IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v8y2018i5p62-d143458.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Relationships between Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Yields, and Soil Properties in Cropping Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Gevan D. Behnke

    (Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Cameron M. Pittelkow

    (Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Emerson D. Nafziger

    (Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • María B. Villamil

    (Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

Abstract

Relationships between greenhouse gas emissions, yields, and soil properties are not well known. Utilizing two datasets from long-term cropping systems in Illinois, USA, our we aim to address these knowledge gaps. The objective of this study was to explore the relationships between the physical and chemical properties and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of soil, and cash crop yields over a four-year time-period and following 15 years of treatment implementation in Illinois, USA. The experimental layout was a split-plot arrangement involving rotation and tillage treatments in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The studied crop rotations were continuous corn [ Zea mays L.] (CCC), corn-soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (CS), continuous soybean (SSS), and corn-soybean-wheat [ Triticum aestivum L.] (CSW), with each phase being present for every year. The tillage options were chisel tillage (T) and no-tillage (NT). We used an array of multivariate approaches to analyze both of our datasets that included 31 soil properties, GHG emissions (N 2 O, CO 2 , and CH 4 ) and cash crop yields. The results from our analyses indicate that N 2 O emissions are associated with a low soil pH, an increased Al concentration, the presence of soil nitrate throughout the growing season, an increase in plant available water (PAW) and an increased soil C concentration. Likewise, soil CO 2 respiration was correlated with low pH, elevated Al concentrations, low Ca, increased PAW, higher levels of microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and lower water aggregate stability (WAS). Emissions of CH 4 were associated with increased levels of MBC. Lastly, the yield index (YdI) was correlated with lower levels of soil Ca and available P and lower values of WAS. The association between high YdI and lower WAS can be attributed to tillage, as tillage lowers WAS, but increases yields in highly productive cropping systems in the Midwest.

Suggested Citation

  • Gevan D. Behnke & Cameron M. Pittelkow & Emerson D. Nafziger & María B. Villamil, 2018. "Exploring the Relationships between Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Yields, and Soil Properties in Cropping Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:8:y:2018:i:5:p:62-:d:143458
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/8/5/62/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/8/5/62/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Basche, Andrea D. & Kaspar, Thomas C. & Archontoulis, Sotirios V. & Jaynes, Dan B. & Sauer, Thomas J. & Parkin, Timothy B. & Miguez, Fernando E., 2016. "Soil water improvements with the long-term use of a winter rye cover crop," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 40-50.
    2. Neville Millar & G. Robertson & Peter Grace & Ron Gehl & John Hoben, 2010. "Erratum to: Nitrogen fertilizer management for nitrous oxide (N 2 O) mitigation in intensive corn (Maize) production: an emissions reduction protocol for US Midwest agriculture," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 411-411, April.
    3. Neville Millar & G. Robertson & Peter Grace & Ron Gehl & John Hoben, 2010. "Nitrogen fertilizer management for nitrous oxide (N 2 O) mitigation in intensive corn (Maize) production: an emissions reduction protocol for US Midwest agriculture," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 185-204, February.
    4. David Pimentel & Michael Burgess, 2013. "Soil Erosion Threatens Food Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-21, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tang, Yujie & Qiao, Yunfa & Ma, Yinzheng & Huang, Weiliang & Komal, Khan & Miao, Shujie, 2024. "Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural systems: a comparative analysis of process models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 490(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matthew Houser, 2022. "Does adopting a nitrogen best management practice reduce nitrogen fertilizer rates?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 79-94, March.
    2. Hardeep Singh & Brian K. Northup & Gurjinder S. Baath & Prashanth P. Gowda & Vijaya G. Kakani, 2020. "Greenhouse mitigation strategies for agronomic and grazing lands of the US Southern Great Plains," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 819-853, May.
    3. Allen G Good & Perrin H Beatty, 2011. "Fertilizing Nature: A Tragedy of Excess in the Commons," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-9, August.
    4. Ning, Zhuo & Hou, Yuke & Xu, Xia, 2024. "Optimized strategies for nitrogen fertilizer application in Populus plantations in the context of climate change mitigation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    5. Sunling, Yang & Shahzad, Ali & Wang, Meng & Xi, Yueling & Shaik, Mohammed Rafi & Khan, Mujeeb, 2024. "Urease and nitrification inhibitors with drip fertigation strategies to mitigate global warming potential and improve water-nitrogen efficiency of maize under semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    6. Hardeep Singh & Brian K. Northup & Gurjinder S. Baath & Prashanth P. Gowda & Vijaya G. Kakani, 0. "Greenhouse mitigation strategies for agronomic and grazing lands of the US Southern Great Plains," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 819-853.
    7. Rooholla Moradi & Alireza Koocheki & Mehdi Nassiri Mahallati, 2014. "Adaptation of maize to climate change impacts in Iran," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(8), pages 1223-1238, December.
    8. Folasade Mary OWOADE, 2021. "Effects of Land Use Types on Soil Productivity Parameters: A Case Study of Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone, Southern Guinea Savanna Ecology of Nigeria," Noble International Journal of Scientific Research, Noble Academic Publsiher, vol. 5(4), pages 29-40, December.
    9. Carina Mueller & Christopher West & Mairon G. Bastos Lima & Bob Doherty, 2023. "Demand-Side Actors in Agricultural Supply Chain Sustainability: An Assessment of Motivations for Action, Implementation Challenges, and Research Frontiers," World, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-20, September.
    10. Md. Yamin Kabir & Nasrin Sultana & Md. Abdul Mannan, 2022. "Evaluation Of Nutrient Content Of Composts Made From Water Hyacinth, Kitchen Waste And Manures," Journal of Wastes and Biomass Management (JWBM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 4(2), pages 96-101, October.
    11. Tiziano Gomiero, 2016. "Soil Degradation, Land Scarcity and Food Security: Reviewing a Complex Challenge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-41, March.
    12. Katrin Martens & Sebastian Rogga & Jana Zscheischler & Bernd Pölling & Andreas Obersteg & Annette Piorr, 2022. "Classifying New Hybrid Cooperation Models for Short Food-Supply Chains—Providing a Concept for Assessing Sustainability Transformation in the Urban-Rural Nexus," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, April.
    13. Natanael Bolson & Tadeusz Patzek, 2022. "Evaluation of Rwanda’s Energy Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, May.
    14. Samaneh Bahrololoum & Mojtaba Mahmood Molaei Kermani & Farzaneh Koohzadi, 2022. "Ecopreneurs and agricultural waste management," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 47-51, December.
    15. Rath, S. & Zamora-Re, M. & Graham, W. & Dukes, M. & Kaplan, D., 2021. "Quantifying nitrate leaching to groundwater from a corn-peanut rotation under a variety of irrigation and nutrient management practices in the Suwannee River Basin, Florida," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    16. Koiry, Subrata & Huang, Wei, 2023. "Do ecological protection approaches affect total factor productivity change of cropland production in Sweden?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    17. Wang, Jun & Zhang, Shaohong & Sainju, Upendra M. & Ghimire, Rajan & Zhao, Fazhu, 2021. "A meta-analysis on cover crop impact on soil water storage, succeeding crop yield, and water-use efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    18. Du, Zhushan & Feng, Hongli & Arbuckle, J. Gordon, 2024. "Beyond cross-sectional, one-time adoption measures of conservation practices: Understanding temporal adoption patterns using farm-level panel data," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 344010, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    19. Aurore Philibert & Chantal Loyce & David Makowski, 2012. "Quantifying Uncertainties in N2O Emission Due to N Fertilizer Application in Cultivated Areas," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(11), pages 1-9, November.
    20. Xiukang Wang, 2022. "Managing Land Carrying Capacity: Key to Achieving Sustainable Production Systems for Food Security," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:8:y:2018:i:5:p:62-:d:143458. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.