Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Nitrous oxide emissions as influenced by tillage practice for cover crop termination

Christian Dold, Chiara De Notaris, Esben Øster Mortensen, Jim Rasmussen, Søren O. Petersen

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems · 2025

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Summary

This field study investigates how the choice of tillage practice for cover crop termination affects soil nitrous oxide emissions—a potent greenhouse gas with high global warming potential. As suggested by the journal and title, the research likely compares mechanical termination methods (e.g. ploughing, shallow cultivation, direct drilling) and their impact on N₂O release. The findings contribute to understanding how conservation and conventional tillage systems interact with cover crop management to influence agricultural greenhouse gas fluxes.

Regional applicability

The study was conducted in Europe and likely involves temperate arable conditions relevant to United Kingdom farming. The results should be directly applicable to UK arable rotations incorporating cover crops, particularly where growers are balancing soil health benefits against potential greenhouse gas emissions from termination practices.

Key measures

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions; tillage method; cover crop termination technique; soil gas flux

Outcomes reported

The study examined how different tillage practices used to terminate cover crops influence nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soil. Measurements focused on quantifying N₂O fluxes under contrasting mechanical termination strategies.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Europe
System type
Arable cereals
DOI
10.1007/s10705-025-10453-1
Catalogue ID
SNmomgwbsa-ts523z

Topic tags

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