Tillage and seasonal emissions of CO2, N2O and NO across a seed bed and at the field scale in a Mediterranean climate

Published source details Lee J., Hopmans J.W., van K.C., King A.P., Evatt K.J., Louie D., Rolston D.E. & Six J. (2009) Tillage and seasonal emissions of CO2, N2O and NO across a seed bed and at the field scale in a Mediterranean climate. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 129, 378-390.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Soil: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link

Soil: Use reduced tillage in arable fields

A controlled study in 2003–2006 in an irrigated wheat-sunflower-chickpea field in Yolo County, California, USA, found similar amounts of greenhouse gas in soils with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Greenhouse gases: Similar amounts of greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) were found in soils with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage (3–14 vs 3–15 Mg C/ha/year; 2–9 vs 1–4 kg N/ha/year). Methods: Conventional tillage was used on one half of a field, and reduced tillage was used on the other half, in 2003–2006. Different crops were planted in different years (2003: fallow; April 2004: maize; May 2005: sunflower; November 2005: chickpea). Ripping (45 cm depth), disking (15 cm depth), grading, listing beds were used for conventional tillage. Herbicide, stubble chopping, mulching, and disking were used for both conventional tillage and reduced tillage. Both treatments were fertilized and irrigated. Greenhouse gases were measured with closed chambers, in several places (crop row, crop bed, bottom of the furrow, and side of the furrow), 1–2 times/month, in 2003–2006 (nine samples/treatment).