Impact of plastic film mulching on increasing greenhouse gas emissions in temperate upland soil during maize cultivation

Unexpected high suppression of ammonia volatilization loss by plastic film mulching in Korean maize cropping system

Interaction between soil water and fertilizer utilization on maize under plastic mulching in an arid irrigation region of China

Coupling effects of plastic film mulching and urea types on water use efficiency and grain yield of maize in the Loess Plateau, China

Approximately 51% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the agricultural sector in Korea are emitted from rice fields. Despite the extended fallow season, the calculation of GHG emissions from rice fields has been limited to rice cropping season. In this study, we sought to provide information on GHG emission considering the carbon budget in the fallow season. To compare the influence of water management during cropping season and how it affects the fallow season, two different treatments were examined, continuously flooded (CF-fallow) and intermittent drainage (ID-fallow). The emission rates of methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) were monitored using the closed chamber method. Changes in soil carbon were estimated using the net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB) method and the net global warming potential (GWP) calculated. Seasonal CH₄ and N₂O emissions were not significantly different between treatments, but the seasonal CO₂ emission for CF-fallow was significantly higher than that of ID-fallow. The net GWP was 5062 ㎏ CO₂-eq. haSUP-1/SUP for CF-fallow and 4433 ㎏ CO₂-eq. haSUP-1/SUP for ID-fallow. Approximately 77% of the calculated net GWP value was affected by the NECB value, followed by 22 ~ 23% affected by N₂O emission. In contrast, the influence of methane on net GWP was less than 1%, suggesting little effect on GHG emissions. In order to reduce GHG emissions during the fallow season in rice paddies, carbon enhancement through the input of carbon sources into the soil should be employed. However, since there are concerns about increased CH₄ emission from decomposing organic material during the cropping season, additional research on appropriate organic material sources and application methods should be conducted.

Different response of plastic film mulching on greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) between chemical and organic fertilization in maize upland soil

Carbon footprint of a winter wheat-summer maize cropping system under straw and plastic film mulching in the Loess Plateau of China

Grain yield and greenhouse gas emissions from maize and wheat fields under plastic film and straw mulching: A meta-analysis

Carbon footprint and yield performance assessment under plastic film mulching for winter wheat production

Optimum plastic mulching application to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without compromising on crop yield and farmers' income

The increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a global concern due to its impact on climate change. To address this challenge, the development of corporate GHG inventories is crucial, enabling organizations to understand and mitigate their emissions. This study aims to statistically analyze whether there was a significant increase in GHG emissions over a 10-year period by organizations from various sectors of the economy that voluntarily published their inventories in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program. Data were obtained from the inventories of 66 organizations that published at 2013 and 2022 in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program. The data was processed and analyzed using Minitab software to determine the significance level of the increase in GHG emissions. A total increase of 159,264,734.26 tCO2e in GHG emissions was observed from 2013 to 2022, with 29 organizations reporting higher emissions and 37 showing reductions. However, statistical analysis demonstrated that there was no significant increase in GHG emissions over the study period. The results highlight the importance of organizations conducting their GHG inventories to enhance transparency and make strategic decisions aimed at mitigating their emissions. Publishing inventories allows for monitoring progress and identifying priority areas for effective interventions. No significant increase in GHG emissions was observed over the 10-year period; therefore, this study reinforces the importance of preparing GHG inventories by organizations. The findings can impact public policies on climate change, supporting the introduction of regulations that mandate the development of inventories and the setting of emission reduction and offsetting targets.

To determine the effect of plastic film mulching (FM) on changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, the annual C balances were determined by analysing the net ecosystem C budget (NECB), which means the difference between total C input and output, under FM and with no mulching for 2 years. Plots with black FM and no mulching were installed as the main treatment, and chemical and organic fertilizer plots were placed within each main plot as sub‐treatments. In the organic fertilizer treatment, a mixture of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) and hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa Roth) was cultivated as a cover crop during fallow seasons, and its whole biomass (9.1–13.9 Mg ha −1 , DW) was recycled as green manure. Plastic film mulching significantly increased the maize yield ( p < 0.001), mainly because of improved soil moisture and temperature conditions. This stimulated growth under FM, increased the net primary production (NPP) of maize by 3.8–4.7 and 5.0–5.2 Mg C ha −1 over no mulching in the chemical and organic fertilizer treatments, respectively. However, FM increased the loss of mineralized C by an average of 2.6 and 3.7 Mg C ha −1 over the no‐mulching plots for the same treatments. Because the whole aboveground biomass of maize was removed, the annual NECB had a large negative value under all treatments. For the chemical fertilizer treatment, the annual NECB was minus 6.1–7.1 Mg C ha −1 year −1 under no mulching, but under FM it decreased to minus 7.9–8.9 Mg C ha −1 year −1 . Cover cropping and its biomass recycling, however, increased the annual NECB by 43–48% and 25–26% with no mulching and FM, respectively. Therefore, cover cropping and the recycling of its biomass and crop residues are more likely to sustain SOC stocks under the FM system. Highlights Film mulching significantly increased maize yields and net primary production. Film mulching significantly increased respired C loss in soil. Film mulching significantly decreased soil C stock. Cover cropping and incorporation of its biomass increased soil C stock.

Plastic film mulch combined with adding biochar improved soil carbon budget, carbon footprint, and maize yield in a rainfed region

Transparent plastic film combined with deficit irrigation improves hydrothermal status of the soil-crop system and spring maize growth in arid areas

Effects of straw and plastic film mulching on greenhouse gas emissions in Loess Plateau, China: A field study of 2 consecutive wheat-maize rotation cycles.

Many agricultural regions in China are likely to become appreciably wetter or drier as the global climate warming increases. However, the impact of these climate change patterns on the intensity of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (GHGI, GHG emissions per unit of crop yield) has not yet been rigorously assessed. By integrating an improved agricultural ecosystem model and a meta‐analysis of multiple field studies, we found that climate change is expected to cause a 20.0% crop yield loss, while stimulating soil GHG emissions by 12.2% between 2061 and 2090 in China's agricultural regions. A wetter‐warmer (WW) climate would adversely impact crop yield on an equal basis and lead to a 1.8‐fold‐ increase in GHG emissions relative to those in a drier‐warmer (DW) climate. Without water limitation/excess, extreme heat (an increase of more than 1.5°C in average temperature) during the growing season would amplify 15.7% more yield while simultaneously elevating GHG emissions by 42.5% compared to an increase of below 1.5°C. However, when coupled with extreme drought, it would aggravate crop yield loss by 61.8% without reducing the corresponding GHG emissions. Furthermore, the emission intensity in an extreme WW climate would increase by 22.6% compared to an extreme DW climate. Under this intense WW climate, the use of nitrogen fertilizer would lead to a 37.9% increase in soil GHG emissions without necessarily gaining a corresponding yield advantage compared to a DW climate. These findings suggest that the threat of a wetter‐warmer world to efforts to reduce GHG emissions intensity may be as great as or even greater than that of a drier‐warmer world.