Crop residues provide large inputs of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to soils and contribute to the net greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of soils in different ways. They are included as a key component in national emissions inventories for nitrous oxide (N2O) from agriculture. Residues are also a major contributor to sustaining or enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) and N contents and thus soil fertility.
Depending on the amount of C and N in crop residues and their contributions to N2O emissions or to the SOC balance, residues might increase or decrease the GHG footprint of agroecosystems.
Studies have shown that N2O emissions from N in crop residues vary considerably depending on residue quality, residue management and soils. Lack of knowledge and precise model estimation of N2O emissions and SOC storage from crop residues limits the design of improved crop management systems for net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.
ResidueGas develops an improved methodology to quantify N2O emissions from agricultural crop residues management, including standards for estimating the amount of N in residues and improved emission factors for crop residue that include effects of residue quality, management, soils and climate on emissions.
The research in ResidueGas has shown the importance of focusing on critical moments in cropping systems, where residues with high N content and degradable carbon are fully or partially incorporated into the soil. This situations include:
ResidueGas will further study these situations for inclusion in inventories and for developing mitigation strategies.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.