Optimizing cover crop practices as a sustainable solution for global agroecosystem services
Qiu, Tianyi (Wuhan University of Technology)
Shi, Yu (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Liu, Ji (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Earth Environment)
Cui, Qingliang (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation)
Sardans i Galobart, Jordi (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Zhou, Feng (Peking University. Sino-France Institute of Earth Systems Science)
Xia, Longlong (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil Science)
Yan, Weiming (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation)
Zhao, Shuling (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation)
Peng, Shushi (Peking University. Sino-France Institute of Earth Systems Science)
Jian, Jinshi (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation)
He, Qinsi (University of Technology Sydney)
Zhang, Wenju (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning)
Huang, Min (Wuhan University of Technology)
Tan, Wenfeng (Huazhong Agricultural University)
Fang, Linchuan (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	The practice of cover crops has gained popularity as a strategy to improve agricultural sustainability, but its full potential is often limited by environmental trade-offs. Using meta-analytic and data-driven quantifications of 2302 observations, we optimized cover crop practices and evaluated their benefits for global agroecosystems. Cover crops have historically boosted crop yields, soil carbon storage, and stability, but also stimulated greenhouse gas emissions. However, combining them with long-term implementation (five years or more) and climate-smart practices (such as no-tillage) can enhance these services synergistically. A biculture of legume and non-legume cover crops, terminated 25 days before planting the next crop and followed by residue mulching, is the optimal portfolio. Such optimized practices are projected to increase agroecosystem multiservices by 1. 25%, equivalent to annual gains of 97. 7 million metric tons in crop production, 21. 7 billion metric tons in carbon dioxide sequestration, and 2. 41 billion metric tons in soil erosion reduction. By 2100, the continued implementation of optimized practices could mitigate climate-related yield losses and contribute to climate neutrality and soil stabilization, especially in harsh and underdeveloped areas. These findings underscore the promising potential of optimized cover crop practices to achieve the synergy in food security and environmental protection.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación TED2021-132627B-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-140808NB-I00 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-01333
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Nature Communicactions, Vol. 15 (December 2024) , art. 10617, ISBN 2041-1723

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54536-z
PMID: 39639014

14 p, 2.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles