Assessing the greenhouse gas emissions from life cycle of winter wheat production in different soil tillage system

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the greenhouse gas emissions from life cycle of winter wheat production in different soil tillage systems. Material for the analyses consisted
of data collected from 15 selected farms located in the Wielkopolska voivodeship with cultivation of winter wheat in different soil tillage systems (traditional, reduced and direct sowing) in the years 2015–2017. The research was carried out using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method in the scope “from cradle-to-farm gate”, i.e. from the acquisition of raw materials and production of agricultural production means through wheat cultivation processes to grain harvesting. The calculated global warming potential index considering the soil organic carbon sequestration potential for the wheat production in traditional tillage, reduced tillage and direct sowing systems, amounted to 2339.7 kg CO₂ eq. ha^–1, 1851.9 kg CO₂ eq. ha^–1 and 2131.5 kg CO₂ eq. ha^–1, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizers were the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Ploughless tillage together with cultivation of catch crops and leaving large amounts of crop residues in the field has led to higher soil organic carbon sequestration potential that contributed to lowering of global warming potential for wheat production.