Tillage effects on carbon footprint and ecosystem services of climate regulation in a winter wheat–summer maize cropping system of the North China Plain

Inappropriate farm practices can increase greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and reduce soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, thereby increasing carbon footprints (CFs), jeopardizing ecosystem services, and affecting climate change. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the effects of different tillage systems on CFs, GHGs emissions, and ecosystem service (ES) values of climate regulation and to identify climate-resilient tillage practices for a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-summer maize (Zea mays L.) cropping system in the North China Plain (NCP). The experiment was established in 2008 involving no-till with residue retention (NT), rotary tillage with residue incorporation (RT), sub-soiling with residue incorporation (ST), and plow tillage with residue incorporation (PT). The results showed that GHGs emissions from agricultural inputs were 6432.3–6527.3 kg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ during the entire growing season, respectively. The GHGs emission from chemical fertilizers and irrigation accounted for >80% of that from agricultural inputs during the entire growing season. The GHGs emission from agricultural inputs were >2.3 times larger in winter wheat than that in the summer maize season. The CFs at yield-scale during the entire growing season were 0.431, 0.425, 0.427, and 0.427 without and 0.286, 0.364, 0.360, and 0.334 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹ with SOC sequestration under NT, RT, ST, and PT, respectively. Regardless of SOC sequestration, the CFs of winter wheat was larger than that of summer maize. Agricultural inputs and SOC change contributed mainly to the component of CFs of winter wheat and summer maize. The ES value of climate regulation under NT was ¥159.2, 515.6, and 478.1 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ higher than that under RT, ST, and PT during the entire growing season. Therefore, NT could be a preferred “Climate-resilient” technology for lowering CFs and enhancing ecosystem services of climate regulation for the winter wheat–summer maize system in the NCP.     

施用生物炭和秸秆还田对华北农田CO2、N2O排放的影响

以华北农田冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系连续6a施用生物炭和秸秆还田的土壤为研究对象,于2013年10月—2014年9月,采用静态暗箱-气相色谱法,对CO_2、N_2O通量进行了整个轮作周期的连续观测,探究施用生物炭与秸秆还田对其排放通量的影响。试验共设4个处理:CK(对照)、C1(低量生物炭4.5 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))、C2(高量生物炭9.0 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))和SR(秸秆还田straw return)。结果表明:在整个轮作周期内,各处理CO_2、N_2O通量随时间的变化趋势基本一致。随着生物炭施用量的增加,CO_2排放通量分别增加了0.3%—90.3%(C1)、1.0%—334.2%(C2)和0.4%—156.3%(SR)。其中,C2处理对CO_2累积排放量影响最大,增幅为42.9%。对N_2O而言,C2处理显著降低了N_2O累积排放量,但增加了CO_2和N_2O排放的综合增温潜势,C1和SR处理对N_2O累积排放量及综合增温潜势均没有显著影响。相关分析表明,土壤温度和土壤含水量是影响CO_2通量最主要的因素,两者之间呈极显著的正相关关系;N_2O通量与土壤温度、土壤含水量、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N均表现出极显著的正相关关系,而与土壤p H值表现出极显著的负相关关系。由此可见,添加生物炭对于减少氮素的气体损失具有较大的潜力。     

Annual net greenhouse gas balance in a halophyte (Helianthus tuberosus) bioenergy cropping system under various soil practices in Southeast China

A full accounting of net greenhouse gas balance (NGHGB) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) was examined in an annual coastal reclaimed saline Jerusalem artichoke-fallow cropping system under various soil practices including soil tillage, soil ameliorant, and crop residue amendments. Seasonal fluxes of soil carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) were measured using static chamber method, and the net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE) was determined by the difference between soil heterotrophic respiration (R_H) and net primary production (NPP). Relative to no-tillage, rotary tillage significantly decreased the NPP of Jerusalem artichoke while it had no significant effects on the annual R_H. Rotary tillage increased CH₄ emissions, while seasonal or annual soil N₂O emissions did not statistically differ between the two tillage treatments. Compared with the control plots, soil ameliorant or straw amendment enhanced R_H, soil CH_4, and N₂O emissions under the both tillage regimes. Annual NGHGB was negative for all the field treatments, as a consequence of net ecosystem CO₂ sequestration exceeding the CO₂-equivalents released as CH₄ and N₂O emissions, which indicates that Jerusalem artichoke-fallow cropping system served as a net sink of GHGs. The annual net NGHGB and GHGI were estimated to be 11–21% and 4–8% lower in the NT than in RT cropping systems, respectively. Soil ameliorant and straw amendments greatly increased NPP and thus significantly decreased the negative annual net NGHGB. Overall, higher NPP but lower climatic impacts of coastal saline bioenergy production would be simultaneously achieved by Jerusalem artichoke cultivation under no-tillage with improved saline soil conditions in southeast China.     

Soil‐derived trace gas fluxes from different energy crops – results from a field experiment in Southwest Germany

Willow coppice, energy maize and Miscanthus were evaluated regarding their soil‐derived trace gas emission potential involving a nonfertilized and a crop‐adapted slow‐release nitrogen (N) fertilizer scheme. The N application rate was 80 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 for the perennial crops and 240 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 for the annual maize. A replicated field experiment was conducted with 1‐year measurements of soil fluxes of CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O in weekly intervals using static chambers. The measurements revealed a clear seasonal trend in soil CO₂ emissions, with highest emissions being found for the N‐fertilized Miscanthus plots (annual mean: 50 mg C m^?² h^?1). Significant differences between the cropping systems were found in soil N₂O emissions due to their dependency on amount and timing of N fertilization. N‐fertilized maize plots had highest N₂O emissions by far, which accumulated to 3.6 kg N₂O ha^?1 yr^?1. The contribution of CH₄ fluxes to the total soil greenhouse gas subsumption was very small compared with N₂O and CO₂. CH₄ fluxes were mostly negative indicating that the investigated soils mainly acted as weak sinks for atmospheric CH₄. To identify the system providing the best ratio of yield to soil N₂O emissions, a subsumption relative to biomass yields was calculated. N‐fertilized maize caused the highest soil N₂O emissions relative to dry matter yields. Moreover, unfertilized maize had higher relative soil N₂O emissions than unfertilized Miscanthus and willow. These results favour perennial crops for bioenergy production, as they are able to provide high yields with low N₂O emissions in the field.     

春玉米-晚稻与早稻-晚稻种植模式碳足迹比较

量化作物生产的碳足迹有助于为农业生态系统温室气体减排提供理论依据。利用生命周期法研究了我国南方地区稻田春玉米-晚稻水旱轮作种植模式和早稻-晚稻连作种植模式下粮食生产的碳足迹,并定量分析粮食生产过程中各种碳排放源的相对贡献。结果表明,与早稻-晚稻的连作模式相比,春玉米-晚稻轮作模式的单位面积碳排放降低了6724 kg CO₂-eq/hm²,单位产量的碳足迹降低了0.56 kg CO₂-eq/kg。春玉米比早稻少排放6228 kg CO₂-eq/hm²;与早稻-晚稻模式中晚稻碳排放相比,春玉米-晚稻轮作模式晚稻碳排放降低了497 kg CO₂-eq/hm²。早稻-晚稻种植模式的碳足迹主要来源于甲烷（CH₄）,其碳排放为9776 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（54.8%）,氮肥生产和施用的碳排放为2871 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（16.1%）,灌溉电力消耗的碳排放2849 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（16.0%）。春玉米-晚稻轮作模式的碳足迹主要来源于CH₄的碳排放4442 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（39.9%）,氮肥生产和施用的碳排放2871 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（25.8%）,灌溉电力消耗的碳排放1508 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（13.6%）。该模式中晚稻的碳足迹组成情况与春玉米-晚稻模式的碳足迹相似。但是,对于春玉米而言,其碳足迹主要来源氮肥生产和施用的碳排放1436 CO₂-eq/hm²（50.1%）,氧化亚氮（N₂O）的碳排放为579 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（20.2%）,CH₄的碳排放为378 CO₂-eq/hm²（13.2%）。同时,相比于早稻-晚稻中晚稻的产量（6333 kg/hm²）,春玉米-晚稻轮作模式下的晚稻产量（7270 kg/hm²）提高了14.8%。因此,引入春玉米-晚稻轮作模式有利于提升稻田生产力,降低稻田连作系统碳排放和碳足迹。     

气候变化背景下中国南方地区季节性干旱特征与适应Ⅵ.防旱避灾种植模式优化布局

南方地区是我国重要的农业种植区,季节性干旱严重影响该地区的农业生产.本文基于南方地区不同干旱分区中选取的13个典型地区1981-2007年气象资料和作物生育期、产量等资料,依据各地逐年降水量将其分为干旱年、正常年和丰水年3种不同降水年型,利用作物水分临界期需水量与降水量的耦合度、气象产量、单位面积产值以及全生育期的水分利用效率和降水量5个指标,对典型地区种植模式的综合效益进行评价,得到南方不同区域不同降水年型下的优化种植模式.结果表明: 半干旱区在干旱年型下,宜采取2种抗旱种植模式：马铃-玉米-甘薯和冬小麦-中稻-甘薯.半湿润区在干旱年型下,种植模式以冬小麦-中稻-甘薯最优,油菜-中稻-甘薯次之.在温润区(即典型的季节性干旱区),江南地区在3种年型下均以马铃薯-双季稻最优;西南地区宜搭配抗旱作物进行三熟制种植,如冬小麦-中稻-甘薯、冬小麦-玉米-甘薯、马铃薯-双季稻等.从最大程度利用水热资源角度考虑,三熟种植模式最优,以水旱轮作为主,丰水年型宜搭配水稻.     

Gross primary production controls the subsequent winter CO2 exchange in a boreal peatland

In high‐latitude regions, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions during the winter represent an important component of the annual ecosystem carbon budget; however, the mechanisms that control the winter CO₂ emissions are currently not well understood. It has been suggested that substrate availability from soil labile carbon pools is a main driver of winter CO₂ emissions. In ecosystems that are dominated by annual herbaceous plants, much of the biomass produced during the summer is likely to contribute to the soil labile carbon pool through litter fall and root senescence in the autumn. Thus, the summer carbon uptake in the ecosystem may have a significant influence on the subsequent winter CO₂ emissions. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a plot‐scale shading experiment in a boreal peatland to reduce the gross primary production (GPP) during the growing season. At the growing season peak, vascular plant biomass in the shaded plots was half that in the control plots. During the subsequent winter, the mean CO₂ emission rates were 21% lower in the shaded plots than in the control plots. In addition, long‐term (2001–2012) eddy covariance data from the same site showed a strong correlation between the GPP (particularly the late summer and autumn GPP) and the subsequent winter net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE). In contrast, abiotic factors during the winter could not explain the interannual variation in the cumulative winter NEE. Our study demonstrates the presence of a cross‐seasonal link between the growing season biotic processes and winter CO₂ emissions, which has important implications for predicting winter CO₂ emission dynamics in response to future climate change.     

稻田秸秆还田:土壤固碳与甲烷增排

基于我国农田土壤有机质长期定位试验和稻田甲烷排放试验成果,将全国稻田划分为单季区和双季区.根据土壤有机质试验数据,分析了秸秆还田在我国两个稻田区的单季稻田、水旱轮作稻田和双季稻田的固碳潜力.同时根据我国稻田甲烷排放试验数据,采用取平均排放系数的方法,估算了我国稻田在无秸秆还田情况下的甲烷排放总量;结合IPCC推荐的方法和参数,估算了我国稻田秸秆还田后甲烷排放总量及增排甲烷的全球增温潜势.结果表明:在中国稻田推广秸秆还田的固碳潜力为10.48TgC.a-1,对减缓全球变暖的贡献为38.43TgCO2-eqv.a-1;但秸秆还田后稻田甲烷排放将从无秸秆还田的5.796Tg.a-1增加到9.114Tg.a-1;秸秆还田引起甲烷增排3.318Tg.a-1,其全球增温潜势达82.95TgCO2-eqv.a-1,为土壤固碳减排潜力的2.158倍.可见,推广秸秆还田后,中国稻田增排甲烷的温室效应会大幅抵消土壤固碳的减排效益,是一项重要的温室气体泄漏.     

Simulating greenhouse gas mitigation potentials for Chinese Croplands using the DAYCENT ecosystem model

Understanding the potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation in agricultural lands is a critical challenge for climate change policy. This study uses the DAYCENT ecosystem model to predict GHG mitigation potentials associated with soil management in Chinese cropland systems. Application of ecosystem models, such as DAYCENT, requires the evaluation of model performance with data sets from experiments relevant to the climate and management of the study region. DAYCENT was evaluated with data from 350 cropland experiments in China, including measurements of nitrous oxide emissions (N₂O), methane emissions (CH₄), and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes. In general, the model was reasonably accurate with R² values for model predictions vs. measurements ranging from 0.71 to 0.85. Modeling efficiency varied from 0.65 for SOC stock changes to 0.83 for crop yields. Mitigation potentials were estimated on a yield basis (Mg CO₂‐equivalent Mg^?1Yield). The results demonstrate that the largest decrease in GHG emissions in rainfed systems are associated with combined effect of reducing mineral N fertilization, organic matter amendments and reduced‐till coupled with straw return, estimated at 0.31 to 0.83 Mg CO₂‐equivalent Mg^?1Yield. A mitigation potential of 0.08 to 0.36 Mg CO₂‐equivalent Mg^?1Yield is possible by reducing N chemical fertilizer rates, along with intermittent flooding in paddy rice cropping systems.     

Carbon dioxide evolution of an upland rice and barley,double cropping field in central Japan

Carbon dioxide evolution rates from a double cropping, upland rice and barley field were determined in central Japan from June 1992 to May 1994, and regression models were developed to predict soil respiration rate. Diurnal patterns of hourly soil respiration rates (SRh) showed a similar trend with those of soil surface temperatures. Daily soil respiration rate (SRd) obtained by integrating SRh varied from 0.3 to 15.6 g CO₂ m⁻² for the 2 years. In the summer cropping period, SRd was positively correlated with daily mean soil surface temperature and negatively correlated with volumetric water content in soil. Moreover, this relationship was able to be expressed as a multiple-factor model with an Adj-R² of 0.925. On the other hand, in the winter cropping period, SRd was able to be represented by a single factor model using soil surface temperature with an Adj-R² of 0.854. Based on these relationships, seasonal changes in soil respiration rate were estimated. Total soil respiration rates in 1992 and 1993 estimated for the summer cropping period were 1260 g CO₂ m⁻² and 1094 g CO₂ m⁻², and for the winter cropping period 624 g CO₂ m⁻² and 676 g CO₂ m⁻², respectively. It was considered that the lower values during the summer cropping period in 1993 depended on lower soil surface temperature and higher soil water content.     

Effects of long‐term straw return on soil organic carbon storage and sequestration rate in North China upland crops: A meta‐analysis

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is essential for soil fertility and climate change mitigation, and carbon can be sequestered in soil through proper soil management, including straw return. However, results of studies of long‐term straw return on SOC are contradictory and increasing SOC stocks in upland soils is challenging. This study of North China upland agricultural fields quantified the effects of several fertilizer and straw return treatments on SOC storage changes and crop yields, considering different cropping duration periods, soil types, and cropping systems to establish the relationships of SOC sequestration rates with initial SOC stocks and annual straw C inputs. Our meta‐analysis using long‐term field experiments showed that SOC stock responses to straw return were greater than that of mineral fertilizers alone. Black soils with higher initial SOC stocks also had lower SOC stock increases than did soils with lower initial SOC stocks (fluvo‐aquic and loessial soils) following applications of nitrogen‐phosphorous‐potassium (NPK) fertilizer and NPK+S (straw). Soil C stocks under the NPK and NPK+S treatments increased in the more‐than‐20‐year duration period, while significant SOC stock increases in the NP and NP+S treatment groups were limited to the 11‐ to 20‐year period. Annual crop productivity was higher in double‐cropped wheat and maize under all fertilization treatments, including control (no fertilization), than in the single‐crop systems (wheat or maize). Also, the annual soil sequestration rates and annual straw C inputs of the treatments with straw return (NP+S and NPK+S) were significantly positively related. Moreover, initial SOC stocks and SOC sequestration rates of those treatments were highly negatively correlated. Thus, long‐term straw return integrated with mineral fertilization in upland wheat and maize croplands leads to increased crop yields and SOC stocks. However, those effects of straw return are highly dependent on fertilizer management, cropping system, soil type, duration period, and the initial SOC content.     

Short‐term CO2‐C emissions from soil prior to sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) replanting in southern Brazil

New management strategies should be identified to increase the potential of bioenergy crops to minimize climate change. This study quantified the impact of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) harvest systems, straw and soil management on carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes prior to crop replanting carried out on February 2010 in southern Brazil. The soil studied was classified as Haplustult (USDA Soil Taxonomy). Three sugarcane harvest systems were considered: burned (BH) and green harvest with straw maintained on (GH SM) or removed from (GH SR) the soil surface. Our hypothesis is that intensive tillage and the management of sugarcane crop straw could lead to higher CO₂ emissions from soil. We measured CO₂ emissions in no‐till (NT) conditions and after conventional tillage (CT), and with or without dolomite and agricultural gypsum applications. Soil CO₂ emissions were measured with a Li Cor chamber (Model Li‐8100). Water content of soil and soil temperature readings were first taken 24 h after tillage, over the next 25 days after tillage with 18 measurement days. The removal of sugarcane straw from the soil surface resulted in the rapid reduction of water content of soil (6% in volume) followed by a 64% increase in soil CO₂‐C emissions, supporting our hypothesis. Additional soil CO₂‐C emissions caused by removal of crop straw were 253 kg CO₂‐C ha^?1, which is as high as CO₂‐C losses induced by tillage. Dolomite and agricultural gypsum applications did not always increase CO₂ emissions, especially when applied on soil surface with crop straw and tilled. The conversion from burned to green harvest systems can improve the soil C sequestration rate in sugarcane crops when combined with reduced tillage and straw maintenance on soil surface. The effect of straw removal and related CO₂ emission for electricity generation should be considered in further studies from sugarcane areas.     

Leaf and stem physiological responses to summer and winter extremes of woody species across temperate ecosystems

Winter cold limits temperate plant performance, as does summer water stress in drought‐prone ecosystems. The relative impact of seasonal extremes on plant performance has received considerable attention for individual systems. An integrated study compiling the existing literature was needed to identify overall trends. First, we conducted a meta‐analysis of the impacts of summer and winter on ecophysiology for three woody plant functional types (winter deciduous angiosperms, evergreen angiosperms and conifers), including data for 210 records from 75 studies of ecosystems with and without summer drought across the temperate zone. Second, we tested predictions by conducting a case study in a drought‐prone Mediterranean ecosystem subject to winter freezing. As indicators of physiological response of leaves and xylem to seasonal stress, we focused on stomatal conductance (g_s), percent loss of stem xylem hydraulic conductivity (PLC) and photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F_v/F_m). Our meta‐analysis showed that in ecosystems without summer drought, g_s was higher during summer than winter. By contrast, in drought‐prone ecosystems many species maintained open stomata during winter, with potential strong consequences for plant carbon gain over the year. Further, PLC tended to increase and F_v/F_m to decrease from summer to winter for most functional types and ecosystems due to low temperatures. Overall, deciduous angiosperms were most sensitive to climatic stress. Leaf gas exchange and stem xylem hydraulics showed a coordinated seasonal response at ecosystems without summer drought. In our Mediterranean site subjected to winter freezing the species showed similar responses to those typically found for ecosystems without summer drought. We conclude that winter stress is most extreme for systems without summer drought and systems with summer drought and winter freezing, and less extreme for drought‐prone systems without freezing. In all cases the evergreen species show less pronounced seasonal responses in both leaves and stems than deciduous species.     

Does hatchery-reared Siniperca chuatsi (Actinopterygii,Perciformes) compete significantly with two wild Siniperca populations for diets in a shallow lake?

Greenhouse gas emissions of Lake Neusiedl, the westernmost European shallow steppe lake, were analysed to identify differences between the seasons of the years and between different locations in the pelagic zone and reed belt. Emissions of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O were measured in gas samples that had been recovered from the gas space of floating chambers operated as closed systems. Sampling periods covered all seasons except winter. Scaled up to the whole lake area (320 km²), the diffusive emissions of spring, summer and autumn totalled to about 79,500 t CO₂e, disregarding bubble emissions, winter emissions and plant-mediated emissions. The emission sum consisted of about 57,000 t CO₂, 760 t CH₄, and 12 t N₂O. Approximately one-third of the methane and carbon dioxide emissions originated in the pelagic zone and two-thirds in the reed belt (without plant emissions) whereas nitrous oxide emissions were similar in these two zones. An estimate of ebullitive emissions resulted in additional 1,765 t CH₄ that predominantly originated in or near the reed belt from spring to autumn.     

Changes in thermal and oxygen stratification pattern coupled to CO2 outgassing persistence in two oligotrophic shallow lakes of the Atlantic Tropical Forest, Southeast Brazil

Diel variations of temperature, O₂ and CO₂ profiles were measured in two oligotrophic shallow lakes situated next to a large preserved area of the Atlantic Tropical Forest (Brazil) in three sampling periods between the rainy season (spring and summer) and the dry winter of 2005. Our hypothesis was that lakes with high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations by terrestrial inputs might show the persistence of CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere over the course of the year, despite changes in the water stratification pattern. In both lakes, temperature, O₂ and CO₂ showed a significant stratification in the beginning and end of the rainy season, and destratification in the dry winter. The beginning of the rainy season showed DOC concentrations and CO₂ saturation that were significantly higher, but a persistence of CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere was observed in all sampling periods. In conclusion, tropical shallow oligotrophic lakes might show events of thermal, O₂ or CO₂ stratification and destratification coupled to persistence of CO₂ outgassing, possibly subsiding by terrestrial influence.     

Effects of Winter Cover Crops Straws Incorporation on CH4 and N2O Emission from Double-Cropping Paddy Fields in Southern China

Residue management in cropping systems is believed to improve soil quality. However, the effects of residue management on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from paddy field in Southern China have not been well researched. The emissions of CH₄ and N₂O were investigated in double cropping rice (Oryza sativa L.) systems with straw returning of different winter cover crops by using the static chamber-gas chromatography technique. A randomized block experiment with three replications was established in 2004 in Hunan Province, China, including rice–rice–ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) (Ry-R-R), rice–rice–Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) (Mv-R-R) and rice–rice with winter fallow (Fa-R-R). The results showed that straw returning of winter crops significantly increased the CH₄ emission during both rice growing seasons when compared with Fa-R-R. Ry-R-R plots had the largest CH₄ emissions during the early rice growing season with 14.235 and 15.906 g m⁻² in 2012 and 2013, respectively, when Ry-R-R plots had the largest CH₄ emission during the later rice growing season with 35.673 and 38.606 g m⁻² in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The Ry-R-R and Mv-R-R also had larger N₂O emissions than Fa-R-R in both rice seasons. When compared to Fa-R-R, total N₂O emissions in the early rice growing season were increased by 0.05 g m⁻² in Ry-R-R and 0.063 g m⁻² in Mv-R-R in 2012, and by 0.058 g m⁻² in Ry-R-R and 0.068 g m⁻² in Mv-R-R in 2013, respectively. Similar result were obtained in the late rice growing season, and the total N₂O emissions were increased by 0.104 g m⁻² in Ry-R-R and 0.073 g m⁻² in Mv-R-R in 2012, and by 0.108 g m⁻² in Ry-R-R and 0.076 g m⁻² in Mv-R-R in 2013, respectively. The global warming potentials (GWPs) from paddy fields were ranked as Ry-R-R>Mv-R-R>Fa-R-R. As a result, straw returning of winter cover crops has significant effects on increase of CH₄ and N₂O emission from paddy field in double cropping rice system.     

The Greenhouse Gas Balance of a Dairy Farm as Influenced by the Uptake of Biogas Production

The production of energy crops for farm-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) can affect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in a number of ways. Some examples are: fugitive CH₄ emissions from the digester and the storage of the digestate, emissions of N₂O from soil and emissions of CO₂ from farm machinery. Moreover, uptake of AD may be accompanied by changes in the way the farm is operated, which may affect GHG emissions. The scale of these emissions was assessed from published data for the biogas feedstocks cattle slurry and grass silage. Emissions were compared to references representing current farm operation and energy generation by fossil fuels. Feeding the digester with cattle slurry for the entire year did not result in reduced emissions due to relatively high emissions from stored raw slurry in summer. If grass was used for digester feedstock, the level of N₂O emissions from the crop was the most important factor for the GHG balance of farm-scale AD. If N₂O emissions were low, biogas realised substantial savings of GHG in the order of 1 t CO₂ equivalents per hectare per year. At a high level of N₂O emissions, energy cropping might even result in increased GHG emissions compared to fossil fuels.     

Effects of soil water content and rice straw incorporation in the fallow season on CH4 emissions during fallow and the following rice-cropping seasons

Methane (CH₄) emissions from paddy fields are believed to contribute to the greenhouse effect. Yet, in the literature, only a few reports are available on the effects of soil moisture regime and straw application in the non-rice-growing season separately on CH₄ emissions during the rice-growing season. The objective of this study was to investigate CH₄ emissions during the winter fallow and the following rice-growing season as affected by soil moisture regime and rice straw application during the fallow season. The experiment was designed to have 10 treatments, that is, five soil water contents (18%, 38%, 59%, and 79% of soil water-holding capacity [SWHC] and flooding; hereafter, W18, W38, W59, W79, and W100) and two rice straw application rates (0.91 and 4.55 g kg^-1 dry soil; hereafter, Sl and Sh) during the fallow season. Both W100 and W79 showed obvious CH₄ emissions during the fallow season, contributing 5.3% and 5.9% (Sl) and 34.8% and 27.8% (Sh), respectively, to their gross CH₄ emissions, which increased significantly with the rising soil water content in the fallow season, except for W18. Rice straw application significantly affected gross CH₄ emissions, but its effect was strongly influenced by soil moisture. The CH₄ emissions per unit weight of rice straw applied of W38 and W59 were 9% and 16%, respectively, as much as that of W100. The findings demonstrate that keeping the soil water content in the range of 38–59% SWHC in the fallow season is important for a reduction in CH₄ emissions.     

Simulating soil N2O emissions and heterotrophic CO2 respiration in arable systems using FASSET and MoBiLE-DNDC

Modelling of soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) is complicated by complex interactions between processes and factors influencing their production, consumption and transport. In this study N₂O emissions and heterotrophic CO₂ respiration were simulated from soils under winter wheat grown in three different organic and one inorganic fertilizer-based cropping system using two different models, i.e., MoBiLE-DNDC and FASSET. The two models were generally capable of simulating most seasonal trends of measured soil heterotrophic CO₂ respiration and N₂O emissions. Annual soil heterotrophic CO₂ respiration was underestimated by both models in all systems (about 10?C30% by FASSET and 10?C40% by MoBiLE-DNDC). Both models overestimated annual N₂O emissions in all systems (about 10?C580% by FASSET and 20?C50% by MoBiLE-DNDC). In addition, both models had some problems in simulating soil mineral nitrogen, which seemed to originate from deficiencies in simulating degradation of soil organic matter, incorporated residues of catch crops and organic fertilizers. To improve the performance of the models, organic matter decomposition parameters need to be revised.     

Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes in annual and perennial land-use systems of the irrigated areas in the Aral Sea Basin

Land use and agricultural practices can result in important contributions to the global source strength of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄). However, knowledge of gas flux from irrigated agriculture is very limited. From April 2005 to October 2006, a study was conducted in the Aral Sea Basin, Uzbekistan, to quantify and compare emissions of N₂O and CH₄ in various annual and perennial land-use systems: irrigated cotton, winter wheat and rice crops, a poplar plantation and a natural Tugai (floodplain) forest. In the annual systems, average N₂O emissions ranged from 10 to 150 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹ with highest N₂O emissions in the cotton fields, covering a similar range of previous studies from irrigated cropping systems. Emission factors (uncorrected for background emission), used to determine the fertilizer-induced N₂O emission as a percentage of N fertilizer applied, ranged from 0.2% to 2.6%. Seasonal variations in N₂O emissions were principally controlled by fertilization and irrigation management. Pulses of N₂O emissions occurred after concomitant N-fertilizer application and irrigation. The unfertilized poplar plantation showed high N₂O emissions over the entire study period (30 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹), whereas only negligible fluxes of N₂O (<2 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹) occurred in the Tugai. Significant CH₄ fluxes only were determined from the flooded rice field: Fluxes were low with mean flux rates of 32 mg CH₄ m⁻² day⁻¹ and a low seasonal total of 35.2 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹. The global warming potential (GWP) of the N₂O and CH₄ fluxes was highest under rice and cotton, with seasonal changes between 500 and 3000 kg CO₂ eq. ha⁻¹. The biennial cotton–wheat–rice crop rotation commonly practiced in the region would average a GWP of 2500 kg CO₂ eq. ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The analyses point out opportunities for reducing the GWP of these irrigated agricultural systems by (i) optimization of fertilization and irrigation practices and (ii) conversion of annual cropping systems into perennial forest plantations, especially on less profitable, marginal lands.