Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation

In this study we evaluated CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes in two integrated best management practices (BMPIs) comprised of the following individual practices: diversion terraces (DT), grassed waterways (GW), and contour tillage (CT) [i.e., DTGW]; and DT, GW, CT, and tile drainage (TD) [i.e., DTGW+TD], rel...

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Main Authors: Bryan A. Driscoll, Maja Krzic, Louis-Pierre Comeau, Bianca N. I. Eskelson, Sheng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Soil Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1453324/full
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author Bryan A. Driscoll
Maja Krzic
Maja Krzic
Louis-Pierre Comeau
Bianca N. I. Eskelson
Sheng Li
author_facet Bryan A. Driscoll
Maja Krzic
Maja Krzic
Louis-Pierre Comeau
Bianca N. I. Eskelson
Sheng Li
author_sort Bryan A. Driscoll
collection DOAJ
description In this study we evaluated CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes in two integrated best management practices (BMPIs) comprised of the following individual practices: diversion terraces (DT), grassed waterways (GW), and contour tillage (CT) [i.e., DTGW]; and DT, GW, CT, and tile drainage (TD) [i.e., DTGW+TD], relative to CT that served as a control. It was anticipated that due to its effects on soil water redistribution and soil temperature, diversion terraces and grassed waterways would influence the pattern of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. This is the first study in the world linking such erosion control structures with subsurface drainage. Cumulative CO2 emissions were greatest in DTGW in both 2020 and 2021. In 2019, DTGW+TD N2O emissions were significantly lower than CT and DTGW. N2O emissions were highest in DTGW in 2020 and 2021, though not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in CH4 in any year. Soil in all BMPIs acted as a weak CH4 sink during the study period. This study demonstrated that the addition of TD to DT and GW significantly reduced the loss of stored carbon (as CO2) relative to undrained DT and GW, while also not emitting significantly more carbon than CT, in the initial years after implementation. Results were similar with respect to the loss of nitrogen, as N2O, where undrained DT and GW generally emitted more N2O in the first years after implementation.
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spelling doaj-art-e7d7db448fa747af8a81391c4280af1b2025-08-20T02:09:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Soil Science2673-86192025-04-01510.3389/fsoil.2025.14533241453324Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementationBryan A. Driscoll0Maja Krzic1Maja Krzic2Louis-Pierre Comeau3Bianca N. I. Eskelson4Sheng Li5Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFredericton Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fredericton, NB, CanadaFaculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFredericton Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fredericton, NB, CanadaIn this study we evaluated CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes in two integrated best management practices (BMPIs) comprised of the following individual practices: diversion terraces (DT), grassed waterways (GW), and contour tillage (CT) [i.e., DTGW]; and DT, GW, CT, and tile drainage (TD) [i.e., DTGW+TD], relative to CT that served as a control. It was anticipated that due to its effects on soil water redistribution and soil temperature, diversion terraces and grassed waterways would influence the pattern of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. This is the first study in the world linking such erosion control structures with subsurface drainage. Cumulative CO2 emissions were greatest in DTGW in both 2020 and 2021. In 2019, DTGW+TD N2O emissions were significantly lower than CT and DTGW. N2O emissions were highest in DTGW in 2020 and 2021, though not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in CH4 in any year. Soil in all BMPIs acted as a weak CH4 sink during the study period. This study demonstrated that the addition of TD to DT and GW significantly reduced the loss of stored carbon (as CO2) relative to undrained DT and GW, while also not emitting significantly more carbon than CT, in the initial years after implementation. Results were similar with respect to the loss of nitrogen, as N2O, where undrained DT and GW generally emitted more N2O in the first years after implementation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1453324/fullpotato productionbeneficial management practicesgreenhouse gasAtlantic Canadasoil carbonsoil health
spellingShingle Bryan A. Driscoll
Maja Krzic
Maja Krzic
Louis-Pierre Comeau
Bianca N. I. Eskelson
Sheng Li
Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation
Frontiers in Soil Science
potato production
beneficial management practices
greenhouse gas
Atlantic Canada
soil carbon
soil health
title Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation
title_full Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation
title_fullStr Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation
title_full_unstemmed Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation
title_short Response of CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes to contour tillage, diversion terrace, grassed waterway, and tile drainage implementation
title_sort response of co2 n2o and ch4 fluxes to contour tillage diversion terrace grassed waterway and tile drainage implementation
topic potato production
beneficial management practices
greenhouse gas
Atlantic Canada
soil carbon
soil health
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1453324/full
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