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The role of conservation agriculture practices in mitigating N2O emissions: A meta-analysis.
- Source :
- Agronomy for Sustainable Development (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.); Oct2023, Vol. 43 Issue 5, p1-13, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Conservation agriculture is often assumed to reduce soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions. Yet, studies analyzing the specific effect of conservation agriculture practices on N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions give contradictory results. Herein, we synthesized a comprehensive database on the three main conservation agriculture practices (cover crops, diversified crop rotations, and no-till and/or reduced tillage (NT/RT)) to elucidate the role of conservation practices on N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions. Further, we used a random meta-forest approach to identify the most important predictors of the effects of these practices on soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions. Averaged across all comparisons, NT/RT significantly decreased soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions by 11% (95% CI: –19 to –1%) compared to conventional tillage. The reductions due to NT/RT were more commonly observed in humid climates and in soils with an initial carbon content < 20 g kg<superscript>–1</superscript>. The implementation of cover crops and diversified crop rotations led to variable effects on soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions. Cover crops were more likely to reduce soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions at neutral soil pH, and in soils with intermediate carbon (~20 g kg<superscript>–1</superscript>) and nitrogen (~3 g kg<superscript>–1</superscript>) contents. Diversified crop rotations tended to increase soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions in temperate regions and neutral to alkaline soils. Our results provide a comprehensive predictive framework to understand the conditions in which the adoption of various conservation agriculture practices can contribute to climate change mitigation. Combining these results with a similar mechanistic understanding of conservation agriculture impacts on ecosystem services and crop production will pave the way for a wider adoption globally of these management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17740746
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Agronomy for Sustainable Development (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 172442134
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00911-x