Long‐term Trends in Corn Yields and Soil Carbon under Diversified Crop Rotations

Jarecki, Marek K.; Grant, Brian; Smith, Ward; Deen, Bill; Drury, C. F.; VanderZaag, Andrew; Qian, Budong; Yang, Jingyi; Wagner‐Riddle, Claudia

doi:10.2134/jeq2017.08.0317

Cited by 83 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Higher yields typically return a larger amount of crop residues to the soil. It is important to maintain and increase soil organic carbon (SOC) to improving soil-based ecosystem services and the overall sustainability of agricultural systems (Jarecki et al, 2018). While there is a general agreement on soil management practices that can help farmers achieve greater yields, the interactions between management, soil, and climate remain poorly understood (Godfray et al, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Feedbacks on Crop Yields under Climate Change

Basso

Dumont

Maestrini

et al. 2018

Agricultural & Env Letters

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A critical omission from climate change impact studies on crop yield is the interaction between soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N) availability, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). We used a multimodel ensemble to predict the effects of SOC and N under different scenarios of temperatures and CO 2 concentrations on maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in eight sites across the world. We found that including feedbacks from SOC and N losses due to increased temperatures would reduce yields by 13% in wheat and 19% in maize for a 3°C rise temperature with no adaptation practices. These losses correspond to an additional 4.5% (+3°C) when compared to crop yield reductions attributed to temperature increase alone. Future CO 2 increase to 540 ppm would partially compensate losses by 80% for both maize and wheat at +3°C, and by 35% for wheat and 20% for maize at +6°C, relative to the baseline CO 2 scenario.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Feedbacks on Crop Yields under Climate Change

Basso

Dumont

Maestrini

et al. 2018

Agricultural & Env Letters

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“…The need for improved model representation of linkages and feedbacks between crop and soil process models is also highlighted here. For example, Jarecki et al (2018) incorporated pedotransfer functions into DNDC to account for soil property changes under diversified rotations, which can affect soil water availability and therefore feedback to crop production. Incorporation of this soil-plant linkage in crop growth models is a means of quantifying the enhanced "resiliency" of agroecosystems under increased climate stress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Assuming yields increases are possible, continuous NT cropping would increase SOC and resiliency to lessen the impact of extreme weather. Jarecki et al (2018) modified a process-based biogeochemical model, DNDC, to predict corn yield and SOC dynamics under future climate scenarios, for long-term trials of CC and corn-oats (Avena sativa L.)-alfalfa-alfalfa (COAA) at Woodslee, ON; and CC, corn-corn-soybean-soybean (CCSS), corn-cornsoybean-winter wheat, corn-corn-soybean-winter wheat + red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and corn-corn-alfalfa-alfalfa at Elora, ON. The revised DNDC model improved yield estimates for diversified rotations at Elora and resulted in higher SOC for COAA at Woodslee.…”

Section: Process-based Models To Evaluate Soil Organic Carbon Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurements and Models to Identify Agroecosystem Practices That Enhance Soil Organic Carbon under Changing Climate

Gollany¹,

Venterea

2018

J of Env Quality

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Adapting to the anticipated impacts of climate change is a pressing issue facing agriculture, as precipitation and temperature changes are expected to have major effects on agricultural production in many regions of the world. These changes will also affect soil organic matter decomposition and associated stocks of soil organic C (SOC), which have the potential to feed back to climate change and affect agroecosystem resiliency. This special section brings together multiple efforts to assess effects of climate change on SOC stocks around the globe in grassland, pasture, and crop agroecosystems under varying management practices. The overall goal of these efforts is to identify optimum practices to enhance SOC accumulation. In this article, we summarize the highlights of these papers and assess their broader implications for future research to enhance agroecosystem SOC accumulation and resiliency to climate change. Fourteen of the twenty contributions apply dynamic process-based models to assess climate and/or long-term management impacts on SOC stocks, and four papers use statistical SOC models across landscapes or regions. Also included are one meta-analysis and one longterm study. The models applied in this collection performed well when reliable input data were available, underlining the usefulness of modeling efforts to inform management decisions that enhance SOC stocks. Overall, the findings confirm that most agroecosystems have the potential to store SOC through improved management. However, this will be challenging, particularly for dryland agriculture, unless crop yield and crop biomass increase under projected climate change.

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“…In this study, we used a well-calibrated and validated cropping system model (DeNitrification Decomposition, DNDC v. CAN, version 9.5). During 10-yr time period, DNDC model has been calibrated and validated for local conditions for corn yield, N 2 O emissions, and NO 3 − leaching losses by previous researchers (Abalos et al, 2016b;Congreves et al, 2016a;Jarecki et al, 2018;Nasielski et al, 2020) A detailed description of the model subcomponents and design can be found in previous publications (Kroebel et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2013;Abalos et al, 2016a;Congreves et al, 2016b;Dutta et al, 2016;Banger et al, 2020). In brief, the model input datasets were developed for Elora experimental research station.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Farm-Level Economic Impact of Incorporating Environmental Costs Into Nitrogen Decision Making: A Case Study in Canadian Corn Production

Banger

Nasielski

Janovicek

et al. 2020

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Corn yield response to nitrogen (N) rates typically follows a flat plateau polynomial function with a relatively "flat" region on either side of the Economically Optimum N Rate (EONR). This flat region indicates that a wide range of N rates can approximate the maximum returns achieved at the EONR. To avoid yield penalties due to N stress, farmers tend to over-apply N which results in complex tension between farmers and other stakeholder groups. Using 10-years field data (2009-2018) from Elora, Ontario, we estimated the magnitude of cost to farmers if optimal N rate is based on both economic and environmental costs, and assessed whether incorporating environmental costs into optimum N rate increases profit variability. A cropping system model (DeNitrification and Decomposition model, DNDC) was calibrated and validated for corn yield and environmental N losses against five N rates (30, 58, 87, 145, and 218 kg N ha −1) during 2009-2018. Our results suggest that N rates could vary by 46-91 kg N ha −1 around the EONR without reducing profits substantially (<$25 ha −1 of maximum profits) during 2009-2018. When environmental costs were accounted for, environmentally optimal N rate was reduced by 11-54 kg N ha −1 (7-31% of EONR) with maximum reductions in N rates occurred in an extremely dry (2012) year. With conservative estimates of the environmental costs of N loss, our study suggests that the environmental benefits accrued at environmentally optimal N rates are 2-4-folds' greater than the reduction in net farmer income. This indicates that the environmental returns to policies which compensate farmers for applying environmentally optimal N are large. Results of this study further suggest that farmers need to adjust N rates depending on the weather in a growing season.

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Long‐term Trends in Corn Yields and Soil Carbon under Diversified Crop Rotations

Cited by 83 publications

References 49 publications

Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Feedbacks on Crop Yields under Climate Change

Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Feedbacks on Crop Yields under Climate Change

Measurements and Models to Identify Agroecosystem Practices That Enhance Soil Organic Carbon under Changing Climate

Potential Farm-Level Economic Impact of Incorporating Environmental Costs Into Nitrogen Decision Making: A Case Study in Canadian Corn Production

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