Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Crop Production and Management Practices, and Livestock: A Review

Nkulu Rolly Kabange (), Youngho Kwon, So-Myeong Lee, Ju-Won Kang, Jin-Kyung Cha, Hyeonjin Park, Gamenyah Daniel Dzorkpe, Dongjin Shin, Ki-Won Oh and Jong-Hee Lee ()
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Nkulu Rolly Kabange: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Youngho Kwon: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
So-Myeong Lee: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Ju-Won Kang: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Jin-Kyung Cha: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Hyeonjin Park: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Gamenyah Daniel Dzorkpe: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Crops Research Institute, Kumasi 3785, Ghana
Dongjin Shin: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Ki-Won Oh: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
Jong-Hee Lee: Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-41

Abstract: Agriculture is the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG: methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions)-emitting sector after the energy sector. Agriculture is also recognized as the source and sink of GHGs. The share of agriculture to the global GHG emission records has been widely investigated, but the impact on our food production systems has been overlooked for decades until the recent climate crisis. Livestock production and feed, nitrogen-rich fertilizers and livestock manure application, crop residue burning, as well as water management in flood-prone cultivation areas are components of agriculture that produce and emit most GHGs. Although agriculture produces 72–89% less GHGs than other sectors, it is believed that reducing GHG emissions in agriculture would considerably lower its share of the global GHG emission records, which may lead to enormous benefits for the environment and food production systems. However, several diverging and controversial views questioning the actual role of plants in the current global GHG budget continue to nourish the debate globally. We must acknowledge that considering the beneficial roles of major GHGs to plants at a certain level of accumulation, implementing GHG mitigation measures from agriculture is indeed a complex task. This work provides a comprehensive review of agriculture-related GHG production and emission mechanisms, as well as GHG mitigation measures regarded as potential solutions available in the literature. This review also discusses in depth the significance and the dynamics of mitigation measures regarded as game changers with a high potential to enhance, in a sustainable manner, the resilience of agricultural systems. Some of the old but essential agricultural practices and livestock feed techniques are revived and discussed. Agricultural GHG mitigation approaches discussed in this work can serve as game changers in the attempt to reduce GHG emissions and alleviate the impact of climate change through sustainable agriculture and informed decision-making.

Keywords: nitrogen; livestock feed; biochar; greenhouse gas; sustainability; crop residue management; game changer; environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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