The objective of this study was to quantify soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions when converting from minimum and no-tillage systems to subsoiling (tilled soil to a depth of 40 cm to 45 cm) in the North China Plain. The relationships between CH4 and N2O flux and soil temperature, moisture, NH4+-N, organic carbon (SOC) and pH were investigated over 18 months using a split-plot design. The soil absorption of CH4 appeared to increase after conversion from no-tillage (NT) to subsoiling (NTS), from harrow tillage (HT) to subsoiling (HTS) and from rotary tillage (RT) to subsoiling (RTS). N2O emissions also increased after conversion. Furthermore, after conversion to subsoiling, the combined global warming potential (GWP) of CH4 and N2O increased by approximately 0.05 kg CO2 ha(-1) for HTS, 0.02 kg CO2 ha(-1) for RTS and 0.23 kg CO2 ha(-1) for NTS. Soil temperature, moisture, SOC, NH4+-N and pH also changed after conversion to subsoiling. These changes were correlated with CH4 uptake and N2O emissions. However, there was no significant correlation between N2O emissions and soil temperature in this study. The grain yields of wheat improved after conversion to subsoiling. Under HTS, RTS and NTS, the average grain yield was elevated by approximately 42.5%, 27.8% and 60.3% respectively. Our findings indicate that RTS and HTS would be ideal rotation tillage systems to balance GWP decreases and grain yield improvements in the North China Plain region. Citation: Tian S, Ning T, Zhao H, Wang B, Li N, et al. (2012) Response of CH4 and N2O Emissions and Wheat Yields to Tillage Method Changes in the North China Plain. PLoS ONE 7(12): e51206. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051206
