Effect of Long-Term Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilizer Management on Soil CO2 Emissions.

Agricultural systems are under continuous pressure for reducing greenhouse gas emission and fertilizer use without compromise crop productivity. Soil management is crucial in keeping nutrient cycle balance and maintaining nutrient availability to the plants. To accomplish this, the effect of soil management on greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen and carbon dynamics should be analyzed together. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term tillage and nitrogen management on carbon dioxide emissions from soil. Soil and plant variables were measured from a long-term winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) study under conventional and no tillage management with optimum nitrogen and no nitrogen application. Soil CO₂ emissions were continuously measured using automated chambers (LI-COR 8100A) and compared among tillage and nitrogen treatments. We found that total nitrogen and total carbon were the same under no-till and no-nitrogen compared to conventional till and nitrogen fertilizer. Soil CO₂ emission was significantly lower under no-till compared to conventional till. This study significantly contribute to study the impact of soil management on greenhouse emissions and provide insights for climate change mitigation. More detailed results will be presented at the conference.