Carbon-sink potential of continuous alfalfa agriculture lowered by short-term nitrous oxide emission events

Tyler L. Anthony (), Daphne J. Szutu, Joseph G. Verfaillie, Dennis D. Baldocchi and Whendee L. Silver
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Tyler L. Anthony: University of California at Berkeley
Daphne J. Szutu: University of California at Berkeley
Joseph G. Verfaillie: University of California at Berkeley
Dennis D. Baldocchi: University of California at Berkeley
Whendee L. Silver: University of California at Berkeley

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Alfalfa is the most widely grown forage crop worldwide and is thought to be a significant carbon sink due to high productivity, extensive root systems, and nitrogen-fixation. However, these conditions may increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions thus lowering the climate change mitigation potential. We used a suite of long-term automated instrumentation and satellite imagery to quantify patterns and drivers of greenhouse gas fluxes in a continuous alfalfa agroecosystem in California. We show that this continuous alfalfa system was a large N2O source (624 ± 28 mg N2O m2 y−1), offsetting the ecosystem carbon (carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4)) sink by up to 14% annually. Short-term N2O emissions events (i.e., hot moments) accounted for ≤1% of measurements but up to 57% of annual emissions. Seasonal and daily trends in rainfall and irrigation were the primary drivers of hot moments of N2O emissions. Significant coherence between satellite-derived photosynthetic activity and N2O fluxes suggested plant activity was an important driver of background emissions. Combined data show annual N2O emissions can significantly lower the carbon-sink potential of continuous alfalfa agriculture.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37391-2

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