Brock, Philippa; Muir, Sally; Herridge, David; Simmons, Aaron

Author(s)

Brock, Philippa

Muir, Sally

Herridge, David

Simmons, Aaron

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

We used life cycle assessment methodology to determine the cradle-to-farmgate GHG emissions for rainfed wheat grown in monoculture or in sequence with the break crops canola ('Brassica napus') and field peas ('Pisum sativum'), and for the break crops, in the south-eastern grains region of Australia. Total GHG emissions were 225 kg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-e)/t grain for a 3 t/ha wheat crop following wheat, compared with 199 and 172kg CO₂-e/t for wheat following canola and field peas, respectively. On an area basis, calculated emissions were 676, 677 and 586kg CO₂-e/ha for wheat following wheat, canola and field peas, respectively. Highest emissions were associated with the production and transport of fertilisers (23-28% of total GHG emissions) and their use in the field (16-23% of total GHG emissions). Production, transport and use of lime accounted for an additional 19-21% of total GHG emissions. The lower emissions for wheat after break crops were associated with higher yields, improved use of fertiliser nitrogen (N) and reduced fertiliser N inputs in the case of wheat after field peas. Emissions of GHG for the production and harvesting of canola were calculated at 841kg CO₂-e/ha, equivalent to 420kg CO₂-e/t grain. Those of field peas were 530kg CO₂-e/ha, equivalent to 294kg CO₂-e/t grain. When the gross margin returns for the crops were considered together with their GHG emissions, the field pea-wheat sequence had the highest value per unit emissions, at AU$787/tCO₂-e, followed by wheat-wheat ($703/tCO₂-e) and canola-wheat ($696/tCO₂-e). Uncertainties associated with emissions factor values for fertiliser N, legume-fixed N and mineralised soil organic matter N are discussed, together with the potentially high C cost of legume N₂ fixation and the impact of relatively small changes in soil C during grain cropping either to offset all or most pre- and on-farm GHG emissions or to add to them.

Citation

Crop and Pasture Science, 67(8), p. 812-822

ISSN

1836-5795

1836-0947

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20021

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Title

Cradle-to-farmgate greenhouse gas emissions for 2-year wheat monoculture and break crop-wheat sequences in south-eastern Australia

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Brock, Philippa Muir, Sally Herridge, David Simmons, Aaron
Publication Date	2016
Abstract	We used life cycle assessment methodology to determine the cradle-to-farmgate GHG emissions for rainfed wheat grown in monoculture or in sequence with the break crops canola ('Brassica napus') and field peas ('Pisum sativum'), and for the break crops, in the south-eastern grains region of Australia. Total GHG emissions were 225 kg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-e)/t grain for a 3 t/ha wheat crop following wheat, compared with 199 and 172kg CO₂-e/t for wheat following canola and field peas, respectively. On an area basis, calculated emissions were 676, 677 and 586kg CO₂-e/ha for wheat following wheat, canola and field peas, respectively. Highest emissions were associated with the production and transport of fertilisers (23-28% of total GHG emissions) and their use in the field (16-23% of total GHG emissions). Production, transport and use of lime accounted for an additional 19-21% of total GHG emissions. The lower emissions for wheat after break crops were associated with higher yields, improved use of fertiliser nitrogen (N) and reduced fertiliser N inputs in the case of wheat after field peas. Emissions of GHG for the production and harvesting of canola were calculated at 841kg CO₂-e/ha, equivalent to 420kg CO₂-e/t grain. Those of field peas were 530kg CO₂-e/ha, equivalent to 294kg CO₂-e/t grain. When the gross margin returns for the crops were considered together with their GHG emissions, the field pea-wheat sequence had the highest value per unit emissions, at AU$787/tCO₂-e, followed by wheat-wheat ($703/tCO₂-e) and canola-wheat ($696/tCO₂-e). Uncertainties associated with emissions factor values for fertiliser N, legume-fixed N and mineralised soil organic matter N are discussed, together with the potentially high C cost of legume N₂ fixation and the impact of relatively small changes in soil C during grain cropping either to offset all or most pre- and on-farm GHG emissions or to add to them.
Citation	Crop and Pasture Science, 67(8), p. 812-822
ISSN	1836-5795 1836-0947
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20021
Publisher	CSIRO Publishing
Title	Cradle-to-farmgate greenhouse gas emissions for 2-year wheat monoculture and break crop-wheat sequences in south-eastern Australia
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Cradle-to-farmgate greenhouse gas emissions for 2-year wheat monoculture and break crop-wheat sequences in south-eastern Australia

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