Modelling impacts of alternative farming management practices on greenhouse gas emissions from a winter wheat–maize rotation system in China

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2010, Vol.135 (1), p.24-33
• Main Authors: Li, Hu, Qiu, Jianjun, Wang, Ligang, Tang, Huajun, Li, Changsheng, Van Ranst, Eric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural and farming systems; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon dioxide; Crops; DNDC; Farming; Farming managements; Fertilizing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Global warming potential; Greenhouse gases; Management; Mathematical models; Mitigation strategies; Nitrous oxides; Soil (material); Winter wheat–maize rotation system
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2009.08.003

Agricultural production plays an important role in affecting atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Field measurements were conducted in Quzhou County, Hebei Province in the North China Plains to quantify carbon dioxide (CO 2) and nitrous oxide (N 2O) emissions from a winter wheat–maize rotation field, a common cropping system across the Chinese agricultural regions. The observed flux data in conjunction with the local climate, soil and management information were utilized to test a process-based model, Denitrification–Decomposition or DNDC, for its applicability for the cropping system. The validated DNDC was then used for predicting impacts of three management alternatives (i.e., no-till, increased crop residue incorporation and reduced fertilizer application rate) on CO 2 and N 2O emissions from the target field. Results from the simulations indicated that (1) CO 2 emissions were significantly affected by temperature, initial SOC, tillage method, and quantity and quality of the organic matter added in the soils; (2) increases in temperature, initial SOC, total fertilizer N input, and manure amendment substantially increased N 2O emissions; and (3) temperature, initial SOC, tillage, and quantity and quality of the organic matter added in the soil all had significant effects on global warming. Finally, five 50-year scenarios were simulated with DNDC to predict their long-term impacts on crop yield, soil C dynamics, nitrate leaching losses, and N 2O emissions. The modelled results suggested that implementation of manure amendment or crop residue incorporation instead of increased fertilizer application rates would more efficiently mitigate GHG emissions from the tested agro-ecosystem. The multi-impacts provided a sound basis for comprehensive assessments on the management alternatives.