Conservation tillage systems: a review of its consequences for greenhouse gas emissions

Abdalla, Mohamed; Osborne, Bruce; Lanigan, Gary; Forristal, P. D.; Williams, Mike; Smith, Pete; Jones, Michael B.

doi:10.1111/sum.12030

Cited by 153 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 96 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However this analysis is only partial as it does not include Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) changes and N2O emissions. A more complete assessment would require consolidated data and models to become available for NT practices on: rate, level and duration of SOC sequestration, physical partitioning of SOC in soil aggregate fractions, evolution of soil aggregate stability, role of microorganisms on SOC humification and stabilization, N2O emission dynamics, appropriate nitrogen fertilization [65][66][67]. Early experimental results indicate that correct implementation of the NT agricultural system (above all, improved use of N fertilisers) can consolidate the benefits of soil C sequestration and minimize N2O emissions [68][69][70], potentially making the balance more favourable for the NT practices than what was found in this work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Environmentally Sustainable Biogas? The Key Role of Manure Co-Digestion with Energy Crops

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:We analysed the environmental impacts of three biogas systems based on dairy manure, sorghum and maize. The geographical scope of the analysis is the Po valley, in Italy. The anaerobic digestion of manure guarantees high GHG (Green House Gases) savings thanks to the avoided emissions from the traditional storage and management of raw manure as organic fertiliser. GHG emissions for maize and sorghum-based systems, on the other hand, are similar to those of the Italian electricity mix. In crop-based systems, the plants with open-tank storage of digestate emit 50% more GHG than those with gas-tight tanks. In all the environmental impact categories analysed (acidification, particulate matter emissions, and eutrophication), energy crops based systems have much higher impacts than the Italian electricity mix. Maize-based systems cause higher impacts than sorghum, due to more intensive cultivation. Manure-based pathways have always lower impacts than the energy crops based pathways, however, all biogas systems cause much higher impacts than the current Italian electricity mix. We conclude that manure digestion OPEN ACCESSEnergies 2015, 8 5235 is the most efficient way to reduce GHG emissions; although there are trade-offs with other local environmental impacts. Biogas production from crops; although not providing environmental benefits per se; may be regarded as an option to facilitate the deployment of manure digestion.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent review, Abdalla et al [65] have found that no-tillage practices can, under appropriate conditions, enhance SOC accumulation. On the other hand, they found also that adopting conservative tillage practices may enhance N2O emissions.…”

Section: Assessment Of the Ghg Emissions From Conventional Tillage (Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmentally Sustainable Biogas? The Key Role of Manure Co-Digestion with Energy Crops

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is no consensus in the literature on the effect of tillage intensity on N leaching (Oorts et al, 2007;Hansen et al, 2010), with some arguing that greater continuity of large pores under MT would allow greater leaching N loss (Abdalla et al, 2013), and that even with lower NO3-N concentrations in leachate, the total loss could be higher due to larger volume of water moving through MT soil (Tebrugge & During, 1999). This study adds to the evidence of Hooker et al (2008) and Premrov et al (2014) who found no significant difference in leaching from CT and MT soils in Ireland.…”

Section: Leaching Losses Post-ploughing and Fertilisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

Król

Jones

Williams

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Renovation of long-term grassland is associated with a peak in soil organic N mineralisation which, coupled with diminished plant N uptake can lead to large gaseous and leaching N losses. This study reports on the effect of ploughing and subsequent N fertilisation on the N2O emissions and DON/ NO3 -leaching, and evaluates the impact of ploughing technique on the magnitude and profile of N losses. This study was carried out on isolated grassland lysimeters of three Irish soils representing contrasting drainage properties (well-drained Clonakilty, moderately-drained Elton and poorly-drained Rathangan). Lysimeters were manually ploughed simulating conventional (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) as two treatments. Renovation of grassland increased N2O flux to a maximum of 0.9 kg N2O-N ha -1 from poorly-drained soil over four days after treatment. Although there was no difference between CT and MT in the post-ploughing period, the treatment influenced subsequent N2O after fertiliser applications. Fertilisation remained the major driver of N losses therefore reducing fertilisation rate post planting to account for N mineralised through grassland renovation could reduce the losses in medium to longer term. Leaching was a significant loss pathway, with the cumulative drainage volume and N leached highly influenced by soil type.Overall, the total N losses (N2O + N leached) were lowest from poorly and moderately draining soil and highest for the well draining soil, reflecting the dominance of leaching on total N losses and the paramount importance of soil properties.

show abstract

“…The large-scale introduction of no-till agriculture, especially in Latin America (Abdalla et al, 2013), may affect N 2 O and NO emissions. A study by Rosa et al (2014), which addresses denitrification activity in no-till production systems in the Argentinian pampas, suggests that increased soil aggregate stability in no-till systems, and its effects on C sequestration, water infiltration, soil aeration and microbial habitat provision, is the most important factor for explaining changes in denitrification activity, rather than by changes of the microbial community (Attard et al, 2011).…”

Section: Land Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of global change during the 21st century on the nitrogen cycle

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The global nitrogen (N) cycle at the beginning of the 21st century has been shown to be strongly influenced by the inputs of reactive nitrogen (N r ) from human activities, including combustion-related NO x , industrial and agricultural N fixation, estimated to be 220 Tg N yr −1 in 2010, which is approximately equal to the sum of biological N fixation in unmanaged terrestrial and marine ecosystems. According to current projections, changes in climate and land use during the 21st century will increase both biological and anthropogenic fixation, bringing the total to approximately 600 Tg N yr −1 by around 2100. The fraction contributed directly by human activities is unlikely to increase substantially if increases in nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture are achieved and control measures on combustion-related emissions implemented.Some N-cycling processes emerge as particularly sensitive to climate change. One of the largest responses to climate in the processing of N r is the emission to the atmosphere of NH 3 , which is estimated to increase from 65 Tg N yr −1 in 2008 to 93 Tg N yr −1 in 2100 assuming a change in global surface temperature of 5 • C in the absence of increased anthropogenic activity. With changes in emissions in response to increased demand for animal products the combined effect would be to increase NH 3 emissions to 135 Tg N yr −1 . Another major change is the effect of climate changes on aerosol composition and specifically the increased sublimation of NH 4 NO 3 close to the ground to form HNO 3 and NH 3 in a warmer climate, which deposit more rapidly to terrestrial surfaces than aerosols. Inorganic aerosols over the polluted regions especially in Europe and North America were dominated by (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 in the 1970s to 1980s, and large reductions in emissions of SO 2 have removed most of the SO 2− 4 from the atmosphere in these regions. Inorganic aerosols from anthropogenic emissions are now dominated by NH 4 NO 3 , a volatile aerosol which contributes substantially to PM 10 and human health effects globally as well as eutrophication and climate effects. The volatility of NH 4 NO 3 and rapid dry deposition of the vapour phase dissociation Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. D. Fowler et al.: Effects of global change during the 21st century on the nitrogen cycleproducts, HNO 3 and NH 3 , is estimated to be reducing the transport distances, deposition footprints and inter-country exchange of N r in these regions.There have been important policy initiatives on components of the global N cycle. These have been regional or country-based and have delivered substantial reductions of inputs of N r to sensitive soils, waters and the atmosphere. To date there have been no attempts to develop a global strategy to regulate human inputs to the nitrogen cycle. However, considering the magnitude of global N r use, potential future increases, and the very large leakage of N r in many forms to soils, waters and the atmosphere, international action is re...

show abstract

Conservation tillage systems: a review of its consequences for greenhouse gas emissions

Cited by 153 publications

References 96 publications

Environmentally Sustainable Biogas? The Key Role of Manure Co-Digestion with Energy Crops

Environmentally Sustainable Biogas? The Key Role of Manure Co-Digestion with Energy Crops

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

Effects of global change during the 21st century on the nitrogen cycle

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About