A proposed approach to estimate and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from whole farms

Janzen, H. H.; Angers, Denis A.; Boehm, M.; Bolinder, Martin A.; Desjardins, Raymond L.; Dyer, James A.; Ellert, B. H.; Gibb, D. J.; Gregorich, E.G.; Helgason, Bobbi L.; Lemke, R.; Massé, Daniel I.; McGinn, S. M.; McAllister, Tim A.; Newlands, Nathaniel K.; Pattey, E.; Rochette, Philippe; Smith, Ward; VandenBygaart, A.J.; Wang, H.

doi:10.4141/s05-101

Cited by 90 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Organic farming systems are highly dependent on legume N 2 from biological nitrogen fixation [10,11]. As N 2 O emissions appear not to be directly derived from legume N 2 fixation as previously assumed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [12], Rochette and Janzen [13] and Janzen et al [14] have argued for a revised IPCC coefficient related to legume N 2 fixation. This concept has been implemented and acknowledged, particularly in more recent studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

2011

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About 130 studies were analyzed to compare farm-level energy use and global warming potential (GWP) of organic and conventional production sectors. Cross cutting issues such as tillage, compost, soil carbon sequestration and energy offsets were also reviewed. Finally, we contrasted E and GWP data from the wider food system. We concluded that the evidence strongly favours organic farming with respect to whole-farm energy use and energy efficiency both on a per hectare and per farm product basis, with the possible exception of poultry and fruit sectors. For GWP, evidence is insufficient except in a few sectors, with results per ha more consistently favouring organic farming than GWP per unit product. Tillage was consistently a negligible contributor to farm E use and additional tillage on organic farms does not appear to significantly deplete soil C. Energy offsets, biogas, energy crops and residues have a more limited role on organic farms compared to conventional ones, because of the nutrient and soil building uses of soil organic matter, and the high demand for organic foods in human markets. If farm E use represents 35% of total food chain E use, improvements shown of 20% or more in E efficiency through organic farm management would reduce food-chain E use by 7% or more. Among other food supply chain stages, wholesale/retail (including cooling and OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2011, 3 323 packaging) and processing often each contribute 30% or more to total food system E. Thus, additional improvements can be obtained with reduced processing, whole foods and food waste minimization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

2011

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“…Furthermore, it was shown that organic matter accumulation in topsoils by no-till farming can stimulate N 2 O emission and that this effect occurs in particular in fine-grained, poorly aerated soils (Smith and Conen 2004;Rochette 2008). The long-term application of organic fertilizers may not only improve soil quality but also contribute to climate protection by increasing C sequestration in soils (Powlson et al 1998;Lal 2004;Blair et al 2006;Janzen et al 2006). However, increased contents of organic C and total N (N t ) in arable soils by regular application of organic fertilizers may also promote emissions of N 2 O.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emission rates of N2O and CO2 from soils with different organic matter content from three long-term fertilization experiments—a laboratory study

et al. 2011

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Increasing organic matter stocks in soils reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), but they may also promote emissions of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) by providing substrates for nitrification and denitrification and by increasing microbial O 2 consumption. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of fertilization history, which had resulted in different soil organic matter stocks on (1) the emission rates of N 2 O and CO 2 at a constant soil moisture content of 60% water-holding capacity, (2) the short-term fluxes of N 2 O and CO 2 following the application of different fertilizers (KNO 3 vs. farmyard manure from cattle) and (3) the response to a simulated heavy rainfall event, which increased soil moisture to field capacity. Soil samples from different treatments of three long-term fertilization experiments in Germany (Methau, Spröda and Bad Lauchstädt) were incubated in a laboratory experiment with continuous determination of N 2 O and CO 2 emissions and a monitoring of soil mineral N. The long-term fertilization treatments included application of mineral N (Methau and Spröda), farmyard manure + mineral N (Methau and Spröda), farmyard manure deposition in excess (Bad Lauchstädt) and nil fertilization (Bad Lauchstädt). Long-term addition of farmyard manure increased the soil organic C (SOC) content by 55% at Methau (silt loam), by 17% at Spröda (sandy loam) and by 88% at Bad Lauchstädt (silt loam; extreme treatment which does not represent common agricultural management). Increased soil organic matter stocks induced by longterm application of farmyard manure at Methau and Spröda resulted in slightly increased N 2 O emissions at a soil moisture content of 60% water-holding capacity. However, the effect of fertilization history and SOC content on N 2 O emissions was small compared to the short-term effects induced by the current fertilizer application. At Bad Lauchstädt, high N 2 O emissions from the treatment without fertilization for 25 years indicate the importance of a sustainable soil organic matter management to maintain soil structure and soil aeration. Emissions of N 2 O following the application of nitrate and farmyard manure differed because of their specific effects on soil nitrate availability and microbial oxygen consumption. At a soil moisture content of 60% waterholding capacity, fertilizer-induced emissions were higher for farmyard manure than for nitrate. At field capacity, nitrate application induced the highest emissions. Our results indicate that feedback mechanisms of soil C sequestration on N 2 O emissions have to be considered when discussing options to increase soil C stocks.

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“…Little et al 2008;White et al 2010;Rotz et al 2011a) have been developed and implemented. Evaluation of management practices that reduce GHG emissions must be conducted at the farm scale using a whole-farm approach because implementation may yield synergistic and/or tradeoff effects among farm components, which impacts net farm GHG emissions (Janzen et al 2006;Gerber et al 2013). For example, a whole-farm simulation study by Hünerberg et al (2014) on an average Canadian beef farm indicated that including high-fat dried distiller grain in the diet of feedlot cattle reduced enteric CH 4 emissions but increased nitrogen (N) excretion, which increased nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions from hog manure application in a Canadian cow–calf production system using whole-farm models

et al. 2016

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Abstract. The development of beneficial management practices is a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from animal agriculture. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of time and amount of hog manure application on farm productivity and GHG emissions from a cow-calf production system using two whole-farm models. Detailed model inputs (climate, soil and manure properties, farm operation data) were collected from a 3-year field study that evaluated the following three treatments: no application of hog manure on grassland (baseline); a single application of hog manure on grassland in spring (single); and two applications of hog manure as fall and spring (split). All three treatments were simulated in a representative cow-calf production system at the farm-gate using the following whole-farm models: a Coupled Components Model (CCM) that used existing farm component models and the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM). Annual GHG intensities for the baseline scenario were 17.7 kg CO 2 -eq/kg liveweight for CCM and 18.1 kg CO 2 -eq/kg liveweight for IFSM. Of the total farm GHG emissions, 73-77% were from enteric methane production. The application of hog manure on grassland showed a mean emission increase of 7.8 and 8.4 kg CO 2 -eq/kg liveweight above the baseline for the single and split scenarios, respectively. For the manured scenarios, farm GHG emissions were mainly from enteric methane (47-54%) and soil nitrous oxide (33-41%). Emission estimates from the different GHG sources in the farm varied between models for the single and split application scenarios. Although farm productivity was 3-4% higher in the split than in single application (0.14 t liveweight/ha), the environmental advantage of applying manure in a single or split application was not consistent between models for farm emission intensity. Further component and whole-farm assessments are required to fully understand the impact of timing and the amount of livestock manure application on GHG emissions from beef production systems.

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A proposed approach to estimate and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from whole farms

Cited by 90 publications

References 60 publications

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

Emission rates of N2O and CO2 from soils with different organic matter content from three long-term fertilization experiments—a laboratory study

Evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions from hog manure application in a Canadian cow–calf production system using whole-farm models

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