from soil accounted for the majority (~60% of GHGL). Current farmers’ practice in terms of N application and residue management are nearly optimal for crop production but not for climate change mitigation. Reducing N input by 13% and increasing straw retention by 20% can maintain crop yield and SOC, and also reduce GHGL and GHGI by 13% and 11%, respectively. However, it is not feasible to incorporate the straw used as household fuel into soil, which could incur substantial fossil CO2 emissions of 3.98 Mg CO2-eq ha−1 resulting from the substitution of coal for straw. APSIM was successful in simulating crop yield, N2O emissions, and SOC change in NEC, and our results highlight opportunities to further optimize management strategies (especially for the nitrogen and straw management) to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining crop yield.

scholarly journals Examining Farmers’ Adoption Decisions towards Precision-Agricultural Practices in Greek Dairy Cattle Farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 411
Author(s):  
Georgios Kleftodimos ◽  
Leonidas Sotirios Kyrgiakos ◽  
Christina Kleisiari ◽  
Aristotelis C. Tagarakis ◽  
Dionysis Bochtis
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Adoption Decisions ◽  
Alternative Practices ◽  
Cattle Farms

Nowadays, the sustainability of Greek dairy cattle farms is questionable due to low competitiveness and high GHG emissions. In this context, the BIOCIRCULAR project, funded by the EYDE ETAK, developed a series of alternative practices focusing on precision agriculture principles. However, the adoption of any practice from farmers is not a given, and depends on several determinants. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine farmers’ adoption decisions regarding precision-agricultural practices in Greek dairy production systems, as well as the economic and environmental impacts of this adoption. In order to achieve this, a bio-economic model was developed based on mathematical programming methods. The proposed model simulates a large number of dairy cattle farms with or without crop production, including different management strategies and their relevant costs, and provides an environmental assessment of the adopted practices based on GHG emissions. Moreover, in order to analyze farmers’ adoption decisions, different policy measures, linked to various environmental outcomes, were examined. The results highlighted that the adoption of precision-agricultural practices led to significantly better economic and environmental outcomes. Furthermore, it was found that different levels of incentives can be efficiently targeted to encourage the adoption of new feeds and, more broadly, to secure the sustainability of the sector.

scholarly journals The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N2O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Schwenke ◽  
B. M. Haigh
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The Impact

Summer crop production on slow-draining Vertosols in a sub-tropical climate has the potential for large emissions of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) from denitrification of applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser. While it is well established that applying N fertiliser will increase N2O emissions above background levels, previous research in temperate climates has shown that increasing N fertiliser rates can increase N2O emissions linearly, exponentially or not at all. Little such data exists for summer cropping in sub-tropical regions. In four field experiments at two locations across two summers, we assessed the impact of increasing N fertiliser rate on both soil N2O emissions and crop yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Vertosols of sub-tropical Australia. Rates of N fertiliser, applied as urea at sowing, included a nil application, an optimum N rate and a double-optimum rate. Daily N2O fluxes ranged from –3.8 to 2734g N2O-Nha–1day–1 and cumulative N2O emissions ranged from 96 to 6659g N2O-Nha–1 during crop growth. Emissions of N2O increased with increased N fertiliser rates at all experimental sites, but the rate of N loss was five times greater in wetter-than-average seasons than in drier conditions. For two of the four experiments, periods of intense rainfall resulted in N2O emission factors (EF, percent of applied N emitted) in the range of 1.2–3.2%. In contrast, the EFs for the two drier experiments were 0.41–0.56% with no effect of N fertiliser rate. Additional 15N mini-plots aimed to determine whether N fertiliser rate affected total N lost from the soil–plant system between sowing and harvest. Total 15N unaccounted was in the range of 28–45% of applied N and was presumed to be emitted as N2O+N2. At the drier site, the ratio of N2 (estimated by difference)to N2O (measured) lost was a constant 43%, whereas the ratio declined from 29% to 12% with increased N fertiliser rate for the wetter experiment. Choosing an N fertiliser rate aimed at optimum crop production mitigates potentially high environmental (N2O) and agronomic (N2+N2O) gaseous N losses from over-application, particularly in seasons with high intensity rainfall occurring soon after fertiliser application.

scholarly journals Weeds and Their Effect on the Performance of Maize and Finger Millet in Mid-Hills of Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tika Bahadur Karki ◽  
Shrawan K. Sah ◽  
Resam B. Thapa ◽  
Andrew J. McDonald ◽  
Adam S. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Finger Millet ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Ageratum Conyzoides ◽  
Alternative Crop ◽  
Weed Infestation

Relay cropping of maize with fingermillet (maize/fingermillet) is the predominant cropping system for sustaining food security situation in the hilly regions of Nepal. In this region weed pressure severely reduces crop yields. Basic information on weed species composition, biomass production and their effect on crop yields and economics are lacking for this region. This information will be necessary to develop effective weed management strategies for the future. In light of this an empirical study was carried out in two representatives mid hill districts of Parbat and Baglung during summer season of 2010/2011 in Nepal. A total of 10 major weed species with densities of 172 in Parbat and 311 per 0.25m2 area in Baglung were observed. The highest percentage of both relative and absolute densities were recorded for Ageratum conyzoides in Parbat and Polygonum chinensis in Baglung. Weed infestation under farmers practice of crop management reduced the grain yield of maize by 1.985 Mt ha-1 (117%) in Baglung and 1.760 Mt ha-1 (108%) in Parbat. Similarly, in finger millet it was 0.489 Mt ha-1 (63%) in Baglung and 0.403 Mt ha-1 in Parbat. Similarly, the combined yield of both the crops was also significantly reduced by 79.3% and 61.7% in Baglung and Parbat respectively. Hence, weeds are directly affecting the crop performance in the region. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an alternative crop production system in the hills. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.10790Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(3): 275-278  

scholarly journals Methods for Management of Soilborne Diseases in Crop Production

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Panth ◽  
Samuel C. Hassler ◽  
Fulya Baysal-Gurel
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Soilborne Diseases ◽  
Soilborne Disease ◽  
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation

The significant problems caused by soilborne pathogens in crop production worldwide include reduced crop performance, decreased yield, and higher production costs. In many parts of the world, methyl bromide was extensively used to control these pathogens before the implementation of the Montreal Protocol—a global agreement to protect the ozone layer. The threats of soilborne disease epidemics in crop production, high cost of chemical fungicides and development of fungicide resistance, climate change, new disease outbreaks and increasing concerns regarding environmental as well as soil health are becoming increasingly evident. These necessitate the use of integrated soilborne disease management strategies for crop production. This article summarizes methods for management of soilborne diseases in crop production which includes the use of sanitation, legal methods, resistant cultivars/varieties and grafting, cropping system, soil solarization, biofumigants, soil amendments, anaerobic soil disinfestation, soil steam sterilization, soil fertility and plant nutrients, soilless culture, chemical control and biological control in a system-based approach. Different methods with their strengths and weaknesses, mode of action and interactions are discussed, concluding with a brief outline of future directions which might lead to the integration of described methods in a system-based approach for more effective management of soilborne diseases.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Effects of Biochar Application on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Soils: A Global Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Jing Xiao ◽  
Jianhui Xue ◽  
Lang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Response Ratio ◽  
Gas Emissions

Agricultural disturbance has significantly boosted soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Biochar application is a potential option for regulating soil GHG emissions. However, the effects of biochar application on soil GHG emissions are variable among different environmental conditions. In this study, a dataset based on 129 published papers was used to quantify the effect sizes of biochar application on soil GHG emissions. Overall, biochar application significantly increased soil CH4 and CO2 emissions by an average of 15% and 16% but decreased soil N2O emissions by an average of 38%. The response ratio of biochar applications on soil GHG emissions was significantly different under various management strategies, biochar characteristics, and soil properties. The relative influence of biochar characteristics differed among soil GHG emissions, with the overall contribution of biochar characteristics to soil GHG emissions ranging from 29% (N2O) to 71% (CO2). Soil pH, the biochar C:N ratio, and the biochar application rate were the most influential variables on soil CH4, CO2, and N2O emissions, respectively. With biochar application, global warming potential (impact of the emission of different greenhouse gases on their radiative forcing by agricultural practices) and the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions (emission rate of a given pollutant relative to the intensity of a specific activity) significantly decreased, and crop yield greatly increased, with an average response ratio of 23%, 41%, and 21%, respectively. Our findings provide a scientific basis for reducing soil GHG emissions and increasing crop yield through biochar application.

scholarly journals Smallholder African farms in western Kenya have limited greenhouse gas fluxes

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 15301-15336 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Pelster ◽  
M. C. Rufino ◽  
T. Rosenstock ◽  
J. Mango ◽  
G. Saiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Few field studies examine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from African agricultural systems resulting in high uncertainty for national inventories. We provide here the most comprehensive study in Africa to date, examining annual CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from 59 plots, across different vegetation types, field types and land classes in western Kenya. The study area consists of a lowland area (approximately 1200 m a.s.l.) rising approximately 600 m to a highland plateau. Cumulative annual fluxes ranged from 2.8 to 15.0 Mg CO2-C ha−1, −6.0 to 2.4 kg CH4-C ha−1 and −0.1 to 1.8 kg N2O-N ha−1. Management intensity of the plots did not result in differences in annual fluxes for the GHGs measured (P = 0.46, 0.67 and 0.14 for CO2, N2O and CH4 respectively). The similar emissions were likely related to low fertilizer input rates (≤ 20 kg ha−1). Grazing plots had the highest CO2 fluxes (P = 0.005); treed plots were a larger CH4 sink than grazing plots (P = 0.05); while N2O emissions were similar across vegetation types (P = 0.59). This case study is likely representative for low fertilizer input, smallholder systems across sub-Saharan Africa, providing critical data for estimating regional or continental GHG inventories. Low crop yields, likely due to low inputs, resulted in high (up to 67 g N2O-N kg−1 aboveground N uptake) yield-scaled emissions. Improving crop production through intensification of agricultural production (i.e. water and nutrient management) may be an important tool to mitigate the impact of African agriculture on climate change.

scholarly journals Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 9577-9607 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Liu ◽  
K. Wang ◽  
X. Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Irrigated Wheat ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Abstract. Model and field studies generally posit that when the application rates of nitrogen fertilizer exceed crop needs, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions will increase nonlinearly, though linear responses are also extensively reported by field studies. We conducted year-round measurements of crop yield, N2O and methane (CH4) fluxes for treatments of six nitrogen levels (0, 135, 270, 430, 650 and 850 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in the form of urea) in a typical irrigated wheat-maize rotation field in northern China. Linear models characterized the responses of cumulative N2O emissions to fertilizer rates well; therefore, the calculated N2O emission factors of 0.17 ± 0.03%, 0.73 ± 0.07% and 0.49 ± 0.06% for the wheat season, maize season and annual scale, respectively, were appropriate for the different fertilizer rates. The cumulative CH4 uptake by the soil tended to be enhanced at higher fertilizer rates (≥350 kg N ha−1) in the maize season whereas no effect was observed for the wheat season. The crop yields stopped increasing at fertilizer rates greater than 650 kg N ha−1 yr−1. When the annual fertilizer rates increased from 270 to 430, from 270 to 650 and from 270 to 850 kg N ha−1 yr−1, the crop yields increased only 4–15% (0.6–2.2 t ha−1 yr−1), but cumulative N2O emissions increased 36–115 % (0.9–3.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1). We recommend 270 kg N ha−1 yr−1 as the locally optimum fertilizer rate. Considering the N inputs by fertilization (270 kg N ha−1 yr−1), irrigation (4.3 ± 0.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and deposition (wet deposition: 30.5 ± 1.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1), the slightly positive soil N balance could maintain the current crop yield (>14 t ha−1 yr−1) and reduce the present high N2O emissions (>3.51 kg N ha−1 yr−1) of the local farmers' practice (fertilizer rate: >430 kg N ha−1 yr−1).

scholarly journals Agriculture Data Analytics in Crop Yield Estimation: A Critical Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.M. Sagar ◽  
Cauvery N K
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Yield Prediction ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Crop Health

<p>Agriculture is important for human survival because it serves the basic need. A well-known fact that the majority of population (≥55%) in India is into agriculture. Due to variations in climatic conditions, there exist bottlenecks for increasing the crop production in India. It has become challenging task to achieve desired targets in Agri based crop yield. Factors like climate, geographical conditions, economic and political conditions are to be considered which have direct impact on the production, productivity of the crops. Crop yield prediction is one of the important factors in agriculture practices. Farmers need information regarding crop yield before sowing seeds in their fields to achieve enhanced crop yield. The use of technology in agriculture has increased in recent year and data analytics is one such trend that has penetrated into the agriculture field being used for management of crop yield and monitoring crop health. The recent trends in the domain of agriculture have made the people to understand the significance of          Big data. The main challenge using big data in agriculture is identification of impact and effectiveness of big data analytics.  Efforts are going on to understand how big data analytics can be used to improve the productivity in agricultural practices. The analysis of data related to agriculture helps in crop yield prediction, crop health monitoring and other such related activities. In literature, there exist several studies related to the use of data analytics in the agriculture domain. The present study gives insights on various data analytics methods applied to crop yield prediction. The work also signifies the important lacunae points’ in the proposed area of research.</p>

scholarly journals The Dynamics of Nitrous Oxide Emission from the Use of Mineral Fertilizers in Russia

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 336-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
A AA. Romanovskaya ◽  
A M.L. Gytarsky ◽  
A R.T. Karaban ◽  
A D.E. Konyushkov ◽  
A I.M. Nazarov
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emission ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Fertilizer Nitrogen

The intensity of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission was considered based on literature data on the single input of mineral N (nitrogen) fertilizers into different agricultural soil types in Russia. Ambient environmental factors exert a combined effect on the process of gaseous nitrogen formation from fertilizers applied. To reduce the uncertainty of estimates as much as possible, only experimental results obtained under conditions similar to natural were selected for the assessments. Mineral nitric fertilizers were applied to soil at a rate of 40 to 75 kg/ha and the N2O emissions were measured for approximately 140 days. Daily average emission values varied from 0.08 to 0.45% of fertilizer nitrogen. Correspondingly, 1.26 and 2.38% of fertilizer nitrogen were emitted as N2O from chernozems and soddy podzols. In 1990, the use of fertilizers in Russian agricultural practices for 53 Gg N2O-N, which equates to approximately 6.1% of global nitrous oxide emissions from nitric fertilizers. Later, the emission dropped because of a decrease in the input of nitric fertilizers to agricultural crops, and in 1998, it constituted just 20.5% of the 1990 level. In the period from 2008 to 2012, the nitrous oxide emission is expected to vary from 0.5 to 65.0 Gg N2O-N due to possible changes in national agricultural development. In the most likely scenario, the use of mineral fertilizers in Russia will account for approximately 34 to 40 Gg N2O-N emissions annually from 2008�2012.

scholarly journals Crop Production Pushes Up Greenhouse Gases Emissions in China: Evidence from Carbon Footprint Analysis based on National Statistics Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 4931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang ◽  
Chen ◽  
Chen ◽  
He ◽  
Guan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Cropping Pattern ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
The Past ◽  
Crop System

The rapid growth of crop yield in China was maintained by more fossil fuel inputs in the past years, causing concern about the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to crop production. Therefore, this study analyzed historical dynamics of carbon footprint (CF) of 11 major crops in China during 2000–2016 and estimated possible GHG emissions of the system in 2020 under different scenarios. Results indicated that the GHG emissions of the Chinese crop system increased by 20.07% from 2000 to 2016, in which the grain crops contributed to more than 80% of the total emissions. The GHG emissions from grain crops including maize, wheat, and rice as well as sugar crops including sugarcane and sugar beet were increased by 28.07% and 14.27% in the study period, respectively, making up the primary factor of increased GHG emissions of crop system in China. Moreover, if the cropping pattern and agricultural practices is not improved in the future, the GHG emissions from Chinese crop system are estimated to increase by 346.19 million tons in 2020. If advanced agricultural policies and practices are implemented, the GHGs emissions of crop system in China in 2020 are estimated to be 2.92–12.62% lower than that in 2016. Overall, this study illustrated that the crop system in China contributed to the growth of GHG emissions in China over the past decades. Improving utilization efficiency of fertilizers and crop structure in China are the most important ways to reduce GHG emissions from the Chinese crop system.

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