Climate change

Using the calibrated DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model, we conducted a long-term simulation (1980−2019) incorporating various scenarios of nitrogen fertilizer and mulch, resulting in a baseline scenario and five mitigation scenarios. We revealed an average net global warming potential during the maize growing season of 5293 kg CO₂ eq ha⁻¹, with the most GHG derived from N₂O (53%). Considering GHG costs, the net environmental and economic benefits in maize amounted to 5089 CNY ha⁻¹. Our results, which provide the first calculation of the combined benefits of mulch and nitrogen fertilizer including GHG costs, not only underscore the immense potential of mulch for enabling carbon neutrality, but also offer valuable insights for policymakers and industry in selecting suitable mulch techniques for agricultural production.

Wei, H., Zhang, L., Qin, R. et al. Straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer: A viable green solution for enhanced maize benefits and reduced emissions in China. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 44, 52 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-024-00988-y

Climate variability strongly influences the profitability of grazing. Scientists Nguyen-Huy et al. demonstrate that graziers can strategically move their production to other areas based on changing seasonal climate conditions. They also show that using climate information and geographic risk spreading strategies together can help graziers minimize climate risk, while not sacrificing profitability. The approach is applicable to other parts of the world and could be used to optimize risk and profitability for other agricultural sectors exposed to variable climatic conditions.

The future of chocolate production is dependent on how the cacao tree will respond to climate change. Scientists Lahive et al. review current research on the physiological responses of cacao trees to the environment and advocate for greater consideration of tree physiology when discussing the future of cacao production. They also highlight key areas of research that need to be addressed to aid in the development of more climate resilient cacao for the future.

Shortage of arable land creates unprecedented challenges to produce enough food to satisfy the increased food demands. Scientists Xie et al. show that the desert-like, non-arable land can be developed by building ‘clusters’ of solar-energy greenhouses in which land productivity is higher and crop water use efficiency greater than in traditional open-field, irrigated cultivation systems. Although many challenges remain to be addressed, this innovative system has potential for areas with available barren land.

The twin challenges of climate change and food security call for climate-smart agriculture, that is to say agriculture that helps to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Scientists Scherer and Verburg review the potentials and trade-offs of climate-smart agricultural measures taken by producers and consumers, and identify their linkages. They advocate not solely focusing research and implementation on one-sided measures but designing good, site-specific combinations of both demand- and supply-side measures to use the potential of climate-smart agriculture more effectively.

Heat stress lowers wheat growth and productivity. Agronomists Akter and Islam review some appropriate strategies able to improve wheat yield under extreme heat stress. These include the choice of cultivars, the management of soil moisture and nutrients, the adjustment of planting time and the use of exogenous protectants. It remains, however, that the overall success of the complex wheat heat stress management will depend on the prospective collaboration of crop modelers, molecular biologists, and plant physiologists.

Reducing methane emission and maintaining rice sustainable production are two major challenges in rice production. Scientists Xu et al. showed that planting the free-floating water fern Azolla along with double rice reduced methane emission in rice paddies due to significant effect on dissolved oxygen and soil redox potential, which are key factors for methane emission.

Agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and there is a need for identifying viable long term reduction steps that farmers can adopt. Scientists Dumbrell et al. identified the greenhouse gas mitigation potential and the costs of abatement at three Australian grain farms located in the main grain growing regions of Australia. They found marked difference in abatement potential and impact on operating profits across case study farms and management practices. Reaching significant climate change abatement will come at a cost to farmers.