Evaluation of the Agronomic Impacts on Yield-Scaled N 2 O Emission from Wheat and Maize Fields in China

Wenling Gao and Xinmin Bian
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Wenling Gao: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, China
Xinmin Bian: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Contemporary crop production faces dual challenges of increasing crop yield while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emission. An integrated evaluation of the mitigation potential of yield-scaled nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission by adjusting cropping practices can benefit the innovation of climate smart cropping. This study conducted a meta-analysis to assess the impact of cropping systems and soil management practices on area- and yield-scaled N 2 O emissions during wheat and maize growing seasons in China. Results showed that the yield-scaled N 2 O emissions of winter wheat-upland crops rotation and single spring maize systems were respectively 64.6% and 40.2% lower than that of winter wheat-rice and summer maize-upland crops rotation systems. Compared to conventional N fertilizer, application of nitrification inhibitors and controlled-release fertilizers significantly decreased yield-scaled N 2 O emission by 41.7% and 22.0%, respectively. Crop straw returning showed no significant impacts on area- and yield-scaled N 2 O emissions. The effect of manure on yield-scaled N 2 O emission highly depended on its application mode. No tillage significantly increased the yield-scaled N 2 O emission as compared to conventional tillage. The above findings demonstrate that there is great potential to increase wheat and maize yields with lower N 2 O emissions through innovative cropping technique in China.

Keywords: climate change; food security; cropping system; soil management; greenhouse gas emission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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