scholarly journals Application of Farmyard Manure Rather Than Manure Slurry Mitigates the Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Herbage Production System in Nasu, Japan

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akinori Mori

In Japan, it is important to recycle the nutrients in manure for forage production because most dairy cattle are fed inside, mainly with imported grain and home-grown roughage. To understand the overall effect of manure use on grassland on the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and GHG intensity of herbage production systems, the integrated evaluation of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) is essential. The objective of this study was to compare the net GHG emissions (expressed in CO2-eq ha−1 y−1) and GHG intensity (expressed in CO2-eq Mg–1 dry matter yield) of herbage production based on manure slurry + synthetic fertilizer (slurry system) with that based on farmyard manure + synthetic fertilizer (FYM system). Calculations of net GHG emissions and GHG intensity took into account the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) in grassland, the CH4 and N2O emissions from grassland, and GHG emissions related to cattle waste management, synthetic fertilizer manufacture, and fuel consumption for grassland management based on literature data from previous studies. The net GHG emissions and GHG intensity were 36% (6.9 Mg CO2-eq ha−1 y−1) and 41% (0.89 Mg CO2-eq Mg−1), respectively, lower in the FYM system.

Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony van der Weerden ◽  
Pierre Beukes ◽  
Cecile de Klein ◽  
Kathryn Hutchinson ◽  
Lydia Farrell ◽  
...  

An important challenge facing the New Zealand (NZ) dairy industry is development of production systems that can maintain or increase production and profitability, while reducing impacts on receiving environments including water and air. Using research ‘farmlets’ in Waikato, Canterbury, and Otago (32–200 animals per herd), we assessed if system changes aimed at reducing nitrate leaching can also reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (methane and nitrous oxide) and emissions intensity (kg GHG per unit of product) by comparing current and potential ‘improved’ dairy systems. Annual average GHG emissions for each system were estimated for three or four years using calculations based on the New Zealand Agricultural Inventory Methodology, but included key farmlet-specific emission factors determined from regional experiments. Total annual GHG footprints ranged between 10,800 kg and 20,600 kg CO2e/ha, with emissions strongly related to the amount of feed eaten. Methane (CH4) represented 75% to 84% of the total GHG footprint across all modelled systems, with enteric CH4 from lactating cows grazing pasture being the major source. Excreta deposition onto paddocks was the largest source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, representing 7–12% of the total GHG footprint for all systems. When total emissions were represented on an intensity basis, ‘improved’ systems are predicted to generally result in lower emissions intensity. The ‘improved’ systems had lower GHG footprints than the ‘current’ system, except for one of the ‘improved’ systems in Canterbury, which had a higher stocking rate. The lower feed supplies and associated lower stocking rates of the ‘improved’ systems were the key drivers of lower total GHG emissions in all three regions. ‘Improved’ systems designed to reduced N leaching generally also reduced GHG emissions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2612
Author(s):  
Alun Scott ◽  
Richard Blanchard

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy farms are significant contributors to global warming. However, much of the published work on GHG reduction is focused on either methane (CH4) or nitrous oxide (N2O), with few, if any, considering the interactions that changes to farming systems can have on both gases. This paper takes the raw data from a year of activity on a 300-cow commercial dairy farm in Northern Ireland to more accurately quantify GHG sources by use of a simple predictive model based on IPCC methodology. Differing herd management policies are examined together with the impact of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) into each farming system. Whilst significant success can be predicted in capturing CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) as biogas and preventing N2O emissions, gains made can be lost in a subsequent process, negating some or all of the advantage. The process of extracting value from the captured resource is discussed in light of current farm parameters together with indications of other potential revenue streams. However, this study has concluded that despite the significant potential for GHG reduction, there is little incentive for widespread adoption of manure-based farm-scale AD in the UK at this time.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-65
Author(s):  
Anna-Marie Murphy ◽  
G. Brett Runion ◽  
Stephen A. Prior ◽  
H. Allen Torbert ◽  
Jeff L. Sibley ◽  
...  

Abstract Agriculture is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To date, much work on reducing GHG emissions has centered on row crops, pastures, forestry, and animal production systems, while little emphasis has been placed on specialty crop industries such as horticulture. In this horticulture container study, Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc.) was used to evaluate the interaction of irrigation (overhead vs drip) and fertilizer placement (dibble vs incorporated) on GHG emissions (CO2, N2O, and CH4). Plants were grown in 11.4 L (#3) containers with a 6:1 pine bark:sand substrate with standard amendments. All containers received 6.35 mm (0.25 in) water three times daily. Gas samples were collected in situ using the static closed chamber method according to standard protocols and analyzed using gas chromatography. Total cumulative CO2 loss was not affected by differences in irrigation or fertilizer placement. Total cumulative N2O efflux was least for drip-irrigated plants, regardless of fertilizer placement. For overhead-irrigated plants, N2O efflux was greatest for those with incorporated fertilizer. Efflux of CH4 was generally low throughout the study. Findings suggest that utilizing drip irrigation could decrease N2O emissions, regardless of fertilizer placement. However, when limited to overhead irrigation, dibbled fertilizer placement could decrease N2O emissions. Index words: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, trace gas Species used in this study: Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc.)


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose M. Smith ◽  
Sujay S. Kaushal ◽  
Jake J. Beaulieu ◽  
Michael J. Pennino ◽  
Claire Welty

Abstract. Streams and rivers are significant sources of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4), and watershed management can alter greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from streams. GHG emissions from streams in agricultural watersheds have been investigated in numerous studies, but less is known about streams draining urban watersheds. We hypothesized that urban infrastructure significantly influences GHG dynamics along the urban watershed continuum, extending from engineered headwater flowpaths to larger streams. GHG concentrations and emissions were measured across streams draining a gradient of stormwater and sanitary infrastructure including: (1) complete stream burial, (2) in-line stormwater wetlands, (3) riparian/floodplain preservation, and (4) septic systems. Infrastructure categories significantly influenced drivers of GHG dynamics including carbon to nitrogen stoichiometry, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and water temperature. These variables explained much of the statistical variation in nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) saturation in stream water (r2 = 0.78, 0.78, 0.50 respectively). N2O saturation ratios in urban streams were among the highest reported for flowing waters, ranging from 1.1–47 across all sites and dates. The highest N2O saturation ratios were measured in streams draining nonpoint N sources from septic systems and were strongly correlated with TDN. CO2 was highly correlated with N2O across all sites and dates (r2 = 0.84), and CO2 saturation ratio ranged from 1.1–73. CH4 was always super-saturated with saturation values ranging from 3.0 to 2157. Differences in stormwater and sewer infrastructure influenced water quality, with significant implications for enhancing or minimizing stream CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 8953
Author(s):  
Toby Adjuik ◽  
Abbey M. Rodjom ◽  
Kimberley E. Miller ◽  
M. Toufiq M. Reza ◽  
Sarah C. Davis

Miscanthus x giganteus (miscanthus), a perennial biomass crop, allocates more carbon belowground and typically has lower soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than conventional feedstock crops, but best practices for nutrient management that maximize yield while minimizing soil GHG emissions are still debated. This study evaluated the effects of four different fertilization treatments (digestate from a biodigester, synthetic fertilizer (urea), hydrochar from the hydrothermal carbonization of digestate, and a control) on soil GHG emissions and biomass yield of an established miscanthus stand grown on abandoned agricultural land. Soil GHG fluxes (including CH4, CO2, and N2O) were sampled in all treatments using the static chamber methodology. Average biomass yield varied from 20.2 Mg ha−1 to 23.5 Mg ha−1, but there were no significant differences among the four treatments (p > 0.05). The hydrochar treatment reduced mean CO2 emissions by 34% compared to the control treatment, but this difference was only statistically significant in one of the two sites tested. Applying digestate to miscanthus resulted in a CH4 efflux from the soil in one of two sites, while soils treated with urea and hydrochar acted as CH4 sinks in both sites. Overall, fertilization did not significantly improve biomass yield, but hydrochar as a soil amendment has potential for reducing soil GHG fluxes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Storrle ◽  
Hans-Jorg Brauckmann ◽  
Gabriele Broll

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. 


Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Melland ◽  
D. L. Antille ◽  
Y. P. Dang

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saara Lind ◽  
Marja Maljanen ◽  
Merja Myllys ◽  
Mari Räty ◽  
Sanna Kykkänen ◽  
...  

<p>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.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsbe von der Lancken ◽  
Victoria Nasser ◽  
Katharina Hey ◽  
Stefan Siebert ◽  
Ana Meijide

<p>The need to sustain global food demand while mitigating greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions is a challenge for agricultural production systems. Since the reduction of GHGs has never been a breeding target, it is still unclear to which extend different crop varieties will affect GHG emissions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of N-fertilization and of the use of growth regulators applied to three historical and three modern varieties of winter wheat on the emissions of the three most important anthropogenic GHGs, i.e. carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) and nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O). Furthermore, we aimed at identifying which combination of cultivars and management practises could mitigate GHG emissions in agricultural systems without compromising the yield. GHG measurements were performed using the closed chamber method in a field experiment located in Göttingen (Germany) evaluating three historical and three modern winter wheat varieties, with or without growth regulators under two fertilization levels (120 and 240 kg nitrogen ha<sup>-1</sup>). GHG measurements were carried out for 2 weeks following the third nitrogen fertilizer application (where one third of the total nitrogen was applied), together with studies on the evolution of mineral nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon in the soil. Modern varieties showed significantly higher CO<sub>2</sub> emissions (i.e. soil and plant respiration; +23 %) than historical varieties. The soils were found to be a sink for CH<sub>4,</sub> but CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes were not affected by the different treatments. N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were not significantly influenced by the variety age or by the growth regulators, and emissions increased with increasing fertilization level. The global warming potential (GWP) for the modern varieties was 7284.0 ± 266.9 kg CO<sub>2-eq</sub> ha<sup>-1</sup>. Even though the GWP was lower for the historic varieties (5939.5 ± 238.2 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-<sub>eq</sub> ha<sup>-1</sup>), their greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), which relates GHG and crop yield, was larger (1.5 ± 0.3 g CO<sub>2</sub>-<sub>eq</sub> g<sup>-1</sup> grain), compared to the GHGI of modern varieties (0.9 ± 0.0 g CO<sub>2</sub>-<sub>eq</sub> g<sup>-1</sup> grain), due to the much lower grain yield in the historic varieties. Our results suggest that in order to mitigate GHG emissions without compromising the grain yield, the best management practise is to use modern high yielding varieties with growth regulators and a fertilization scheme according to the demand of the crop.</p>


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Weier

The quantities of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere from sugarcane fields, and their contribution to the total emissions from Australian agriculture, have never been estimated with any degree of certainty. This review was conducted to collate the available information on greenhouse gas emissions from the Australian sugarcane crop. Estimates were made for the emissions of the 3 major greenhouse gases―carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)―from known or suspected sources. Sinks for the sequestration of the gases also have been identified. CO2 was found to be emitted during burning of the crop and from trash-blanketed and bare sugarcane fields. Total emissions from these sources in the 1994 season were estimated at 7·6 Mt CO2-C/year. However, the sugarcane crop was identified as a major sink for C, with uptake by the crop in 1994 estimated at 13· 4 Mt CO2-C/year. N2O emanating from sugarcane soils via denitrification following application of fertiliser accounted for 45-78% of total gaseous N emissions. Estimates of N2O emissions from all land under sugarcane in 1994 totalled 4·4 kt N2O-N/year from denitrification with a further 6·3 kt N2O-N emitted from areas that are still burnt. This review suggests changes in management procedures that should limit the opportunities for denitrification in the soil and thus reduce N2O emissions. Methane evolution occurs during the smouldering phase, following burning of the crop, with production estimated at 6·7 kt CH4-C/year in 1994. CH4 oxidation in soil was identified as an important process for removal of atmospheric CH4, as were trash-blanketed soils. Although these figures are our best estimate of gaseous production from sugarcane fields, there still remains a degree of uncertainty due to sampling variability and because of the extrapolation to the entire sugarcane area. However, the coupling of new laser techniques with known micrometeorological methods will allow for a more precise sampling of greenhouse gas emissions over a larger area. Estimates would thus be more representative, resulting in a greater degree of confidence being placed in them by the sugar industry.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document