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Greenhouse gas mitigation in rice–wheat system with leaf color chart-based urea application

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Abstract

Conventional blanket application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer results in more loss of N from soil system and emission of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas (GHG). The leaf color chart (LCC) can be used for real-time N management and synchronizing N application with crop demand to reduce GHG emission. A 1-year study was carried out to evaluate the impact of conventional and LCC-based urea application on emission of nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide in a rice–wheat system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Treatments consisted of LCC scores of ≤4 and 5 for rice and wheat and were compared with conventional fixed-time N splitting schedule. The LCC-based urea application reduced nitrous oxide emission in rice and wheat. Application of 120 kg N per hectare at LCC ≤ 4 decreased nitrous oxide emission by 16% and methane by 11% over the conventional split application of urea in rice. However, application of N at LCC ≤ 5 increased nitrous oxide emission by 11% over the LCC ≤ 4 treatment in rice. Wheat reduction of nitrous oxide at LCC ≤ 4 was 18% as compared to the conventional method. Application of LCC-based N did not affect carbon dioxide emission from soil in rice and wheat. The global warming potential (GWP) were 12,395 and 13,692 kg CO2 ha−1 in LCC ≤ 4 and conventional urea application, respectively. Total carbon fixed in conventional urea application in rice–wheat system was 4.89 Mg C ha−1 and it increased to 5.54 Mg C ha−1 in LCC-based urea application (LCC ≤ 4). The study showed that LCC-based urea application can reduce GWP of a rice–wheat system by 10.5%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental Sciences, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Arti Bhatia, Himanshu Pathak, Niveta Jain, Pawan K. Singh & Ritu Tomer

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  1. Arti Bhatia
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  2. Himanshu Pathak
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  3. Niveta Jain
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  4. Pawan K. Singh
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  5. Ritu Tomer
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Correspondence to Arti Bhatia.

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Bhatia, A., Pathak, H., Jain, N. et al. Greenhouse gas mitigation in rice–wheat system with leaf color chart-based urea application. Environ Monit Assess 184, 3095–3107 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2174-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2174-8

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