Greenhouse gas emission reductions in subtropical cereal-based cropping sequences using legumes, DMPP-coated urea and split timings of urea application
Graeme D. Schwenke
A , Philippa M. Brock B , Bruce M. Haigh A and David F. Herridge C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A NSW Department of Primary Industries, 4 Marsden Park Road, Calala, NSW 2340, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, 10 Valentine Avenue, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
C School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: graeme.schwenke@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Soil Research 56(7) 724-736 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR18108
Submitted: 23 April 2018 Accepted: 21 August 2018 Published: 4 October 2018
Abstract
To contribute to national greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction targets, grain growers need strategies that minimise emissions associated with grain production. We used life cycle assessments (LCAs) with field-measured production inputs, grain yields and proteins, legume nitrogen (N2) fixation, and soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions, to explore mitigation strategies in 3-year crop sequences in subtropical Australia. The sequences were: canola plus 80 kg/ha fertiliser nitrogen (80N)–wheat 85N–barley 65N (CaNWtNBaN), chickpea 0N–wheat 85N–barley 5N (CpWtNBa), chickpea 0N–wheat 5N–chickpea 5N (CpWtCp), and chickpea 0N–sorghum 45N (CpSgN). We also assessed the impacts of split fertiliser N application and urea coated with DMPP, a nitrification inhibitor, on the LCA for the CaNWtNBaN sequence.
Total pre-farm plus on-farm GHG emissions varied between 915 CO2-e/ha (CpSgN) and 1890 CO2-e/ha (CaNWtNBaN). Cumulative N2O emitted over the 3-year study varied between 0.479 kg N2O-N/ha (CpWtCp) and 1.400 kg N2O-N/ha (CaNWtNBaN), which constituted 24–44% of total GHG emissions. Fertiliser production accounted for 20% (CpSgN) to 30% (CaNWtNBaN) of total emissions. An extra 4.7 kg CO2-e/ha was emitted for each additional kg N/ha of applied N fertiliser. Three-year CH4 emissions ranged from −1.04 to −0.98 kg CH4-C/ha. Split N and DMPP strategies could reduce total GHG emissions of CaNWtNBaN by 17 and 28% respectively. Results of the study indicate considerable scope for reducing the carbon footprint of subtropical, dryland grains cropping in Australia.
Additional keywords: carbon dioxide, carbon footprint, fertiliser N, grain cropping, greenhouse gas emissions, life cycle assessment, methane, nitrous oxide.
References
ABARES (2018) ‘Australian crop report.’ (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences: Canberra, ACT)Australian Government (2017) ‘Australian national greenhouse accounts. National inventory report 2015 Vol. 1.’ (Australian Government: Canberra, ACT)
Barton L, Murphy DV, Kiese R, Butterbach-Bahl K (2010) Soil nitrous oxide and methane fluxes are low from a bioenergy crop (canola) grown in a semi-arid climate. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy 2, 1–15.
| Soil nitrous oxide and methane fluxes are low from a bioenergy crop (canola) grown in a semi-arid climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barton L, Butterbach-Bahl K, Kiese R, Murphy DV (2011) Nitrous oxide fluxes from a grain-legume crop (narrow-leafed lupin) grown in a semiarid climate. Global Change Biology 17, 1153–1166.
| Nitrous oxide fluxes from a grain-legume crop (narrow-leafed lupin) grown in a semiarid climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barton L, Gleeson DB, Maccarone LD, Zuniga LP, Murhy DV (2013a) Is liming soil a strategy for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from semi-arid soils? Soil Biology & Biochemistry 62, 28–35.
| Is liming soil a strategy for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from semi-arid soils?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barton L, Murphy DV, Butterbach-Bahl K (2013b) Influence of crop rotation and liming on greenhouse gas emissions from a semi-arid soil. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 167, 23–32.
| Influence of crop rotation and liming on greenhouse gas emissions from a semi-arid soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barton L, Thamo T, Engelbrecht D, Biswas W (2014) Does growing grain legumes or applying lime cost effectively lower greenhouse gas emissions from wheat production in a semi-arid climate? Journal of Cleaner Production 83, 194–203.
| Does growing grain legumes or applying lime cost effectively lower greenhouse gas emissions from wheat production in a semi-arid climate?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brock P, Madden P, Schwenke G, Herridge D (2012) Greenhouse gas emissions profile for 1 tonne of wheat produced in Central Zone (East) New South Wales: a life cycle assessment approach. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 319–329.
| Greenhouse gas emissions profile for 1 tonne of wheat produced in Central Zone (East) New South Wales: a life cycle assessment approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brock PM, Muir S, Herridge DF, Simmons A (2016) Cradle-to-farmgate greenhouse gas emissions for 2-year wheat monoculture and break crop-wheat sequences in south-eastern Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 67, 812–822.
| Cradle-to-farmgate greenhouse gas emissions for 2-year wheat monoculture and break crop-wheat sequences in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chen D, Suter H, Islam A, Edis R, Freney JR, Walker CN (2008) Prospects of improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen in Australian agriculture: a review of enhanced efficiency fertilisers. Soil Research 46, 289–301.
| Prospects of improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen in Australian agriculture: a review of enhanced efficiency fertilisers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Christopher SF, Lal R (2007) Nitrogen management affects carbon sequestration in North American cropland soils. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 26, 45–64.
| Nitrogen management affects carbon sequestration in North American cropland soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalal RC, Wang WJ, Robertson GP, Parton WJ (2003) Nitrous oxide emissions from Australian agricultural lands and mitigation options: a review. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 165–195.
| Nitrous oxide emissions from Australian agricultural lands and mitigation options: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
De Antoni Migliorati M, Scheer C, Grace PR, Rowlings DW, Bell M, McGree J (2014) Influence of different nitrogen rates and DMPP nitrification inhibitor on annual N2O emissions from a subtropical wheat–maize cropping system. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 186, 33–43.
| Influence of different nitrogen rates and DMPP nitrification inhibitor on annual N2O emissions from a subtropical wheat–maize cropping system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
De Antoni Migliorati M, Bell M, Grace PR, Scheer C, Rowlings DW, Liu S (2015) Legume pastures can reduce N2O emissions intensity in subtropical cereal cropping systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 204, 27–39.
| Legume pastures can reduce N2O emissions intensity in subtropical cereal cropping systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
De Antoni Migliorati M, Bell M, Lester D, Rowlings DW, Scheer C, de Rosa D, Grace PR (2016) Comparison of grain yields and N2O emissions on Oxisol and Vertisol soils in response to fertiliser N applied as urea or urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate. Soil Research 54, 552–564.
| Comparison of grain yields and N2O emissions on Oxisol and Vertisol soils in response to fertiliser N applied as urea or urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
European Commission (2016) Renewable Energy Direction. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-directive
European Commission (2017) Official Journal of the European Union. Commission implementing decision (EU) 2017/2356. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32017D2356&from=EN
Gan Y, Liang C, Chai Q, Lemke R, Campbell CA, Zentner RP (2014) Improving farm practices reduces the carbon footprint of spring wheat production. Nature Communications 5,
| Improving farm practices reduces the carbon footprint of spring wheat production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gelfand I, Sahajpal R, Zhang X, Izaurralde RC, Gross KL, Robertson GP (2013) Sustainable bioenergy production from marginal lands in the US Midwest. Nature 493, 514–517.
| Sustainable bioenergy production from marginal lands in the US Midwest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goglio P, Grant BB, Smith WN, Desjardins RL, Worth DE, Zentner R, Malhi SS (2014) Impact of management strategies on the global warming potential at the cropping system level. The Science of the Total Environment 490, 921–933.
| Impact of management strategies on the global warming potential at the cropping system level.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goglio P, Smith WN, Grant BB, Desjardins RL, McConkey BG, Campbell CA, Nemecek T (2015) Accounting for soil carbon changes in agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA): a review. Journal of Cleaner Production 104, 23–39.
| Accounting for soil carbon changes in agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA): a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goglio P, Smith WN, Grant BB, Desjardins RL, Gao X, Hanis K, Tenuta M, Campbell CA, McConkey BG, Nemecek T, Burgess PJ, Williams AG (2017) A comparison of methods to quantify greenhouse gas emissions of cropping systems in LCA. Journal of Cleaner Production
| A comparison of methods to quantify greenhouse gas emissions of cropping systems in LCA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | , (In press).
Grace P, Barton L, Chen D, Eckard R, Graham J, Hely S, Kelly K, Officer S, Rochester I, Rowlings D, Scheer C, Schwenke G, Wang W (2010) The Australian nitrous oxide research program. In ‘Soil solutions for a changing world. Proceedings of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science’. 1–6 August 2010, Brisbane, Australia. (Eds RJ Gilkes, N Prakongkep) pp. 247–248. (IUSS)
Gregorich EG, Rochette P, VandenBygaart AJ, Angers DA (2005) Greenhouse gas contributions of agricultural soils and potential mitigation practices in Eastern Canada. Soil & Tillage Research 83, 53–72.
| Greenhouse gas contributions of agricultural soils and potential mitigation practices in Eastern Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Herridge DF (2013) ‘Managing legumes and fertiliser N for northern grains cropping’ (GRDC: Kingston, ACT). Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293958450_Managing_Legume_and_Fertiliser_N_for_Northern_Grains_Cropping
Herridge DF, Brock PM (2016) Annual crop legumes may not mitigate greenhouse gas emissions because of the high carbon cost of nitrogen fixation. In ‘Solutions to improve nitrogen use efficiency for the world. Proceedings International Nitrogen Initiative Conference 2016’. Melbourne. Available at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.guidebook.com/upload/3molxqBvjI5BTZCjvM89iFw266eWguJFN51aKLEL/vvh4bmcERCUYbjWZbUMsKqhKXPiLu312mHIM.pdf
Horne R, Grant T, Verghese K (2009) ‘Life cycle assessment – principles, practices and prospects.’ (CSIRO Publishing; Melbourne)
IPCC (2006) ‘2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Volume 4.’ Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme. (Eds HS Eggleston, L Buendia, K Miwa, T Ngara, K Tanabe) (IGES: Japan)
Isbell RF, National Committee on Soil and Terrain (2016) ‘The Australian soil classification.’ 2nd edn. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Jensen ES, Peoples MB, Boddey RM, Gresshoff PM, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Alves BJR, Morrison MJ (2012) Legumes for mitigation of climate change and the provision of feedstock for biofuels and biorefineries. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 32, 329–364.
| Legumes for mitigation of climate change and the provision of feedstock for biofuels and biorefineries. A review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lam SK, Suter H, Mosier A, Chen D (2016) Using nitrification inhibitors to mitigate agricultural N2O emission: a double-edged sword? Global Change Biology
| Using nitrification inhibitors to mitigate agricultural N2O emission: a double-edged sword?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lemke RL, Zhong Z, Campbell CA, Zentner R (2007) Can pulse crops play a role in mitigating greenhouse gases from north American agriculture? Agronomy Journal 99, 1719–1725.
| Can pulse crops play a role in mitigating greenhouse gases from north American agriculture?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lester DW, Bell MJ, Bell KL, De Antoni Migliorati M, Scheer C, Rowlings D, Grace PR (2016) Agronomic responses of grain sorghum to DMPP-treated urea on contrasting soil types in north-eastern Australia. Soil Research 54, 565–571.
| Agronomic responses of grain sorghum to DMPP-treated urea on contrasting soil types in north-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li Y, Chen D, Barker-Reid F, Eckard R (2008) Simulation of N2O emissions from rain-fed wheat and the impact of climate variation in southeastern Australia. Plant and Soil 309, 239–251.
| Simulation of N2O emissions from rain-fed wheat and the impact of climate variation in southeastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Life Cycle Strategies Pty Ltd (2013) Australasian LCI database v2013.1, data released in SimaPro LCA software. Life Cycle Strategies Pty Ltd., Melbourne.
Mosier AR, Halvorson AD, Peterson GA, Robertson GP, Sherrod L (2005) Measurement of net global warming potential in three agroecosystems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 72, 67–76.
| Measurement of net global warming potential in three agroecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
NSW Department of Primary Industries (2011) Dryland north-east winter crop gross margins 2012. Available at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre/guides/ngrt-results
NSW Department of Primary Industries (2012a) Dryland north-east winter crop gross margins 2012. Available at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/217274/North-East-dryland-winter-all-2012.pdf
NSW Department of Primary Industries (2012b) Dryland north-east winter crop gross margins 2012. Available at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre/guides/ngrt-results
Ogle SM, Olander L, Wollenberg L, Rosenstock T, Tuniello F, Paustian K, Buendia L, Nihart A, Smith P (2014) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting agricultural management for climate change in developing countries: providing the basis for action. Global Change Biology 20, 1–6.
| Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting agricultural management for climate change in developing countries: providing the basis for action.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Olander LP, Haugen-Kozyra K (2011). Using biogeochemical process models to quantify greenhouse gas mitigation from agricultural management projects. Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions Report NIR 11–03, March 2011. Duke University, USA.
Palmer J, Thorburn PJ, Meier EA, Biggs JS, Whelan B, Singh K, Eyre DN (2017) Can management practices provide greenhouse gas abatement in grain farms in New South Wales, Australia? Crop & Pasture Science 68, 390–400.
| Can management practices provide greenhouse gas abatement in grain farms in New South Wales, Australia?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peoples MB, Swan AD, Goward L, Kirkegaard JA, Hunt JR, Li GD, Schwenke GD, Herridge DF, Moodie M, Wilhelm N, Potter T, Denton MD, Browne C, Phillips LA, Khan DF (2017) Soil mineral nitrogen benefits derived from legumes and comparisons of the apparent recovery of legume or fertiliser nitrogen by wheat. Soil Research 55, 600–615.
| Soil mineral nitrogen benefits derived from legumes and comparisons of the apparent recovery of legume or fertiliser nitrogen by wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson GP, Paul EA, Harwood RR (2000) Greenhouse gases in intensive agriculture: Contributions of individual gases to the radiative forcing of the atmosphere. Science 289, 1922–1925.
| Greenhouse gases in intensive agriculture: Contributions of individual gases to the radiative forcing of the atmosphere.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheer C, Rowlings DW, Firrel M, Deuter P, Morris S, Grace PR (2014) Impact of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) on soil nitrous oxide emissions from an intensive broccoli production system in sub-tropical Australia. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 77, 243–251.
| Impact of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) on soil nitrous oxide emissions from an intensive broccoli production system in sub-tropical Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheer C, Rowlings DW, De Antoni Migliorati M, Lester DW, Bell MJ, Grace PR (2016) Effect of enhanced efficiency fertilisers on nitrous oxide emissions in a sub-tropical cereal cropping system. Soil Research 54, 544–551.
| Effect of enhanced efficiency fertilisers on nitrous oxide emissions in a sub-tropical cereal cropping system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schwenke GD, Herridge DF, McMullen KG, Haigh BM (2014) Legumes in crop rotations reduce soil nitrous oxide emissions compared with fertilized non-legume rotations. In ‘Proceedings of the International Symposium on Managing Soils for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation’. 2014, Vienna, Austria. (Eds LK Heng, K Sakadevan, G Dercon, ML Nguyen) pp. 235–241. (FAO: Rome)
Schwenke GD, Herridge DF, Scheer C, Rowlings DW, Haigh BM, McMullen KG (2015) Soil N2O emissions under N2-fixing legumes and N-fertilised canola: a reappraisal of emissions factor calculations. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 202, 232–242.
| Soil N2O emissions under N2-fixing legumes and N-fertilised canola: a reappraisal of emissions factor calculations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schwenke GD, Herridge DF, Scheer C, Rowlings DW, Haigh BM, McMullen KG (2016) Greenhouse gas (N2O and CH4) fluxes under nitrogen-fertilised dryland wheat and barley on subtropical Vertosols: risk, rainfall and alternatives. Soil Research 54, 634–650.
| Greenhouse gas (N2O and CH4) fluxes under nitrogen-fertilised dryland wheat and barley on subtropical Vertosols: risk, rainfall and alternatives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shrestha BM, McConkey BG, Smith WN, Desjardins RL, Campbell CA, Grant BB, Miller PR (2013) Effects of crop rotation, crop type and tillage on soil organic carbon in a semiarid climate. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 93, 137–146.
| Effects of crop rotation, crop type and tillage on soil organic carbon in a semiarid climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shrestha BM, Desjardins RL, McConkey BG, Worth DE, Dyer JA, Cerkowniak DD (2014) Changes in carbon footprint of canola production in the Canadian Prairies from 1986 to 2006. Renewable Energy 63, 634–641.
| Changes in carbon footprint of canola production in the Canadian Prairies from 1986 to 2006.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith P, Haberl H, Popp A, Erb K, Lauk C, Harper R, Tubiello FN, de Siqueira Pinto A, Jafari M, Sohi S, Masera O, Bottcher H, Berndes G, Bustamante M, Ahammad H, Clark H, Dong H, Elsiddig EA, Mbow C, Ravindranath NH, Rice CW, Robledo C, Abad CW, Romanovskaya A, Sperling F, Herrero M, House JI, Rose S (2013) How much land-based greenhouse gas mitigation can be achieved without compromising food security and environmental goals? Global Change Biology 19, 2285–2302.
| How much land-based greenhouse gas mitigation can be achieved without compromising food security and environmental goals?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang WJ, Dalal RC (2006) Carbon inventory for a cereal cropping system under contrasting tillage, nitrogen fertilisation and stubble management practices. Soil & Tillage Research 91, 68–74.
| Carbon inventory for a cereal cropping system under contrasting tillage, nitrogen fertilisation and stubble management practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang WJ, Dalal RC, Reeves SH, Butterbach-Bahl K, Kiese R (2011) Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes. Global Change Biology 17, 3089–3101.
| Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weidema BP, Bauer C, Hischier R, Mutel C, Nemecek T, Reinhard J, Vadenbo CO, Wernet G (2013) ‘Overview and methodology. Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. Ecoinvent Report 1(v3).’ (The ecoinvent Centre: St. Gallen, Switzerland)
Xia L, Lam SK, Chen D, Wang J, Tang Q, Yan X (2017) Can knowledge-based N management produce more staple grain with lower greenhouse gas emission and reactive nitrogen pollution? A meta-analysis. Global Change Biology 23, 1917–1925.
| Can knowledge-based N management produce more staple grain with lower greenhouse gas emission and reactive nitrogen pollution? A meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang M, Fang Y, Sun D, Shi Y (2016) Efficiency of two nitrification inhibitors (dicyandiamide and 3, 4-dimethypyrazole phosphate) on soil nitrogen transformations and plant productivity: a meta-analysis. Scientific Reports 6, 22075
| Efficiency of two nitrification inhibitors (dicyandiamide and 3, 4-dimethypyrazole phosphate) on soil nitrogen transformations and plant productivity: a meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young RR, Wilson B, Harden S, Bernardi A (2009) Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 47, 273–285.
| Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zerulla W, Barth T, Dressel J, Erhardt K, Horchler von Locquenghien K, Pasda G, Radle M, Wissemeier AH (2001) 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) – a new nitrification inhibitor for agriculture and horticulture. Biology and Fertility of Soils 34, 79–84.
| 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) – a new nitrification inhibitor for agriculture and horticulture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
