The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain
IntroductionClimate change is a substantial threat to the global food supply, especially for the North China Plain (NCP), a critical agricultural region in China that exhibits high sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change. Under climate change, many uncertainties remain regarding crop yields,...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| author | Ning Wang Ning Wang Zhipin Ai Zhipin Ai Zhipin Ai Qiuying Zhang Peifang Leng Peifang Leng Peifang Leng Yunfeng Qiao Yunfeng Qiao Yunfeng Qiao Zhao Li Zhao Li Zhao Li Chao Tian Chao Tian Xinjie Shi Hefa Cheng Gang Chen Fadong Li Fadong Li Fadong Li |
| author_facet | Ning Wang Ning Wang Zhipin Ai Zhipin Ai Zhipin Ai Qiuying Zhang Peifang Leng Peifang Leng Peifang Leng Yunfeng Qiao Yunfeng Qiao Yunfeng Qiao Zhao Li Zhao Li Zhao Li Chao Tian Chao Tian Xinjie Shi Hefa Cheng Gang Chen Fadong Li Fadong Li Fadong Li |
| author_sort | Ning Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionClimate change is a substantial threat to the global food supply, especially for the North China Plain (NCP), a critical agricultural region in China that exhibits high sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change. Under climate change, many uncertainties remain regarding crop yields, soil organic carbon (SOC), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.MethodsA 20−year on−farm observational study (2003−2022) of a winter wheat−summer maize rotation system was conducted to comprehensively quantify the continuous variations in crop productivity, SOC storage, GHG emissions, and carbon footprints (CFs) in the NCP.ResultsA warming trend of 0.08°C per year and an annual increase of 57 hours in sunshine duration were detected over the study period. Both wheat and maize yields showed sustained improvements, with annual rates of 70 kg ha–1 and 184 kg ha–1, respectively. Wheat yields were primarily influenced by cumulative sunshine hours in November and soil total potassium (K) content, whereas maize yields were significantly affected by wheat-season agricultural inputs (water, N, P, K fertilizers) and initial soil properties (pH, N, P, K). Although wheat production generated higher GHG emissions than maize (7,307.5 vs 2,998.7 kg CO2-eq ha−1), the wheat season transitioned into a net carbon sink (CF < 0) due to SOC accumulation (0.58 g kg−1 year−1). Conversely, SOC depletion (-0.72 g kg−1 year−1) during the maize season resulted in a carbon source status (CF > 0). This divergence likely stems from contrasting straw management practices: wheat straw incorporation at 20 cm depth versus maize straw surface mulching.DiscussionOur findings demonstrate significant improvements in crop yields, SOC sequestration, and net ecosystem economic budget over two decades. However, the decelerating trends in yield gains and SOC accumulation rates warrant strategic attention to sustain long-term agricultural resilience. |
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| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-5689d5c81b1f47ac8bbd4b8556881ec52025-08-20T02:19:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-04-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15474311547431The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China PlainNing Wang0Ning Wang1Zhipin Ai2Zhipin Ai3Zhipin Ai4Qiuying Zhang5Peifang Leng6Peifang Leng7Peifang Leng8Yunfeng Qiao9Yunfeng Qiao10Yunfeng Qiao11Zhao Li12Zhao Li13Zhao Li14Chao Tian15Chao Tian16Xinjie Shi17Hefa Cheng18Gang Chen19Fadong Li20Fadong Li21Fadong Li22ShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaThe MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Florida A&M University-Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United StatesShandongYucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaIntroductionClimate change is a substantial threat to the global food supply, especially for the North China Plain (NCP), a critical agricultural region in China that exhibits high sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change. Under climate change, many uncertainties remain regarding crop yields, soil organic carbon (SOC), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.MethodsA 20−year on−farm observational study (2003−2022) of a winter wheat−summer maize rotation system was conducted to comprehensively quantify the continuous variations in crop productivity, SOC storage, GHG emissions, and carbon footprints (CFs) in the NCP.ResultsA warming trend of 0.08°C per year and an annual increase of 57 hours in sunshine duration were detected over the study period. Both wheat and maize yields showed sustained improvements, with annual rates of 70 kg ha–1 and 184 kg ha–1, respectively. Wheat yields were primarily influenced by cumulative sunshine hours in November and soil total potassium (K) content, whereas maize yields were significantly affected by wheat-season agricultural inputs (water, N, P, K fertilizers) and initial soil properties (pH, N, P, K). Although wheat production generated higher GHG emissions than maize (7,307.5 vs 2,998.7 kg CO2-eq ha−1), the wheat season transitioned into a net carbon sink (CF < 0) due to SOC accumulation (0.58 g kg−1 year−1). Conversely, SOC depletion (-0.72 g kg−1 year−1) during the maize season resulted in a carbon source status (CF > 0). This divergence likely stems from contrasting straw management practices: wheat straw incorporation at 20 cm depth versus maize straw surface mulching.DiscussionOur findings demonstrate significant improvements in crop yields, SOC sequestration, and net ecosystem economic budget over two decades. However, the decelerating trends in yield gains and SOC accumulation rates warrant strategic attention to sustain long-term agricultural resilience.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1547431/fullclimate changeagricultural practicecarbon sequestrationgreenhouse gas emissionslong-term field experimentsoil nutrient status |
| spellingShingle | Ning Wang Ning Wang Zhipin Ai Zhipin Ai Zhipin Ai Qiuying Zhang Peifang Leng Peifang Leng Peifang Leng Yunfeng Qiao Yunfeng Qiao Yunfeng Qiao Zhao Li Zhao Li Zhao Li Chao Tian Chao Tian Xinjie Shi Hefa Cheng Gang Chen Fadong Li Fadong Li Fadong Li The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain Frontiers in Plant Science climate change agricultural practice carbon sequestration greenhouse gas emissions long-term field experiment soil nutrient status |
| title | The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain |
| title_full | The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain |
| title_fullStr | The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain |
| title_full_unstemmed | The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain |
| title_short | The variations of wheat–maize production, soil organic carbon, and carbon footprints: insights from a 20–year on–farm observational experiment in the North China Plain |
| title_sort | variations of wheat maize production soil organic carbon and carbon footprints insights from a 20 year on farm observational experiment in the north china plain |
| topic | climate change agricultural practice carbon sequestration greenhouse gas emissions long-term field experiment soil nutrient status |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1547431/full |
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