The aim of this study was to analyze greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oats, barley, spring wheat and rye production in Finland. The GHG emissions were analyzed in a conventional production chain, direct drilling chain and reduced tillage chain. The greenhouse gases were analyzed per kilogram grain (kg CO 2-eq. kg -1) and hectare (kg CO 2-eq. ha -1). The main part of the GHG emissions of the grain production chain originated from fertilizer manufacturing and soil. Soil emissions were a result of using N-fertilizer which induced N 2O emission and liming which induced CO 2-emission. GHG emissions from soil were about half of all emissions of grain production. Therefore, the N-fertilizer application rate had a strong direct and indirect effect on the GHG emissions. Wheat (2,330 kg CO 2-eq. ha -1) and rye (2,270 kg CO 2-eq. ha -1) had higher GHG emissions per hectare than oats and barley. The main reason for this was the higher application rate of N-fertilizer. The emissions of oats and barley were 1,800 and 1,930 kg CO 2-eq. ha -1. The yield had a strong impact on the emissions per kilogram of grain. Oats (570 g CO 2-eq. kg -1), barley (570 g CO 2-eq. kg -1) and wheat (590 g CO 2-eq. kg -1) had lower greenhouse emissions than rye. A low grain yield together with high N-fertilizer application rate caused higher greenhouse gas emission for rye (870 g CO 2-eq. kg -1). Direct drilling and reduced tillage resulted in some lower GHG emissions than conventional tillage. However, differences between production chains were minor.
