N2O emissions of low input cropping systems as affected by legume and cover crops use

Peyrard, Céline; Mary, Bruno; Perrin, Pierre; Vericel, Grégory; Gréhan, Eric; Justes, Éric; Léonard, Joël

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2016.03.028

Cited by 58 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…When present, CC plants were included within the chamber during measurement. Gas collection occurred for 15 min at each plot between 1000 and 1400 h. The duration of chamber deployment is similar to that in previous studies (Mitchell et al, 2013;Peyrard et al, 2016;Forte et al, 2017). At times of 0, 5, 10, and 15 min, 25 mL of gas was removed from the LiCOR chamber through the sampling port using a syringe for analysis of N 2 O and CH 4 .…”

Section: Gas Flux Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Early‐ and Late‐Terminated Cover Crops on Gas Fluxes

et al. 2018

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Cover crops (CCs) could alter soil processes, but the effects of early versus late termination of CCs on gas fluxes are not well known. We evaluated temporal changes in fluxes of CO2, N2O, and CH4 and related soil properties in no‐till corn (Zea mays L.) with and without winter rye (Secale cereale L.) CCs that were terminated early (30 d before planting) or late (at planting) in a rainfed silty clay loam and an irrigated silt loam in Nebraska from April 2016 to June 2017. Gas fluxes, soil temperature, and soil water content were measured biweekly to monthly, and wet aggregate stability and particulate organic matter concentrations were measured seasonally. We also compared our results with a global literature review. Late‐terminated CCs did not affect CH4 fluxes but increased daily CO2 fluxes by 59% compared with no CC at both sites and N2O fluxes by 92% at the rainfed site only. Early termination did not affect gas fluxes. Termination date did not affect cumulative fluxes and had minimal effects on soil properties. The literature review supports our study results, which indicate that CC effects on (i) CO2 fluxes are driven by plant respiration during the CC growing period, and (ii) N2O and CH4 fluxes are minimal under grass CCs. Overall, under no‐till, CC termination date has small effects on N2O and CH4 fluxes, but late CC termination can increase CO2 fluxes in spring due to greater biomass yield compared with early termination. Core Ideas Early‐terminated cover crops had limited effects on CO2 fluxes in this study. Late‐terminated cover crops increased CO2 flux mainly in spring due to higher cover crop biomass yield. Cover crop termination effects on N2O and CH4 fluxes were generally nonsignificant. Our literature review showed cover crops affected CO2 mostly during their growing period. Our literature results also showed grass cover crops had limited effects on N2O.

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Section: Gas Flux Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Early‐ and Late‐Terminated Cover Crops on Gas Fluxes

et al. 2018

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“…In cases where only the organic systems contained legumes, the difference in microbial N between the two systems was even more pronounced. The abundance of earthworms can be twice as high in organic than in non-organic systems (Pfiffner and Mäder., 1997;Filser et al, 1999;Hansen and Engelstad, 1999;Riley et al, 2008). More abundant earthworm populations are found when large amounts of animal manure or green manure are applied to soil (Hansen and Engelstad, 1999;Frøseth et al, 2014), when autumn ploughing is avoided (Pfiffner and Luka, 2007) and in the absence of tractor traffic (Hansen and Engelstad, 1999).…”

Section: Soil Biological Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Reviews and syntheses: Review of causes and sources of N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and NO<sub>3</sub> leaching from organic arable crop rotations

et al. 2019

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The emissions of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and leaching of nitrate (NO 3 ) from agricultural cropping systems have considerable negative impacts on climate and the environment. Although these environmental burdens are less per unit area in organic than in non-organic production on average, they are roughly similar per unit of product. If organic farming is to maintain its goal of being environmentally friendly, these loadings must be addressed. We discuss the impact of possible drivers of N 2 O emissions and NO 3 leaching within organic arable farming practice under European climatic conditions, and potential strategies to reduce these. Organic arable crop rotations are generally diverse with the frequent use of legumes, intercropping and organic fertilisers. The soil organic matter content and the share of active organic matter, soil structure, microbial and faunal activity are higher in such diverse rotations, and the yields are lower, than in non-organic arable cropping systems based on less diverse systems and inorganic fertilisers. Soil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N 2 O emissions and NO 3 leaching are low under growing crops, but there is the potential for SMN accumulation and losses after crop termination, harvest or senescence. The risk of high N 2 O fluxes increases when large amounts of herbage or organic fertilisers with readily available nitrogen (N) and degradable carbon are incorporated into the soil or left on the surface. Freezing/thawing, drying/rewetting, compacted and/or wet soil and mechanical mixing of crop residues into the soil further enhance the risk of high N 2 O fluxes. N derived from soil organic matter (background emissions) does, however, seem to be the most important driver for N 2 O emission from organic arable crop rotations, and the correlation between yearly total Ninput and N 2 O emissions is weak. Incorporation of N-rich plant residues or mechanical weeding followed by bare fallow conditions increases the risk of NO 3 leaching. In contrast, strategic use of deep-rooted crops with long growing seasons or effective cover crops in the rotation reduces NO 3 leaching risk. Enhanced recycling of herbage from green manures, crop residues and cover crops through biogas or com-Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 2796 S. Hansen et al.: Review of N 2 O emissions and NO 3 leaching from organic arable rotations posting may increase N efficiency and reduce N 2 O emissions and NO 3 leaching. Mixtures of legumes (e.g. clover or vetch)and non-legumes (e.g. grasses or Brassica species) are as efficient cover crops for reducing NO 3 leaching as monocultures of non-legume species. Continued regular use of cover crops has the potential to reduce NO 3 leaching and enhance soil organic matter but may enhance N 2 O emissions. There is a need to optimise the use of crops and cover crops to enhance the synchrony of mineralisation with crop N uptake to enhance crop productivity, and this will concurrently reduce the long-term risks of NO 3 leaching and N 2 O emissions.

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“…Peyrard et al. () found that cover crops had no significant influence on N 2 O emissions at the rotation scale. Even if N 2 O emissions were higher after cover crop incorporation that was compensated by the reduction of emissions obtained during the growing period of the cover crop.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the literature, it has been shown that cover crops can both (i) increase N 2 O emissions from the soil after their incorporation, but also (ii) decrease it, the effect depending on environmental and management factors (e.g., N fertilization, soil incorporation, period of measurement, and rainfall) (Basche, Miguez, Kaspar, & Castellano, 2014). Peyrard et al (2016) found that cover crops had no significant influence on N 2 O emissions at the rotation scale. Even if N 2 O emissions were higher after cover crop incorporation that was compensated by the reduction of emissions obtained during the growing period of the cover crop.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover crops mitigate direct greenhouse gases balance but reduce drainage under climate change scenarios in temperate climate with dry summers

Tribouillois¹,

Constantin²,

Justes³

2018

Global Change Biology

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Cover crops provide ecosystem services such as storing atmospheric carbon in soils after incorporation of their residues. Cover crops also influence soil water balance, which can be an issue in temperate climates with dry summers as for example in southern France and Europe. As a consequence, it is necessary to understand cover crops' long-term influence on greenhouse gases (GHG) and water balances to assess their potential to mitigate climate change in arable cropping systems. We used the previously calibrated and validated soil-crop model STICS to simulate scenarios of cover crop introduction to assess their influence on rainfed and irrigated cropping systems and crop rotations distributed among five contrasted sites in southern France from 2007 to 2052. Our results showed that cover crops can improve mean direct GHG balance by 315 kg CO e ha year in the long term compared to that of bare soil. This was due mainly to an increase in carbon storage in the soil despite a slight increase in N O emissions which can be compensated by adapting fertilization. Cover crops also influence the water balance by reducing mean annual drainage by 20 mm/year but increasing mean annual evapotranspiration by 20 mm/year compared to those of bare soil. Using cover crops to improve the GHG balance may help to mitigate climate change by decreasing CO e emitted in cropping systems which can represent a decrease from 4.5% to 9% of annual GHG emissions of the French agriculture and forestry sector. However, if not well managed, they also could create water management issues in watersheds with shallow groundwater. Relationships between cover crop biomass and its influence on several variables such as drainage, carbon sequestration, and GHG emissions could be used to extend our results to other conditions to assess the cover crops' influence in a wider range of areas.

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N2O emissions of low input cropping systems as affected by legume and cover crops use

Cited by 58 publications

References 52 publications

Impacts of Early‐ and Late‐Terminated Cover Crops on Gas Fluxes

Impacts of Early‐ and Late‐Terminated Cover Crops on Gas Fluxes

Reviews and syntheses: Review of causes and sources of N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and NO<sub>3</sub> leaching from organic arable crop rotations

Cover crops mitigate direct greenhouse gases balance but reduce drainage under climate change scenarios in temperate climate with dry summers

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N2O emissions of low input cropping systems as affected by legume and cover crops use

Cited by 58 publications

References 52 publications

Impacts of Early‐ and Late‐Terminated Cover Crops on Gas Fluxes

Impacts of Early‐ and Late‐Terminated Cover Crops on Gas Fluxes

Reviews and syntheses: Review of causes and sources of N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions and NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; leaching from organic arable crop rotations

Cover crops mitigate direct greenhouse gases balance but reduce drainage under climate change scenarios in temperate climate with dry summers

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Reviews and syntheses: Review of causes and sources of N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and NO<sub>3</sub> leaching from organic arable crop rotations