Tillage, Mulch and N Fertilizer Affect Emissions of CO2 under the Rain Fed Condition

Abstract

A two year (2010–2012) study was conducted to assess the effects of different agronomic management practices on the emissions of CO2 from a field of non-irrigated wheat planted on China's Loess Plateau. Management practices included four tillage methods i.e. T1: (chisel plow tillage), T2: (zero-tillage), T3: (rotary tillage) and T4: (mold board plow tillage), 2 mulch levels i.e., M0 (no corn residue mulch) and M1 (application of corn residue mulch) and 5 levels of N fertilizer (0, 80, 160, 240, 320 kg N/ha). A factorial experiment having a strip split-split arrangement, with tillage methods in the main plots, mulch levels in the sub plots and N-fertilizer levels in the sub-sub plots with three replicates, was used for this study. The CO2 data were recorded three times per week using a portable GXH-3010E1 gas analyzer. The highest CO2 emissions were recorded following rotary tillage, compared to the lowest emissions from the zero tillage planting method. The lowest emissions were recorded at the 160 kg N/ha, fertilizer level. Higher CO2 emissions were recorded during the cropping year 2010–11 relative to the year 2011–12. During cropping year 2010–11, applications of corn residue mulch significantly increased CO2 emissions in comparison to the non-mulched treatments, and during the year 2011–12, equal emissions were recorded for both types of mulch treatments. Higher CO2 emissions were recorded immediately after the tillage operations. Different environmental factors, i.e., rain, air temperatures, soil temperatures and soil moistures, had significant effects on the CO2 emissions. We conclude that conservation tillage practices, i.e., zero tillage, the use of corn residue mulch and optimum N fertilizer use, can reduce CO2 emissions, give better yields and provide environmentally friendly options.

A Sustainability Assessment of the Greenseeker N Management Tool: A Lysimetric Experiment on Barley

“…On the other hand, Sainju et al [80] demonstrated that N fertilization was able to increase CO 2 flux compared with no N fertilization, probably as a result of accelerated root respiration due to enhanced crop growth. Our results were consistent with those of Tanveer et al [81], who reported that CO 2 emission fluxes increased with the enhancing of crop growth and air temperature. The positive relationship between CO 2 emission and the initial C content may have been attributable to soil microbial activity, which is strongly influenced by C soil content [82].…”

Soil tillage and cover crop on soil CO2 emissions from sugarcane fields

“…We found smaller emissions from MTCC than from CTCC, with both treatments having cover cropping as a common factor. These results are supported by several other studies, indicating that lower tillage frequency and maintenance of crop residues on soil surface promote smaller CO 2 emission (Figueiredo et al., ; Moitinho, Padovan, Panosso, & La Scala, ; Tanveer, Wen, Lu, Zhang, & Liao, ). This suggests that even though the use of cover crop stimulated higher CO 2 emissions in sandy soil, it should be prioritized when using minimum tillage to reduce the amount of CO 2 emitted.…”

Use of data mining techniques to classify soil CO2 emission induced by crop management in sugarcane field

“…Our results also showed that the association between the cover crop and minimum tillage were efficient methods to promote the mitigation of soil CO 2 emissions in sugarcane fields. These results are in agreement with Figueiredo [ 28 ], Tanveer [ 36 ] and Moitinho [ 37 ], that observed a lower CO 2 emission due to the reduction of the frequency of tillage and maintenance of crop residues on soil surface.…”