A new version of this entry is available:
Loading...
Article
2025
Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials
Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials
Abstract
Cover crops (CCs) are acclaimed for enhancing the environmental sustainability of agricultural practices by aiding in carbon (C) sequestration and reducing losses of soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) after harvest. Yet, their influence on nitrous oxide ( N2O) emissions – a potent greenhouse gas – presents a complex challenge, with findings varying across different studies. This research aimed to elucidate the effects of various winter CCs – winter rye (frost-tolerant grass), saia oat (frost-sensitive grass), and spring vetch (frost-sensitive legume) – compared to a bare fallow control on SMN dynamics, N2Oemissions, and C sequestration. These effects were determined by measuring SMN dynamics and N2Oemissions in field experiments. The effects of CCs on soil C sequestration over a 50-year period were predicted by soil organic C (SOC) models using measured aboveground and belowground CC biomass. While CCs efficiently lowered SMN levels during their growth, they slightly increased N2Oemissions compared to bare fallow. In particular, winter frost events triggered significant emissions from the frost-sensitive varieties. Moreover, residue incorporation and tillage practices were associated with increased N2Oemissions in all CC treatments. Winter rye, characterized by its high biomass production and nitrogen (N) uptake, was associated with the highest cumulative N2Oemissions, highlighting the influence of biomass management and tillage practices on N cycling and N2Oemissions. The CC treatment resulted in a slight increase in direct N2Oemissions ( 4.5±3.0, 2.7±1.4, and 3.1±3.8kgN2O-Nha-1for rye, oat, and vetch, respectively) compared to the fallow ( 2.6±1.7kgN2O-Nha-1) over the entire trial period (18 months). However, the potential of non-legume CCs to reduce indirect N2Oemissions compared to fallow ( 0.3±0.4and 0.2±0.1kgN2O-Nha-1a-1for rye and oat, respectively) and their contribution to C sequestration (120–150 kgCha-1a-1over a period of 50 years when CCs were grown every fourth year) might partially counterbalance these emissions. Thus, while CCs provide environmental benefits, their net impact on N2Oemissions requires further research into optimized CC selection and management strategies tailored to specific site conditions to fully exploit their environmental advantages.
File is subject to an embargo until
This is a correction to:
A correction to this entry is available:
This is a new version of:
Other version
Notes
Publication license
Publication series
Published in
Soil, 11 (2025), 2, 489-506.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-489-2025.
ISSN: 2199-398X
Göttingen, Germany : Copernicus Publications
Other version
Faculty
Institute
Examination date
Supervisor
Cite this publication
Nasser, V., Dechow, R., Helfrich, M., Meijide, A., Rummel, P. S., Koch, H.-J., Ruser, R., Essich, L., & Dittert, K. (2025). Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials. Soil, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-489-2025
Edition / version
Citation
DOI
ISSN
ISBN
Language
English
Publisher
Publisher place
Classification (DDC)
630 Agriculture
Collections
Original object
University bibliography
Standardized keywords (GND)
Sustainable Development Goals
BibTeX
@article{Nasser2025,
doi = {10.5194/soil-11-489-2025},
author = {Nasser, Victoria and Dechow, René and Helfrich, Mirjam et al.},
title = {Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials},
journal = {Soil},
year = {2025},
volume = {11},
number = {2},
pages = {489--506},
}