Citation Information

  • Title : Greenhouse gas mitigation economics for irrigated cropping systems in northeastern Colorado.
  • Source : Soil Science Society of America Journal
  • Publisher : Soil Science Society of America
  • Volume : 74
  • Issue : 2
  • Pages : 446-452
  • Year : 2010
  • DOI : 10.2136/sssaj200
  • ISBN : 10.2136/sssaj2009.0080
  • Document Type : Journal Article
  • Language : English
  • Authors:
    • Halvorson, A. D.
    • Archer, D. W.
  • Climates: Steppe (BSh, BSk).
  • Cropping Systems: Conventional cropping systems. Irrigated cropping systems. No-till cropping systems. Soybean. Continuous cropping. Maize.
  • Countries: USA.

Summary

Recent soil and crop management technologies have potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions; however, these management strategies must be profitable if they are to be adopted by producers. The economic feasibility of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in irrigated cropping systems was evaluated for 5 yr on a Fort Collins clay loam soil (a fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Haplustalf). Cropping systems included conventional tillage continuous corn ( Zea mays L.) (CT-CC), no-till continuous corn (NT-CC), and no-till corn-bean (NT-CB) including 1 yr soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and 1 yr dry bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The study included six N fertilization rates ranging from 0 to 246 kg ha -1. Results showed highest average net returns for NT-CB, exceeding net returns for NT-CC and CT-CC by US$182 and US$228 ha -1, respectively, at economically optimum N fertilizer rates. Net global warming potential (GWP) generally increased with increasing N fertilizer rate with the exception of NT-CC, where net GWP initially declined and then increased at higher N rates. Combining economic and net GWP measurements showed that producers have an economic incentive to switch from CT-CC to NT-CB, increasing annual average net returns by US$228 ha -1 while reducing annual net GWP by 929 kg CO 2 equivalents ha -1. The greatest GWP reductions (1463 kg CO 2 equivalents ha -1) could be achieved by switching from CT-CC to NT-CC while also increasing net returns, but the presence of a more profitable NT-CB alternative means NT-CC is unlikely to be chosen without additional economic incentives.

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