Influence Of Agricultural Conservation Practices On Soil N2o Emissions

Abstract

The agricultural sector is both susceptible to and a net generator of human greenhouse gases (GHG), making it a key player in the climate change crisis. But with better management, agriculture could cut down on emissions and potentially become a net sink for greenhouse gases. Enhanced methods that cause less soil disturbance have been shown to have the potential to store carbon (C) from the atmosphere as organic matter in the soil. It is not as clear, however, how these methods affect emissions of soil N2O, a powerful GHG. Both the impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the likelihood of widespread adoption of these strategies by farmers must be evaluated. In this study, I looked at why farmers in India's Great Plains are switching from tilling to no-till (NT), and how it could affect the amount of farmland that is eventually turned into permanent grassland.