Trade-offs between high yields and greenhouse gas emissions in irrigation wheat cropland in China
Although the concept of producing higher yields with reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a goal that attracts increasing public and scientific attention, the trade-off between high yields and GHG emissions in intensive agricultural production is not well understood. Here, we hypothesize that t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/2287/2014/bg-11-2287-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | Although the concept of producing higher yields with reduced greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions is a goal that attracts increasing public and scientific
attention, the trade-off between high yields and GHG emissions in intensive
agricultural production is not well understood. Here, we hypothesize that
there exists a mechanistic relationship between wheat grain yield and GHG
emission, and that could be transformed into better agronomic management. A
total 33 sites of on-farm experiments were investigated to evaluate the
relationship between grain yield and GHG emissions using two systems
(conventional practice, CP; high-yielding systems, HY) of intensive winter
wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in China. Furthermore, we discussed the
potential to produce higher yields with lower GHG emissions based on a survey
of 2938 farmers. Compared to the CP system, grain yield was 39%
(2352 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) higher in the HY system, while GHG emissions increased
by only 10%, and GHG emission intensity was reduced by 21%. The
current intensive winter wheat system with farmers' practice had a median
yield and maximum GHG emission rate of 6050 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> and
4783 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively; however, this system can be
transformed to maintain yields while reducing GHG emissions by 26%
(6077 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and 3555 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq ha<sup>−1</sup>). Further, the HY
system was found to increase grain yield by 39% with a simultaneous
reduction in GHG emissions by 18% (8429 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and
3905 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively). In the future, we suggest
moving the trade-off relationships and calculations from grain yield and GHG
emissions to new measures of productivity and environmental protection using
innovative management technologies. |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |