Potential for the adoption of measures to reduce N2O emissions from crop residues in Denmark

Abstract

Crop residues represent a climate change dilemma: they can promote carbon (C) sequestration, but they may also stimulate emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Although there are crop residue management measures to reduce N2O emissions, N2O reductions achieved at national scale with these measures have been seldom studied, and how farmers' willingness to accept the measures constrains their potential remains largely unknown. Using Denmark as a case study, we combined a survey (completed by 592 farmers) and national data to assess the practical potential and obstacles for the successful implementation of management strategies to reduce N2O emissions from crop residues. Crop residue removal (particularly from vegetables and cover crops) and nitrification inhibitors were identified as effective in reducing N2O emissions from a biophysical perspective. If all aboveground crop residues from vegetables and cover crops were removed, N2O emissions could be reduced by 0.181 Gg N2ON, corresponding to 11% of the total N2O emissions from crop residues nationally. However, a low percentage of farmers would be willing to remove crop residues from the field, especially for vegetables and cover crops (25%), in connection to the possible short- to medium-term reduction in C sequestration. Similarly, use of nitrification inhibitors would reduce emissions by 0.247 Gg N2ON, corresponding to 15% of the total residue N2O emissions, and only 37% of all farmers would accept their use. Our results highlight that farmer’ preferences for the adoption of measures can constrain the use of the few available effective mitigation options. Better knowledge dissemination and advisory services are crucial to address this challenge; farmers may be motivated to remove aboveground crop residues by highlighting the proportionally more important contribution of belowground residues to C sequestration, and that aboveground residues may have commercial value (biorefining, biogas, biofuel), although these options need further development.