Greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture

Agricultural lands occupy 37% of the earth's land surface. Agriculture accounts for 52 and 84% of global anthropogenic methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Agricultural soils may also act as a sink or source for CO 2 , but the net flux is small. Many agricultural practices can potentially mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the most prominent of which are improved cropland and grazing land management and restoration of degraded lands and cultivated organic soils. Lower, but still significant mitigation potential is provided by water and rice management, set-aside, land use change and agroforestry, livestock management and manure management. The global technical mitigation potential from agriculture (excluding fossil fuel offsets from biomass) by 2030, considering all gases, is estimated to be approximately 5500–6000 Mt CO 2 -eq. yr −1 , with economic potentials of approximately 1500–1600, 2500–2700 and 4000–4300 Mt CO 2 -eq. yr −1 at carbon prices of up to 20, up to 50 and up to 100 US$ t CO 2 -eq. −1 , respectively. In addition, GHG emissions could be reduced by substitution of fossil fuels for energy production by agricultural feedstocks (e.g. crop residues, dung and dedicated energy crops). The economic mitigation potential of biomass energy from agriculture is estimated to be 640, 2240 and 16 000 Mt CO 2 -eq. yr −1 at 0–20, 0–50 and 0–100 US$ t CO 2 -eq. −1 , respectively.

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Greenhouse gas mitigation potential of biomass energy technologies in Vietnam using the long range energy alternative planning system model

Energy ◽

10.1016/s0360-5442(02)00157-3 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 28 (7) ◽

pp. 627-654 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Amit Kumar ◽

S.C Bhattacharya ◽

H.L Pham

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Long Range ◽

Biomass Energy ◽

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation ◽

System Model ◽

Planning System ◽

Mitigation Potential ◽

Energy Technologies

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03/02380 Greenhouse gas mitigation potential of biomass energy technologies in Vietnam using the long range energy alternative planning system model

Fuel and Energy Abstracts ◽

10.1016/s0140-6701(03)92509-4 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 387

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Long Range ◽

Biomass Energy ◽

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation ◽

System Model ◽

Planning System ◽

Mitigation Potential ◽

Energy Technologies

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Greenhouse gas emissions from the water–air interface of a grassland river: a case study of the Xilin River

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81658-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xue Hao ◽

Yu Ruihong ◽

Zhang Zhuangzhuang ◽

Qi Zhen ◽

Lu Xixi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Land Use ◽

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Sand Land ◽

Very High

AbstractGreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rivers and lakes have been shown to significantly contribute to global carbon and nitrogen cycling. In spatiotemporal-variable and human-impacted rivers in the grassland region, simultaneous carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions and their relationships under the different land use types are poorly documented. This research estimated greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) emissions in the Xilin River of Inner Mongolia of China using direct measurements from 18 field campaigns under seven land use type (such as swamp, sand land, grassland, pond, reservoir, lake, waste water) conducted in 2018. The results showed that CO2 emissions were higher in June and August, mainly affected by pH and DO. Emissions of CH4 and N2O were higher in October, which were influenced by TN and TP. According to global warming potential, CO2 emissions accounted for 63.35% of the three GHG emissions, and CH4 and N2O emissions accounted for 35.98% and 0.66% in the Xilin river, respectively. Under the influence of different degrees of human-impact, the amount of CO2 emissions in the sand land type was very high, however, CH4 emissions and N2O emissions were very high in the artificial pond and the wastewater, respectively. For natural river, the greenhouse gas emissions from the reservoir and sand land were both low. The Xilin river was observed to be a source of carbon dioxide and methane, and the lake was a sink for nitrous oxide.

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Evaluation of a Novel Poultry Litter Amendment on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12050563 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 563

Author(s):

Kelsey Anderson ◽

Philip A. Moore ◽

Jerry Martin ◽

Amanda J. Ashworth

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Management Practices ◽

Block Design ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Gaseous Emissions ◽

Poultry Facilities

Gaseous emissions from poultry litter causes production problems for producers as well as the environment, by contributing to climate change and reducing air quality. Novel methods of reducing ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in poultry facilities are needed. As such, our research evaluated GHG emissions over a 42 d period. Three separate flocks of 1000 broilers were used for this study. The first flock was used only to produce litter needed for the experiment. The second and third flocks were allocated to 20 pens in a randomized block design with four replicated of five treatments. The management practices studied included an unamended control; a conventional practice of incorporating aluminum sulfate (referred to as alum) at 98 kg/100 m2); a novel litter amendment made from alum mud, bauxite, and sulfuric acid (alum mud litter amendment, AMLA) applied at different rates (49 and 98 kg/100 m2) and methods (surface applied or incorporated). Nitrous oxide emissions were low for all treatments in flocks 2 and 3 (0.40 and 0.37 mg m2 hr−1, respectively). The formation of caked litter (due to excessive moisture) during day 35 and 42 caused high variability in CH4 and CO2 emissions. Alum mud litter amendment and alum did not significantly affect GHGs emissions from litter, regardless of the amendment rate or application method. In fact, litter amendments such as alum and AMLA typically lower GHG emissions from poultry facilities by reducing ventilation requirements to maintain air quality in cooler months due to lower NH3 levels, resulting in less propane use and concomitant reductions in CO2 emissions.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock Manure Management in Southwestern Siberia, Russia

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v6n2p66 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 66 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Storrle ◽

Hans-Jorg Brauckmann ◽

Gabriele Broll

Keyword(s):

Environmental Pollution ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Production Systems ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Livestock Production ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Small Farms ◽

Tyumen Oblast

This study investigates the amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to manure handling within different livestock production systems in Tyumen oblast of Western Siberia. Tyumen oblast occupies approx. 160 000 km² of Asian taiga and forest steppe. The amount of GHGs from manure was calculated as a function of the handling according to current IPCC guidelines for ecozones and livestock production systems. The entire Tyumen oblast has annual 7 400 t methane emissions and 440 t nitrous oxide emissions from manure. Three livestock production systems are prevalent in Tyumen oblast: Mega farms, small farms and peasant farms. The share of mega farms is 81 % (171 kt CO2 eq). Additionally, the slurry system in mega farms causes environmental pollution. GHG emissions and environmental pollution could be reduced by implementing solid manure systems or pasturing, by installing storage facilities for slurry outside the stables and through application of the manure as fertiliser at mega farms. In small farms solid manure systems and a small stocking density of livestock lead to smallest GHG emissions (1 %, 3 kt CO2 eq) from manure. In peasant farming 18 % (38 kt CO2 eq) of GHGs are emitted due to pasturing.

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Effects of strategic tillage on short-term erosion, nutrient loss in runoff and greenhouse gas emissions

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr16136 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 201 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

A. R. Melland ◽

D. L. Antille ◽

Y. P. Dang

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Heavy Rainfall ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Nutrient Loss ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Nutrient Losses ◽

Short Term ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Carbon Dioxide Co2

Occasional strategic tillage (ST) of long-term no-tillage (NT) soil to help control weeds may increase the risk of water, erosion and nutrient losses in runoff and of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with NT soil. The present study examined the short-term effect of ST on runoff and GHG emissions in NT soils under controlled-traffic farming regimes. A rainfall simulator was used to generate runoff from heavy rainfall (70mmh–1) on small plots of NT and ST on a Vertosol, Dermosol and Sodosol. Nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from the Vertosol and Sodosol were measured before and after the rain using passive chambers. On the Sodosol and Dermosol there was 30% and 70% more runoff, respectively, from ST plots than from NT plots, however, volumes were similar between tillage treatments on the Vertosol. Erosion was highest after ST on the Sodosol (8.3tha–1 suspended sediment) and there were no treatment differences on the other soils. Total nitrogen (N) loads in runoff followed a similar pattern, with 10.2kgha–1 in runoff from the ST treatment on the Sodosol. Total phosphorus loads were higher after ST than NT on both the Sodosol (3.1 and 0.9kgha–1, respectively) and the Dermosol (1.0 and 0.3kgha–1, respectively). Dissolved nutrient forms comprised less than 13% of total losses. Nitrous oxide emissions were low from both NT and ST in these low-input systems. However, ST decreased CH4 absorption from both soils and almost doubled CO2 emissions from the Sodosol. Strategic tillage may increase the susceptibility of Sodosols and Dermosols to water, sediment and nutrient losses in runoff after heavy rainfall. The trade-offs between weed control, erosion and GHG emissions should be considered as part of any tillage strategy.

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GHG mitigation potential of agricultural management practises on mineral and organic soils

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-5567 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Saara Lind ◽

Marja Maljanen ◽

Merja Myllys ◽

Mari Räty ◽

Sanna Kykkänen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Grassland Management ◽

Organic Soils ◽

Carbon Dioxide Exchange ◽

Ghg Mitigation ◽

Nutrient Quality ◽

Effect On Yield

Agricultural soils are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To study these emissions, we are currently building three research platforms that consist of full eddy covariance instrumentation for determination of net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange and fluxes of methane and nitrous oxide. These platforms will be completed with supporting weather, plant and soil data collection. Two of our platforms are sites on organic soils with a thick peat layer (>60 cm) and the third one is on a mineral soil (silt loam). To study the role of the grassland management practises at these sites, we have initiated ORMINURMI-project. Here, we will characterise the effects of ground water table (high vs. low), crop renewal methods (autumn vs. summer) and plant species (tall fescue vs. red glover grass) on greenhouse gas budgets of grass production. Also effect on yield amount and nutrient quality will be determined. In this presentation, we will present the preliminary data collected at these research platforms and our plans for the use of these data in the coming years.

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Greenhouse gas budget of an extensively managed grassland on drained peat soil in the Irish Midlands

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10285 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marine Valmier ◽

Matthew Saunders ◽

Gary Lanigan

Keyword(s):

Carbon Source ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Organic Soils ◽

Climate Mitigation ◽

Sink Strength ◽

Management Options ◽

Peat Soils ◽

Sequestration Potential ◽

Sink Capacity

Grassland-based agriculture in Ireland contributes over one third of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the LULUCF sector is a net GHG source primarily due to the ongoing drainage of peat soils. Rewetting of peat-based organic soils is now recognised as an attractive climate mitigation strategy, but reducing emissions and restoring the carbon sequestration potential is challenging, and is not always feasible notably due to agricultural demands. Nonetheless, reducing carbon losses from drained organic soils has been identified as a key action for Ireland to reach its climate targets, and carbon storage associated with improved grassland management practices can provide a suitable strategy to offset GHG emissions without compromising productivity. However, research is still needed to assess the best practices and management options for optimum environmental and production outcomes. While grasslands have been widely studied internationally, data on organic soils under this land use are still scarce. In Ireland, despite their spatial extent and relevance to the national emission inventories and mitigation strategies, only two studies on GHG emissions from grasslands on peat soils have been published.Here we present results from a grassland on a drained organic soil that is extensively managed for silage production in the Irish midlands. Continuous monitoring of Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide (CO2) using eddy covariance techniques, and weekly static chamber measurements to assess soil derived emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) started in 2020. The seasonal CO2 fluxes observed were greatly dependent on weather conditions and management events. The grassland shifted from a carbon source at the beginning of the year to a sink during the growing season, with carbon uptakes in April and May ranging from 15 to 40 &#181;mol CO2 m-2 s-1 and releases in the order of 5 &#181;mol CO2 m-2 s-1. Following the first harvest event in early June, approximately 2.5 t C ha-1 was exported, and the sink capacity took around one month to recover, with an average NEE of 10 &#181;mol CO2 m-2 s-1 during that period. Carbon uptake then reached a maximum of 25 &#181;mol CO2 m-2 s-1 in August. After the second cut in mid-September, which corresponded to an export of 2.25 t.ha-1 of carbon, the grassland acted once again as a strong carbon source, losing almost 30 g C m-2 in a month, before stabilising and behaving as an overall small source during the winter period.In summary, this grassland demonstrated high rates of carbon assimilation and productivity that translate in a strong carbon sink capacity highly dependent on the management. The biomass harvest is a major component of the annual budget that has the potential to shift the system to a net carbon source. Moreover, while initial measurements of CH4 and N2O fluxes appeared to be negligible, some management events were not assessed due to national COVID 19 restrictions on movement, which might have impacted the sink strength of the site studied.

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