A Review of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Soil

Abstract

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) like nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) are both emitted and removed by soils. Accurate worldwide allocations of carbon budget are essential for land use planning, global climate change, and climate-related research. Precise measurements, drivers, and mitigation strategies are necessary, given agricultural soil’s significant potential storage and emission capacities. Different agricultural management practices cause greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere and contribute to anthropogenic emissions. Agricultural soils can generate 70% of the world’s manmade N2O emissions and also behave as a CO2 sink and a source of organic carbon and as producers and consumers of CH4. When it comes to agronomic management, the source and sink of all these GHGs are distinct. Therefore, several approaches to measuring GHG emissions from agricultural soils are available and can be categorized into chamber systems and remote sensing approaches. Sustainable agriculture stands out as a viable and transformative approach to increase agricultural efficiency while addressing the challenge of GHG emissions. Incorporating advanced technologies, precise data analytics, and site-specific management practices can offer a pathway to mitigate GHG emissions, thereby reducing the global warming potential (GWP). Therefore, this review paper focuses solely on the drivers influencing and involving soil emissions and on quantification approaches for GHG emissions. In addition, mitigation practices aimed at optimizing GHG emissions from agricultural soils are highlighted.