• Authors:
    • Ragsdale, D. W.
    • Hill, J. D.
    • Yang, Y.
    • Heimpel, G. E.
  • Source: PLOS ONE
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with pesticide applications against invasive species constitute an environmental cost of species invasions that has remained largely unrecognized. Here we calculate greenhouse gas emissions associated with the invasion of an agricultural pest from Asia to North America. The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, was first discovered in North America in 2000, and has led to a substantial increase in insecticide use in soybeans. We estimate that the manufacture, transport, and application of insecticides against soybean aphid results in approximately 10.6 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent greenhouse gasses being emitted per hectare of soybeans treated. Given the acreage sprayed, this has led to annual emissions of between 6 and 40 million kg of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gasses in the United States since the invasion of soybean aphid, depending on pest population size. Emissions would be higher were it not for the development of a threshold aphid density below which farmers are advised not to spray. Without a threshold, farmers tend to spray preemptively and the threshold allows farmers to take advantage of naturally occurring biological control of the soybean aphid, which can be substantial. We find that adoption of the soybean aphid economic threshold can lead to emission reductions of approximately 300 million kg of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases per year in the United States. Previous studies have documented that biological control agents such as lady beetles are capable of suppressing aphid densities below this threshold in over half of the soybean acreage in the U.S. Given the acreages involved this suggests that biological control results in annual emission reductions of over 200 million kg of CO2 equivalents. These analyses show how interactions between invasive species and organisms that suppress them can interact to affect greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Authors:
    • Huang, B.-X.
    • Christie, P.
    • Oenema, O.
    • Gao, B.
    • Ju, X.-T.
    • Su, F.
    • Hu, X.-K.
    • Jiang, R.-F.
    • Zhang, F.-S.
  • Source: Environmental Pollution
  • Volume: 176
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Here, we report on a two-years field experiment aimed at the quantification of the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) from the dominant wheat maize double cropping system in North China Plain. The experiment had 6 different fertilization strategies, including a control treatment, recommended fertilization, with and without straw and manure applications, and nitrification inhibitor and slow release urea. Application of N fertilizer slightly decreased CH4 uptake by soil. Direct N2O emissions derived from recommended urea application was 0.39% of the annual urea-N input. Both straw and manure had relatively low N2O emissions factors. Slow release urea had a relatively high emission factor. Addition of nitrification inhibitor reduced N2O emission by 55%. We conclude that use of nitrification inhibitors is a promising strategy for N2O mitigation for the intensive wheat maize double cropping systems.
  • Authors:
    • Gao, W.
    • Sui, P.
    • Chen, Y.
    • Huang, J.
  • Source: Science of The Total Environment
  • Volume: 456-457
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: The net greenhouse gas balance (NGHGB), estimated by combining direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, can reveal whether an agricultural system is a sink or source of GHGs. Currently, two types of methods, referred to here as crop-based and soil-based approaches, are widely used to estimate the NGHGB of agricultural systems on annual and seasonal crop timescales. However, the two approaches may produce contradictory results, and few studies have tested which approach is more reliable. In this study, we examined the two approaches using experimental data from an intercropping trial with straw removal and a tillage trial with straw return. The results of the two approaches provided different views of the two trials. In the intercropping trial, NGHGB estimated by the crop-based approach indicated that monocultured maize (M) was a source of GHGs (-1315 kg CO2-eq ha(-1)), whereas maize-soybean intercropping (MS) was a sink (107 kg CO2-eq ha(-1)). When estimated by the soil-based approach, both cropping systems were sources (-3410 for M and -2638 kg CO2-eg ha(-1) for MS). In the tillage trial, mouldboard ploughing (MP) and rotary tillage (RT) mitigated GHG emissions by 22,451 and 21,500 kg CO2-eq ha(-1), respectively, as estimated by the crop-based approach. However, by the soil-based approach, both tillage methods were sources of GHGs: -3533 for MP and -2241 kg CO2-eq ha(-1) for RT. The crop-based approach calculates a GHG sink on the basis of the returned crop biomass (and other organic matter input) and estimates considerably more GHG mitigation potential than that calculated from the variations in soil organic carbon storage by the soil-based approach. These results indicate that the crop-based approach estimates higher GHG mitigation benefits compared to the soil-based approach and may overestimate the potential of GHG mitigation in agricultural systems.
  • Authors:
    • Hatfield, J. L.
    • Hanan, N. P.
    • Glenn, A. J.
    • Fischer, M. L.
    • Burba, G. G.
    • Billesbach, D. P.
    • Bernacchi, C. J.
    • Baron, V. S.
    • Meyers, T. P.
    • Tieszen, L. L.
    • Wylie, B. K.
    • Gilmanov, T. G.
    • Heuer, M. W.
    • Hollinger, S. E.
    • Howard, D. M.
    • Matamala, R.
    • Prueger, J. H.
    • Tenuta, M.
    • Young, D. G.
  • Source: Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment
  • Volume: 164
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: We analyzed net CO 2 exchange data from 13 flux tower sites with 27 site-years of measurements over maize and wheat fields across midcontinent North America. A numerically robust "light-soil temperature-VPD"-based method was used to partition the data into photosynthetic assimilation and ecosystem respiration components. Year-round ecosystem-scale ecophysiological parameters of apparent quantum yield, photosynthetic capacity, convexity of the light response, respiration rate parameters, ecological light-use efficiency, and the curvature of the VPD-response of photosynthesis for maize and wheat crops were numerically identified and interpolated/extrapolated. This allowed us to gap-fill CO 2 exchange components and calculate annual totals and budgets. VPD-limitation of photosynthesis was systematically observed in grain crops of the region (occurring from 20 to 120 days during the growing season, depending on site and year), determined by the VPD regime and the numerical value of the curvature parameter of the photosynthesis-VPD-response, sigma VPD. In 78% of the 27 site-years of observations, annual gross photosynthesis in these crops significantly exceeded ecosystem respiration, resulting in a net ecosystem production of up to 2100 g CO 2 m -2 year -1. The measurement-based photosynthesis, respiration, and net ecosystem production data, as well as the estimates of the ecophysiological parameters, provide an empirical basis for parameterization and validation of mechanistic models of grain crop production in this economically and ecologically important region of North America.
  • Authors:
    • Markelz, R. J. C.
    • Ruiz-Vera, U. M.
    • Siebers, M. H.
    • Vanloocke, A.
    • Hussain, M. Z.
    • Leakey, A. D. B.
    • Ort, D. R.
    • Bernacchi, C. J.
  • Source: Global Change Biology
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Maize, in rotation with soybean, forms the largest continuous ecosystem in temperate North America, therefore changes to the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of water vapor and energy of these crops are likely to have an impact on the Midwestern US climate and hydrological cycle. As a C 4 crop, maize photosynthesis is already CO 2-saturated at current CO 2 concentrations ([CO 2]) and the primary response of maize to elevated [CO 2] is decreased stomatal conductance ( gs). If maize photosynthesis is not stimulated in elevated [CO 2], then reduced gs is not offset by greater canopy leaf area, which could potentially result in a greater ET reduction relative to that previously reported in soybean, a C 3 species. The objective of this study is to quantify the impact of elevated [CO 2] on canopy energy and water fluxes of maize ( Zea mays). Maize was grown under ambient and elevated [CO 2] (550 mol mol -1 during 2004 and 2006 and 585 mol mol -1 during 2010) using Free Air Concentration Enrichment (FACE) technology at the SoyFACE facility in Urbana, Illinois. Maize ET was determined using a residual energy balance approach based on measurements of sensible ( H) and soil heat fluxes, and net radiation. Relative to control, elevated [CO 2] decreased maize ET (7-11%; P<0.01) along with lesser soil moisture depletion, while H increased (25-30 W m -2; P<0.01) along with higher canopy temperature (0.5-0.6°C). This reduction in maize ET in elevated [CO 2] is approximately half that previously reported for soybean. A partitioning analysis showed that transpiration contributed less to total ET for maize compared to soybean, indicating a smaller role of stomata in dictating the ET response to elevated [CO 2]. Nonetheless, both maize and soybean had significantly decreased ET and increased H, highlighting the critical role of elevated [CO 2] in altering future hydrology and climate of the region that is extensively cropped with these species.
  • Authors:
    • Pijanowski, B. C.
    • Plourde, J. D.
    • Pekin, B. K.
  • Source: Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment
  • Volume: 165
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: While crop rotation patterns can be complex with multiple crops rotated over several years, the most common rotation practice in the Central United States is biannual rotation between corn and soybeans. We analyzed the changes in crop rotation patterns from 2003 to 2010 using the Cropland Data Layer (CDL), which provides remotely sensed land cover layers for agricultural crops in the Central United States. The accuracy of the CDL was validated by comparing the total acreage for a state or county present in the CDL with the total planted crop acreage available from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The data layers were combined into two time periods 2003-2006 and 2007-2010, and specific rotation patterns were determined for every location in the study area. The combinations resulted in unique sequences such as single, double, triple and quadruple, the latter of which is equivalent to the same crop class present all four years at a particular location. Corn and soybeans were analyzed to determine the amount of area used for production as well as the amount of change between unique crop rotation sequences. While the total area under production of major crops in the second half of our study period increased only slightly, the extent to which major crops (e.g., corn and soybeans) were grown in continuous cropping sequences increased significantly. For example, the amount of land impacted by corn in the first time period increased by only 2% in the second time period. However, the amount of corn grown in quadruple sequence doubled from the first half to the second half of our study period. We conclude that, although crop rotation patterns are very complex in this region, involving considerable amount of non-cropland, the footprint of major crops such as corn have moved toward monoculture cropping practices in the last decade.
  • Authors:
    • Uliasz, M.
    • Richardson, S.
    • Miles, N.
    • Davis, K. J.
    • Denning, A. S.
    • West, T. O.
    • Lauvaux, T.
    • Schuh, A. E.
    • Lokupitiya, E.
    • Cooley, D.
    • Andrews, A.
    • Ogle, S.
  • Source: Global Change Biology
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: An intensive regional research campaign was conducted by the North American Carbon Program (NACP) in 2007 to study the carbon cycle of the highly productive agricultural regions of the Midwestern United States. Forty-five different associated projects were conducted across five US agencies over the course of nearly a decade involving hundreds of researchers. One of the primary objectives of the intensive campaign was to investigate the ability of atmospheric inversion techniques to use highly calibrated CO 2 mixing ratio data to estimate CO 2 flux over the major croplands of the United States by comparing the results to an inventory of CO 2 fluxes. Statistics from densely monitored crop production, consisting primarily of corn and soybeans, provided the backbone of a well studied bottom-up inventory flux estimate that was used to evaluate the atmospheric inversion results. Estimates were compared to the inventory from three different inversion systems, representing spatial scales varying from high resolution mesoscale (PSU), to continental (CSU) and global (CarbonTracker), coupled to different transport models and optimization techniques. The inversion-based mean CO 2-C sink estimates were generally slightly larger, 8-20% for PSU, 10-20% for CSU, and 21% for CarbonTracker, but statistically indistinguishable, from the inventory estimate of 135 TgC. While the comparisons show that the MCI region-wide C sink is robust across inversion system and spatial scale, only the continental and mesoscale inversions were able to reproduce the spatial patterns within the region. In general, the results demonstrate that inversions can recover CO 2 fluxes at sub-regional scales with a relatively high density of CO 2 observations and adequate information on atmospheric transport in the region.
  • Authors:
    • Wang, D. P.
    • Zheng, L.
    • Zhang, Z. H.
    • Meng, F. Q.
    • Wu, W. L.
    • Shi, Y. F.
  • Source: NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS
  • Volume: 95
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: In the North China Plain, a field experiment was conducted to measure nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) fluxes from a typical winter wheat-summer maize rotation system under five integrated agricultural management practices: conventional regime [excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization, flood irrigation, and rotary tillage before wheat sowing; CON], recommended regime 1 (balanced N fertilization, decreased irrigation, and deep plowing before wheat sowing; REC-1), recommended regime 2 (balanced N fertilization, decreased irrigation, and no tillage; REC-2), recommended regime 3 (controlled release N fertilizer, decreased irrigation, and no tillage; REC-3), and no N fertilizer (CK). Field measurements indicated that pulse emissions after N fertilization and irrigation contributed 19-49 % of annual N2O emissions. In contrast to CON (2.21 kg N2O-N ha(-1) year(-1)), the other treatments resulted in significant declines in cumulative N2O emissions, which ranged from 0.96 to 1.76 kg N2O-N ha(-1) year(-1), indicating that the recommended practices (e.g., balanced N fertilization, controlled release N fertilizer, and decreased irrigation) offered substantial benefits for both sustaining grain yield and reducing N2O emissions. Emission factors of N fertilizer were 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, and 0.37 % under CON, REC-1, REC-3, and REC-2, respectively. Emissions of N2O during the freeze-thaw cycle period and the winter freezing period accounted for 9.7 and 5.1 % of the annual N2O budget, respectively. Thus, we recommend that the monitoring frequency should be increased during the freeze-thaw cycle period to obtain a proper estimate of total emissions. Annual CH4 fluxes from the soil were low (-1.54 to -1.12 kg CH4-C ha(-1) year(-1)), and N fertilizer application had no obvious effects on CH4 uptake. Values of global warming potential were predominantly determined by N2O emissions, which were 411 kg CO2-eq ha(-1) year(-1) in the CK and 694-982 kg CO2-eq ha(-1) year(-1) in the N fertilization regimes. When comprehensively considering grain yield, global warming potential intensity values in REC-1, REC-2, and REC-3 were significantly lower than in CON. Meanwhile, grain yield increased slightly under REC-1 and REC-3 compared to CON. Generally, REC-1 and REC-3 are recommended as promising management regimes to attain the dual objectives of sustaining grain yield and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the North China Plain.
  • Authors:
    • Anderson-Teixeira, K. J.
    • Masters, M. D.
    • Mitchell, C. A.
    • David, M. B.
    • Smith, C. M.
    • Bernacchi, C. J.
    • DeLucia, E. H.
  • Source: Journal of Environmental Quality
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Current biofuel feedstock crops such as corn lead to large environmental losses of N through nitrate leaching and N 2O emissions; second-generation cellulosic crops have the potential to reduce these N losses. We measured N losses and cycling in establishing miscanthus ( Miscanthus * giganteus), switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L. fertilized with 56 kg N ha -1 yr -1), and mixed prairie, along with a corn ( Zea mays L.)-corn-soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation (corn fertilized at 168-202 kg N ha -1). Nitrous oxide emissions, soil N mineralization, mid-profile nitrate leaching, and tile flow and nitrate concentrations were measured. Perennial crops quickly reduced nitrate leaching at a 50-cm soil depth as well as concentrations and loads from the tile systems (year 1 tile nitrate concentrations of 10-15 mg N L -1 declined significantly by year 4 in all perennial crops to <0.6 mg N L -1, with losses of <0.8 kg N ha -1 yr -1). Nitrous oxide emissions were 2.2 to 7.7 kg N ha -1 yr -1 in the corn-corn-soybean rotation but were <1.0 kg N ha -1 yr -1 by year 4 in the perennial crops. Overall N balances (atmospheric deposition+fertilization+soybean N 2 fixation-harvest, leaching losses, and N 2O emissions) were positive for corn and soybean (22 kg N ha -1 yr -1) as well as switchgrass (9.7 kg N ha -1 yr -1) but were -18 and -29 kg N ha -1 yr -1 for prairie and miscanthus, respectively. Our results demonstrate rapid tightening of the N cycle as perennial biofuel crops established on a rich Mollisol soil.
  • Authors:
    • Brown, D. G.
    • Sylvester, K. M.
    • Deane, G. D.
    • Kornak, R. N.
  • Source: Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment
  • Volume: 168
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: This paper examines drivers of land-cover change in the U.S. Great Plains in the last half of the twentieth century. Its central aim is to evaluate the dynamics of grassland preservation and conversion, across the region, and to identify areas of grassland that were never plowed during the period. The research compares land-cover data from 400 sample areas, selected from and nested within 50 counties, to aggregate data from the agricultural and population censuses. The spatially explicit land-cover data were interpreted from aerial photographs taken at three time points (1950s, 1970s and 2000s). Sample areas were chosen using a stratified random design based on the Public Land Survey grid with in the target counties, in several clusters across the region. We modeled the sequences and magnitudes of changes in the interpreted air photo data in a multi-level panel model that included soil quality and slope of sample areas and agricultural activities and employment reported in the U.S. Censuses of Agriculture and Population. We conclude that land retirement programs and production subsidies have worked at cross purposes, destabilizing micro-level patterns of land use in recent decades, increasing levels of switching between cropland and grassland and reducing the size of remaining areas of native grassland in the U.S. Great Plains.