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Diversifying crop rotation increases food production, reduces net greenhouse gas emissions and improves soil health

Authors :
Xiaolin Yang
Jinran Xiong
Taisheng Du
Xiaotang Ju
Yantai Gan
Sien Li
Longlong Xia
Yanjun Shen
Steven Pacenka
Tammo S. Steenhuis
Kadambot H. M. Siddique
Shaozhong Kang
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Source :
Nature Communications, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Nature Portfolio, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Global food production faces challenges in balancing the need for increased yields with environmental sustainability. This study presents a six-year field experiment in the North China Plain, demonstrating the benefits of diversifying traditional cereal monoculture (wheat–maize) with cash crops (sweet potato) and legumes (peanut and soybean). The diversified rotations increase equivalent yield by up to 38%, reduce N2O emissions by 39%, and improve the system’s greenhouse gas balance by 88%. Furthermore, including legumes in crop rotations stimulates soil microbial activities, increases soil organic carbon stocks by 8%, and enhances soil health (indexed with the selected soil physiochemical and biological properties) by 45%. The large-scale adoption of diversified cropping systems in the North China Plain could increase cereal production by 32% when wheat–maize follows alternative crops in rotation and farmer income by 20% while benefiting the environment. This study provides an example of sustainable food production practices, emphasizing the significance of crop diversification for long-term agricultural resilience and soil health.

Subjects

Subjects :
Science

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20411723
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Nature Communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.5641eaff08a64589980d7923167ff7be
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44464-9