Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Crops Pathology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346352
Title: Identifying greenhouse gas emission sources and mitigation opportunities in California specialty cropping systems

Author
item ZHU-BARKER, XIA - University Of California
item CARLSON, MARY - Colorado State University
item EASTER, MARK - Colorado State University
item SWAN, AMY - Colorado State University
item THOMPSON, LUCY - Colorado State University
item HORWATH, WILLIAM - University Of California
item PAUSTIAN, KEITH - Colorado State University
item Steenwerth, Kerri

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/6/2018
Publication Date: 7/6/2018
Citation: Zhu-Barker, X., Carlson, M., Easter, M., Swan, A., Thompson, L., Horwath, W.R., Paustian, K., Steenwerth, K.L. 2018. Identifying greenhouse gas emission sources and mitigation opportunities in California specialty cropping systems. Government Publication/Report. https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=346352

Interpretive Summary: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from California agriculture consist of 8% of the state’s total emissions, but the contribution from California specialty crop systems is still highly uncertain. Efforts to identify the GHG mitigation opportunities in California specialty crop systems will require sound information regarding how land management practices change those emissions. This addendum to the USDA GHG inventory book “Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Agriculture and Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventory” presents a review of scientific literature examining GHG emissions focusing on California’s annual and perennial specialty crop systems. It also includes studies from other regions to establish a comprehensive background practices and processes underlying GHG emissions. A total of 18 studies capturing GHG emissions were identified in five specialty cropping systems within California. Where possible, nitrous oxide emission factors were developed based on data from these studies, and state-wide emissions for certain specialty cropping systems were calculated under specific agricultural management practices. However, reliable estimates of the biophysical mitigation potential of various agricultural management practices are not possible based on data provided in these studies due to large data uncertainties caused by low frequency of gas sampling. More robust estimates of GHG emissions from changes in agricultural management practices are needed in California specialty cropping systems.

Technical Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from California agriculture consist of 8% of the state’s total emissions, but the contribution from California specialty crop systems is still highly uncertain. Efforts to identify the GHG mitigation opportunities in California specialty crop systems will require sound information regarding how land management practices change those emissions. This addendum to the USDA GHG inventory book “Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Agriculture and Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventory” presents a review of scientific literature examining GHG emissions focusing on California’s annual and perennial specialty crop systems. It also includes studies from other regions to establish a comprehensive background practices and processes underlying GHG emissions. A total of 18 studies capturing GHG emissions were identified in five specialty cropping systems within California. Where possible, nitrous oxide emission factors were developed based on data from these studies, and state-wide emissions for certain specialty cropping systems were calculated under specific agricultural management practices. However, reliable estimates of the biophysical mitigation potential of various agricultural management practices are not possible based on data provided in these studies due to large data uncertainties caused by low frequency of gas sampling. More robust estimates of GHG emissions from changes in agricultural management practices are needed in California specialty cropping systems.