The effect of conventional and sustainable agricultural management practices on carbon and water fluxes in a Mexican semi-arid region.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Agriculture is essential for food security. However, conventional agriculture alters the water and carbon cycle and soil properties. We investigated the effect of conventional management (CM) and sustainable management (SM) on the carbon and water cycle in crops of nopal (Np) and wheat (Wh).

Methods

A micrometeorological eddy covariance tower was installed to measure water use through evapotranspiration (ET) and the net exchange of CO₂ during the crop's development. Gross primary productivity (GPP), water use efficiency (WUE), and soil properties were obtained.

Results

The results showed that both agricultural managements influenced the carbon flux of the ecosystem, with a lower GPP and Reco in the nopal field (1.85 and 0.99 mmol C m^-2

SUBMITTER: Guillen-Cruz G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9784333 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature