Effect of crop residue management on N2O emissions in European cropping systems

Crop residue handling can significantly affect N2O emissions. Four different scenarios of crop residues management were evaluated with two biogeochemical models in the European cropping systems. Preliminary results show the positive effect of nitrogen addition by residues on crop yields, highlighting a potential mitigation of N2O emissions accompanied with rational fertilisation.

Crop residue management is crucial maintain or improve soil organic carbon and fertility. Their handling on the field can significantly affects nitrous oxide (N2O) production. Ecosystem models represent a suitable tool to simulate biogeochemical processes in both time and space, facilitating the analysis of management scenarios. The aim of this work is to reproduce N2O emissions from different management of crop residue in the European cropping systems.