Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AgPro4CSA (Sustainable managment of agriculture sources for development of climate-smart agricultural practices)
Reporting period: 2021-12-01 to 2023-05-31
Agriculture is simultaneously facing two intertwined challenges: increasing food production to ensure food security, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate climate change impacts. Sustainable management of agricultural resources is very important to ensure high crop productivity and to reduce the environmental impacts. Unsustainable agricultural practices such as long-term monoculture of annual crops with use of exclusively mineral fertilisers, result in the decline of soil quality and losses of nutrients.
Therefore, it is important to develop the improved agricultural management solutions to positively impact society in various ways. By enhancing crop yields and resilience to climate change. The development of climate-friendly practices will contribute to food security, promotes sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water and soil resources, and preserving biodiversity. Furthermore, adaptation of climate friendly practices is beneficial for health and nutrition through diversified cropping systems and reduced reliance on chemical inputs, addressing issues of malnutrition and food-related health problems. In essence, climate-smart agricultural practices offer a pathway to building a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system that can meet the needs of present and future generations.
The overall objective of AgPro4CSA project is to develop improved and efficient agricultural practices in order to reduce the environmental impacts of crop production practices without having any economic impacts on the farmers. The specific objectives of AgPro4CSA includes:
1- Better understandings of soil microbial communities’ responses with changing field managements, e.g. crop rotations and nutrient management.
2- Correlation of chemical and biophysical changes with atmospheric GHG emissions from agricultural fields.
3- Evaluation of the seasonal variability in GHG emissions due to the interaction between management practices, soil conditions and microbial processes.
4- Development of sustainable management practices based on spatial and temporal simulations of empirical findings.
Therefore, it is important to develop the improved agricultural management solutions to positively impact society in various ways. By enhancing crop yields and resilience to climate change. The development of climate-friendly practices will contribute to food security, promotes sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water and soil resources, and preserving biodiversity. Furthermore, adaptation of climate friendly practices is beneficial for health and nutrition through diversified cropping systems and reduced reliance on chemical inputs, addressing issues of malnutrition and food-related health problems. In essence, climate-smart agricultural practices offer a pathway to building a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system that can meet the needs of present and future generations.
The overall objective of AgPro4CSA project is to develop improved and efficient agricultural practices in order to reduce the environmental impacts of crop production practices without having any economic impacts on the farmers. The specific objectives of AgPro4CSA includes:
1- Better understandings of soil microbial communities’ responses with changing field managements, e.g. crop rotations and nutrient management.
2- Correlation of chemical and biophysical changes with atmospheric GHG emissions from agricultural fields.
3- Evaluation of the seasonal variability in GHG emissions due to the interaction between management practices, soil conditions and microbial processes.
4- Development of sustainable management practices based on spatial and temporal simulations of empirical findings.
The work carried out in each work package is described below:
Work Package 1: Before conducting field campaigns for soil and gas sampling, I identified spatially representative spots for chamber deployment using a sorting and grouping approach based on intensive soil layer sampling. Manual chambers were deployed across 50 locations to detect spatial hot spots and temporal hot moments in relation to microbial activities and soil chemical changes. Soil samples were analysed for microbial DNA, RNA, and qPCR to assess the abundance and activity of denitrifying bacteria and total bacteria and archaea. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured using an LGR-ICOS laser gas analyser and compared with continuous data from flux gradient micrometeorological instruments. Data analysis involved Lorenz curves, mean relative differences, and standard deviations to identify variations in emissions. Soil temperature and volumetric water content were monitored using copper-constantan thermocouples and time domain reflectometry probes. Analyses were performed using MATLAB and R software, with results illustrating spatial and temporal variations in emissions, microbial activities, and chemical changes.
Work Package 2: In addition to the spatiotemporal experiment in the long-term rotation fields (WP-1), I used Planar optode systems within a lysimeter setting to monitor real-time changes in soil oxygen levels, critical for nitrous oxide production and emissions. Planar optodes, providing non-invasive measurements, were installed at various depths. Soil water samples were collected to monitor changes in mineral N and pH, while automatic chambers continuously monitored soil nitrous oxide fluxes, connected to a trace gas analyser. Data were analysed using R software and ImageJ, establishing correlations between soil management, N cycling, and emissions. Tentative results showed that crop rotation and winter warming influence soil biophysiochemical processes governing nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching.
Work Package 3: A field experiment in a long-term crop rotation trial involved four 4-hectare fields: two with conventional rotation (corn-soybean-soybean) and two with diverse rotation (corn-soybean-winter wheat) with cover crops. The study focused on the impact of crop rotations and dual nitrification and urease inhibitors on nitrous oxide emissions from cover crop residues. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured using the flux gradient approach, and data were analysed in MATLAB. Soil mineral N dynamics, temperature, and moisture were continuously monitored, and crop biomass and grain yields were recorded at harvest. Statistical analyses using R software indicated that cover crop residues enhanced nitrous oxide emissions in diverse rotations, but dual inhibitors effectively reduced these emissions.
Work Package 4: I developed and calibrated the DNDC model, incorporating preferential flow parameters to improve soil water content simulation. I am currently simulating the effects of different crop rotations on soil net GHG balance, carbon sequestration, and crop yields, using data from WP1, WP2, WP3, and long-term field trials at host and partner universities for calibration.
Work Package 1: Before conducting field campaigns for soil and gas sampling, I identified spatially representative spots for chamber deployment using a sorting and grouping approach based on intensive soil layer sampling. Manual chambers were deployed across 50 locations to detect spatial hot spots and temporal hot moments in relation to microbial activities and soil chemical changes. Soil samples were analysed for microbial DNA, RNA, and qPCR to assess the abundance and activity of denitrifying bacteria and total bacteria and archaea. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured using an LGR-ICOS laser gas analyser and compared with continuous data from flux gradient micrometeorological instruments. Data analysis involved Lorenz curves, mean relative differences, and standard deviations to identify variations in emissions. Soil temperature and volumetric water content were monitored using copper-constantan thermocouples and time domain reflectometry probes. Analyses were performed using MATLAB and R software, with results illustrating spatial and temporal variations in emissions, microbial activities, and chemical changes.
Work Package 2: In addition to the spatiotemporal experiment in the long-term rotation fields (WP-1), I used Planar optode systems within a lysimeter setting to monitor real-time changes in soil oxygen levels, critical for nitrous oxide production and emissions. Planar optodes, providing non-invasive measurements, were installed at various depths. Soil water samples were collected to monitor changes in mineral N and pH, while automatic chambers continuously monitored soil nitrous oxide fluxes, connected to a trace gas analyser. Data were analysed using R software and ImageJ, establishing correlations between soil management, N cycling, and emissions. Tentative results showed that crop rotation and winter warming influence soil biophysiochemical processes governing nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching.
Work Package 3: A field experiment in a long-term crop rotation trial involved four 4-hectare fields: two with conventional rotation (corn-soybean-soybean) and two with diverse rotation (corn-soybean-winter wheat) with cover crops. The study focused on the impact of crop rotations and dual nitrification and urease inhibitors on nitrous oxide emissions from cover crop residues. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured using the flux gradient approach, and data were analysed in MATLAB. Soil mineral N dynamics, temperature, and moisture were continuously monitored, and crop biomass and grain yields were recorded at harvest. Statistical analyses using R software indicated that cover crop residues enhanced nitrous oxide emissions in diverse rotations, but dual inhibitors effectively reduced these emissions.
Work Package 4: I developed and calibrated the DNDC model, incorporating preferential flow parameters to improve soil water content simulation. I am currently simulating the effects of different crop rotations on soil net GHG balance, carbon sequestration, and crop yields, using data from WP1, WP2, WP3, and long-term field trials at host and partner universities for calibration.
All planned experiments, training, and complementary objectives have been accomplished. Data collection has been completed and analyzed, either fully or partially, for developing scientific manuscripts and popular articles. The results of AgPro4CSA represent a frontier in this field. For example, the high spatial analysis of microbial and chemical changes in relation to nitrous oxide emissions is unique. Additionally, the use of dual nitrification inhibitors to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions from cover crop residues in diversified crop rotation under micrometeorological experimentation facilities, and developing a process-based model based on high temporal and spatial frequency data to improve the simulation of management practices over the long term are significant achievements. By the end of the AgPro4CSA project, it aims to develop more climate-friendly management practices to address the dual challenges of food security and climate change mitigation.
So far, results have been disseminated to a broader audience through field workshops, conferences, seminars, lectures, and supervisions. Additionally, the transfer of knowledge to the host institute through teaching and seminars is ongoing.
So far, results have been disseminated to a broader audience through field workshops, conferences, seminars, lectures, and supervisions. Additionally, the transfer of knowledge to the host institute through teaching and seminars is ongoing.