Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the most important staple crop is maize; the production of which is dominated by smallholder farming systems using low external inputs (<10 kg N ha−1) resulting in low crop yields and large yield gaps (difference between actual and potential yields). To assess increases...

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Autores principales: Leitner, Sonja, Pelster, David E., Werner, Christian R., Merbold, Lutz, Baggs, Elizabeth M., Mapanda, Farai, Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/121164
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author Leitner, Sonja
Pelster, David E.
Werner, Christian R.
Merbold, Lutz
Baggs, Elizabeth M.
Mapanda, Farai
Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
author_browse Baggs, Elizabeth M.
Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
Leitner, Sonja
Mapanda, Farai
Merbold, Lutz
Pelster, David E.
Werner, Christian R.
author_facet Leitner, Sonja
Pelster, David E.
Werner, Christian R.
Merbold, Lutz
Baggs, Elizabeth M.
Mapanda, Farai
Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
author_sort Leitner, Sonja
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the most important staple crop is maize; the production of which is dominated by smallholder farming systems using low external inputs (<10 kg N ha−1) resulting in low crop yields and large yield gaps (difference between actual and potential yields). To assess increases in soil N2O emissions when closing maize yield gaps by increased fertilizer use, we reviewed the literature, developed a relationship between yield gaps and soil N2O emissions, and used it to scale across SSA. According to our analysis, N2O emissions from maize production will increase from currently 255 to 1755 ± 226 Gg N2O-N year−1 (+589%) if existing maize yield gaps are closed by 75%, increasing total anthropogenic N2O emissions for SSA by c. 50%.
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spelling CGSpace1211642025-09-25T13:01:42Z Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions Leitner, Sonja Pelster, David E. Werner, Christian R. Merbold, Lutz Baggs, Elizabeth M. Mapanda, Farai Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus soil maize nitrous oxide gas emissions In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the most important staple crop is maize; the production of which is dominated by smallholder farming systems using low external inputs (<10 kg N ha−1) resulting in low crop yields and large yield gaps (difference between actual and potential yields). To assess increases in soil N2O emissions when closing maize yield gaps by increased fertilizer use, we reviewed the literature, developed a relationship between yield gaps and soil N2O emissions, and used it to scale across SSA. According to our analysis, N2O emissions from maize production will increase from currently 255 to 1755 ± 226 Gg N2O-N year−1 (+589%) if existing maize yield gaps are closed by 75%, increasing total anthropogenic N2O emissions for SSA by c. 50%. 2020-12 2022-09-08T09:59:57Z 2022-09-08T09:59:57Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/121164 en Open Access Elsevier Leitner, S., Pelster, D.E., Werner, C., Merbold, L., Baggs, E.M., Mapanda, F. and Butterbach-Bahl, K. 2020. Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 47:95-105.
spellingShingle soil
maize
nitrous oxide
gas emissions
Leitner, Sonja
Pelster, David E.
Werner, Christian R.
Merbold, Lutz
Baggs, Elizabeth M.
Mapanda, Farai
Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions
title Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions
title_full Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions
title_fullStr Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions
title_full_unstemmed Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions
title_short Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions
title_sort closing maize yield gaps in sub saharan africa will boost soil n2o emissions
topic soil
maize
nitrous oxide
gas emissions
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/121164
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