Carbon footprint of crop production in Heilongjiang land reclamation area, China

Tianshu Chu, Lu Yu, Derui Wang, Zengling Yang

Abstract


In the context of global warming, agriculture, as the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after industry, had attracted widespread attention from all walks of life to reduce agricultural emissions. The carbon footprint of the planting production system of the Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Area (HLRA), an important commodity grain base in China, was evaluated and analyzed in this paper. On this basis, this paper sought feasible strategies to reduce carbon emissions from two aspects: agronomic practices and cropping structure adjustment, which were particularly crucial to promote the low-carbon and sustainable development of agriculture in HLRA. Therefore, using the accounting methods in IPCC and Low Carbon Development and Guidelines for the Preparation of Provincial Greenhouse Gas Inventories compiled by the Chinese government, relevant data were collected from 2000 to 2017 in HLRA and accounted for the carbon emissions of the planting production system in four aspects: carbon emissions from agricultural inputs, N2O emissions from managed soils, CH4 emissions from rice cultivation and straw burning emissions. Then carbon uptake consisted of seeds and straws. Finally, with farmers' incomes were set as the objective function and carbon emissions per unit of gross production value was set as the constraint, this paper simulated and optimized the cropping structure in HLRA. The results showed that there was a “stable-growing-declining” trend in the total carbon emissions and carbon uptake of the planting production system in HLRA, with total carbon emissions of 2.84×1010 kg and total carbon uptake of 7.49×1010 kg in 2017. In the past 18 years, carbon emissions per unit area and carbon emissions per unit of gross production had both shown a decreasing trend. To achieve further efficiency gains and emission reductions in the planting production system, it was recommended that the local governments strengthen the comprehensive use of straw resources, optimize irrigation and fertilization techniques, and adjust the cropping structure, i.e., increase the planting area of maize and soybeans and reduce the planting area of rice, and increase subsidies to protect the economic returns of planters.
Keywords: carbon footprint, carbon emissions, carbon uptake, crop planting structure, Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Area
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20221501.5588

Citation: Chu T S, Yu L, Wang D R, Yang Z L. Carbon footprint of crop production in Heilongjiang land reclamation area, China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2022; 15(1): 182–191.

Keywords


carbon footprint, carbon emissions, carbon uptake, crop planting structure, Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Area

Full Text:

PDF

References


IPCC. Global Warming of 1.5°C 2018. Available: https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/. Accessed on [2019-11-17].

Allen M R, Frame D J, Huntingford C, Jones C D, Lowe J A, Meinshausen M, et al. Warming caused by cumulative carbon emissions towards the trillionth tonne. Nature, 2009; 458(7242): 1163–1166.

Meinshausen M, Meinshausen N, Hare W, Raper S C B, Frieler K, Knutti R, et al. Greenhouse-gas emission targets for limiting global warming to 2 degrees C. Nature, 2009; 458(7242): 1158–1162.

Thomas C D, Cameron A, Green R E, Bakkenes M, Beaumont L J, Collingham Y C, et al. Extinction risk from climate change. Nature, 2004; 427(6970): 145–148.

IPCC. Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Geneva, 2014; 151p.

Smith P, Martino D, Cai ZC, Gwary D, Janzen H, Kumar P, et al. Greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2008; 363(1492): 789–813.

West T O, Marland G. A synthesis of carbon sequestration, carbon emissions, and net carbon flux in agriculture: comparing tillage practices in the United States. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2002; 91(1–3): 217–232.

Cheng K, Pan G X, Smith P, Luo T, Li L Q, Zheng J W, et al. Carbon footprint of China's crop production-An estimation using agro-statistics data over 1993-2007. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2011; 142(3–4): 231–237.

Lin J Y, Hu Y C, Cui S H, Kang J F, Xu L L. Carbon footprints of food production in China (1979-2009). Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015; 90: 97–103.

Yan Z G, Hou F J, Yan T H. Evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions from three contrasting integrated crop and livestock production systems during 1991-2016 in Gansu of China. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2019; 56(2): 469–480.

Franchetti M, Apul D. Carbon footprint analysis: concepts, methods, implementation, and case studies. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2012; 270p.

Hillier J, Hawes C, Squire G, Hilton A, Wale S, Smith P. The carbon footprints of food crop production. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2009; 7(2): 107–118.

Zhang D, Shen J B, Zhang F S, Li Y E, Zhang W F. Carbon footprint of grain production in China. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7: 4126. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04182-x.

Guenther J, Thevs N, Gusovius H J, Sigmund I, Brueckner T, Beckmann V, et al. Carbon and phosphorus footprint of the cotton production in Xinjiang, China, in comparison to an alternative fibre (Apocynum) from Central Asia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017; 148: 490–497.

Linquist B A, Marcos M, Adviento-Borbe M A, Anders M, Harrell D, Linscombe S, et al. Greenhouse gas emissions and management practices that affect emissions in US rice systems. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2018; 47(3): 395–409.

Snyder C S, Bruulsema T W, Jensen T L, Fixen P E. Review of greenhouse gas emissions from crop production systems and fertilizer management effects. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2009; 133(3-4): 247–266.

He L Y, Zhang A F, Wang X D, Li J, Hussain Q. Effects of different tillage practices on the carbon footprint of wheat and maize production in the Loess Plateau of China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019; 234: 297–305.

Lal B, Gautam P, Nayak A K, Panda B B, Bihari P, Tripathi R, et al. Energy and carbon budgeting of tillage for environmentally clean and resilient soil health of rice-maize cropping system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019; 226: 815–830.

Jiang Z H, Zhong Y M, Yang J P, Wu Y X Y, Li H, Zheng L. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates on carbon footprint and ecosystem service of carbon sequestration in rice production. Science of the Total Environment, 2019; 670: 210–217.

Liu Q, Liu B J, Ambus P, Zhang Y H, Hansen V, Lin Z B, et al. Carbon footprint of rice production under biochar amendment - a case study in a Chinese rice cropping system. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 2016; 8(1): 148–159.

Wang Z B, Chen J, Mao S C, Han Y C, Chen F, Zhang L F, et al. Comparison of greenhouse gas emissions of chemical fertilizer types in China’s crop production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017; 141: 1267–1274.

Wang Z B, Wen X Y, Zhang H L, Lu X H, Chen F. Net energy yield and carbon footprint of summer corn under different N fertilizer rates in the North China Plain. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2015; 14(8): 1534–1541.

Borsato E, Martello M, Marinello F, Bortolini L. Environmental and economic sustainability assessment for two different sprinkler and a drip irrigation systems: A case study on maize cropping. Agriculture-Basel, 2019; 9(9): 187. doi: 10.3390/agriculture9090187.

Zhang W S, He X M, Zhang Z D, Gong S, Zhang Q, Zhang W, et al. Carbon footprint assessment for irrigated and rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) production on the Loess Plateau of China. Biosystems Engineering, 2018; 167: 75–86.

Eranki P L, Devkota J, Landis A E. Carbon footprint of corn-soy-oats rotations in the US Midwest using data from real biological farm management practices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019; 210: 170–180.

Singh R J, Meena R L, Sharma N K, Kumar S, Kumar K, Kumar D. Economics, energy, and environmental assessment of diversified crop rotations in sub-Himalayas of India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2016; 188: 79. doi: 10.1007/s10661-015-5085-2.

Yang X L, Gao W S, Zhang M, Chen Y Q, Sui P. Reducing agricultural carbon footprint through diversified crop rotation systems in the North China Plain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014; 76: 131–139.

Franzluebbers A J. Cattle grazing effects on the environment: Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. Management strategies for sustainable cattle production in southern pastures. Academic Press, 2020; pp.11–34. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-814474-9.00002-5.

Li Z J, Sui P, Wang X L, Yang X L, Long P, Cui J X, et al. Comparison of net GHG emissions between separated system and crop-swine integrated system in the North China Plain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017; 149: 653–664.

Wang X L, Chen Y, Chen X W, He R R, Guan Y S, Gu Y W, et al. Crop production pushes up greenhouse gases emissions in China: evidence from carbon footprint analysis based on national statistics data. Sustainability, 2019; 11(18): 1–18.

Zhang W F, Dou Z X, He P, Ju X T, Powlson D, Chadwick D, et al. New technologies reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogenous fertilizer in China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2013; 110(21): 8375–8380.

Chen S, Lu F, Wang X K. Estimation of greenhouse gases emission factors for China's nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2015; 35(19): 6371–6383.

Liu Y, Cheng Z, Wang Y N, Li S B. Study on greenhouse gas emission of nitrogen based on life cycle assessment. Environment and Sustainable Development, 2015; 40(3): 66–68.

Ji C L, Ding M, Wang B X, Wang C M, Zhao Y. Comparative evaluation of chemical and organic fertilizer on the base of life cycle analysis methods. Chinese Journal of Soil Science, 2012; 43(2): 412–417. (in Chinese)

Li J Z. Technology evaluation for greenhouse gas mitigation in cropland ecosystem and case studies. PhD dissertation. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Dissertation, 2012; 88p. (in Chinese)

Zhang G, Lu F, Huang Z G, Chen S, Wang X K. Estimations of application dosage and greenhouse gas emission of chemical pesticides in staple crops in China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2016; 27(9): 2875–2883. (in Chinese)

Huang Z H, Mi S H. Agricultural sector carbon footprint accounting: a case of Zhejiang, China. Issues in Agricultural Economy, 2011; 32(11): 40–47, 111. (in Chinese)

Chen X P, Cui Z L, Fan M S, Vitousek P, Zhao M, Ma W Q, et al. Producing more grain with lower environmental costs. Nature, 2014; 514(7523): 486–489.

Hou P, Tao W H, Hao Z, Fan C D, Huang N. Greenhouse gas emission factors of Chinese power grids for organization and product carbon footprint. China Environmental Science, 2012; 32(6): 961–967. (in Chinese)

Wang F J, Zhang M Y, Zhang H L, Chen F. Evaluation of tillage treatments on soil carbon sequestration in North China Plain. Journal of China Agricultural University, 2012; 17(4): 40–45. (in Chinese)

Klenk I, Landquist B, de Imana O R. The product carbon footprint of EU beet sugar (Part II). Sugar Industry-Zuckerindustrie, 2012; 137(4): 213–221.

Li J H, Yang S G, Zheng Z, Song H M, Meng Z. Anaerobic batch co-digestion of cornstalk and potato. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2008; 29(10): 1308–1312.

Li K R. Land use change, net emission of greenhouse gases and carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. Beijing: China Meteorological Press, 2002; 310p. (in Chinese)

Zhu Y, Waqas MA, Li Ye, Zou X, Jiang D, Wilkes A, et al. Large-scale farming operations are win-win for grain production, soil carbon storage and mitigation of greenhouse gases. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018; 72: 2143–2152.

Li S T, Liu X Y, He P. Analyses on nutrient requirements in current agriculture production in China. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, 2017; 33(6): 1416–1432. (in Chinese)

Wang G L. Quantitative analysis of reactive nitrogen losses and nitrogen use efficiency of three major grain crops in China. PhD dissertation. China Agricultural University, 2014; 121p.

Li S T, Jin J Y. Characteristics of nutrient input/output and nutrient balance in different regions of China. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2011; 44(20): 4207–4229. (in Chinese)

NDRC. Notice of General Office of the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on the final assessment of the comprehensive utilization plan of crop straw. Available: http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbtz/201512/t20151216_767695.html. Accessed on [2019-11-17]. (in Chinese)

Climate Change Response Division of National Development and Reform Commission. Low carbon development and guidelines for the preparation of provincial greenhouse gas inventories Beijing, 2013. (in Chinese)

Shi Z L, Jia T, Wang Y J, Wang J C, Sun R H, Wang F, et al. Comprehensive utilization status of crop straw and estimation of carbon from burning in China. Journal of China Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 2017; 38(9): 32–37. (in Chinese)

Zheng L C, Zhang X D. Ecosystem positioning observation and research dataset in China (farmland ecosystem). Shenyang Station, Liaoning Province: 1998-2008. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2010. (in Chinese)

Wang L, Song Q L, Feng Y J, Sun Y, Zeng X N, Lai Y C. Effect of applying nitrogenous fertilizer on decomposition of returned paddy straw. Jiangsu Agricultural Sciences, 2017; 45(11): 197–201. (in Chinese)

Hu C S, Cheng Y S. Ecosystem positioning observation and research dataset in China (farmland ecosystem): Luancheng Station, Hebei Province (1998-2008). Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2010. (in Chinese)

Niu W J. Physicochemical composition and energy potential of main crop straw and stalk. Beijing: China Agricultural University, 2015. (in Chinese)

Ma Q L, Han L J, Huang G Q. Quantitative characterization of rape straw combustion and gas emissions using TG/DSC-FTIR-MS technology. Transactions of the CSAM, 2014; 45(S1): 196-201. (in Chinese)

Han X Z, Wang S Y. Ecosystem positioning observation and research dataset in China (farmland ecosystem): Hailun Station, Heilongjiang Province (1998-2008). Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2010. (in Chinese)

Hu L. A preliminary evaluation of the carbon footprint and the effect of straw returning to the production of several vegetables. MS dissertation. Changsha: Hunan Agricultural University, 2016; 76p. (in Chinese)

Han Z Y, Meng Y L, Xu J, Wu Y, Zhou Z G. Temporal and spatial difference in carbon footprint of regional farmland ecosystem--taking Jiangsu Province as a case. Journal of Agro-Environment Science, 2012; 31(5): 1034–1041. (in Chinese)

Bryngeisson D, Wirsenius S, Hedenus F, Sonesson U. How can the EU climate targets be met? A combined analysis of technological and demand-side changes in food and agriculture. Food Policy, 2016; 59: 152–164.

Chen X H. Resource and environmental costs of cropping structure change in China. Beijing: China Agricultural University, 2018. (in Chinese)

Zhang T, Feng Y, Li C, Ren G, Yang G. The carbon footprint analysis of straw biogas utilization of China in 2011. Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition), 2014; 42(3): 124–130. (in Chinese)

Zhang Z, Han Y, Qi Z, Chen P. Effect of water and nitrogen coupling on ch4 emission and rice yield in black soil paddy fields with straw returned to field. Transactions of the CSAM, 2020; 51(7): 254–262. (in Chinese)

Zhang Z, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Wang X. Effects of different irrigations on carbon emission, water consumption and yield of paddy field in cold regions. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 2018; 37(11): 1–7. (in Chinese)

Tian Z, Fan Y, Wang K, Zhong H, Sun L, Fan D, et al. Searching for “Win-Win” solutions for food-water-GHG emissions tradeoffs across irrigation regimes of paddy rice in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2021; 166: 105360. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105360.

Ishfaq M, Farooq M, Zulfiqar U, Hussain S, Akbar N, Nawaz A, et al. Alternate wetting and drying: A water-saving and ecofriendly rice production system. Agricultural Water Management, 2020; 241: 106363. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106363.

Zheng Y, Wei G. Current status of water-saving irrigation in Heilongjiang Province and the development trend of information technology in irrigation areas. Hydro Science and Cold Zone Engineering, 2020; 3(2): 148–150.

Chu T, Wang D, Han L, Yang Z. Analysis and evaluation of farmland soil nutrient balance in Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Areas, China. Transactions of the CSAE, 2020; 36(15): 19–27. (in Chinese)

Swaney D P, Howarth R W, Hong B. Nitrogen use efficiency and crop production: Patterns of regional variation in the United States, 1987–2012. Science of the Total Environment, 2018; 635: 498–511.

Zhou X, Xin J, Shen X, Xu Y, Fu G, Liu X, et al. The extension of deep side fertilizing technology in rice production - Take Heilongjiang as an example. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 2021; 37(2): 140–146.

Jiang Y, van Groenigen K J, Huang S, Hungate B A, van Kessel C, Hu S, et al. Higher yields and lower methane emissions with new rice cultivars. Global Change Biology, 2017; 23(11): 4728–4738

Li C, Guo T, Wang Z, Zheng W, Zhao H, Zhang Z, et al. Evaluation and determination of yield evaluation indicators of soybean mainly cultivated varieties in the central and eastern of Heilongjiang Province. Crops, 2021; 2: 45–51. (in Chinese)

Yan J, Chen X, Zou W, Zou S. Effects of long-term organic manure application on yield of soybean. Soybean Science, 2019; 38(6): 943–948. (in Chinese)




Copyright (c) 2022 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office