Herbicide applications increase greenhouse gas emissions of alfalfa pasture in the inland arid region of northwest China.

ABSTRACT: Herbicides are used to control weeds in agricultural crops such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), which is a forage crop. It is unclear what, if any, effect herbicides have on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when used on alfalfa. Our study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 to investigate the effects of two herbicides (Quizalofop-p-ethyl, QE and Bentazone, BT) on methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soil planted with alfalfa. QE is used to control grasses and BT is used for broadleaf weed control. Soil CO₂ emissions and soil uptake of CH₄ increased significantly in both years following the QE and BT treatments, although CO₂ emissions differed significantly between the trial years. N

SUBMITTER: Shi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7255331 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature