Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-19-2013
Journal or Book Title
Soil Science Society of America Journal
Volume
77
Issue
3
First Page
1012
Last Page
1025
DOI
10.2136/sssaj2012.0386
Abstract
Sheep (Ovis aries L.) grazing is an inexpensive method of weed control in dryland cropping systems, but little is known about its effect on net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We evaluated the effect of sheep grazing compared with herbicide application for weed control on GHG (CO2, N2O, and CH4) emissions from May to October 2010 and 2011, net global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) in a silt loam under dryland cropping systems in western Montana. Treatments were two fallow management practices (sheep grazing [GRAZ] and herbicide application [CHEM]) and three cropping sequences (continuous alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.] [CA], continuous spring wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] [CSW], and spring wheat–pea [Pisum sativum L.]/barley [Hordeum vulgaris L.] hay–fallow [W-P/B-F]). Gas fluxes were measured at 3- to 14-d intervals with a vented, static chamber. Regardless of treatments, GHG fluxes peaked immediately following substantial precipitation (>12 mm) and N fertilization mostly from May to August. Total CO2 flux from May to October was greater under GRAZ with CA, but total N2O flux was greater under CHEM and GRAZ with CSW than other treatments. Total CH4 flux was greater with CA than W-P/B-F. Net GWP and GHGI were greater under GRAZ with W-P/B-F than most other treatments. Greater CH4 flux due to increased enteric fermentation as a result of longer duration of grazing during fallow, followed by reduced crop residue returned to the soil and/or C sequestration rate probably increased net GHG flux under GRAZ with W-P/B-F. Sheep grazing on a cropping sequence containing fallow may not reduce net GHG emissions compared with herbicide application for weed control on continuous crops.
Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Barsotti, Joy L.; Sainju, Upendra M.; Lenssen, Andrew W.; Montagne, Clifford; and Hatfield, Patrick G., "Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Affected by Sheep Grazing in Dryland Cropping Systems" (2013). Agronomy Publications. 16.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/16
Comments
This article is from Soil Science of American Journal 7 (2013): 1012–1025, doi:10.2136/sssaj2012.0386.