Comparison of greenhouse gas emissions of chemical fertilizer types in China's crop production. (10th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Zhan-biao; Chen, Jing; Mao, Shu-chun; Han, Ying-chun; Chen, Fu; Zhang, Li-feng; Li, Ya-bing; Li, Cun-dong
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 141(2017)
• Page Start: 1267
• Page End: 1274
• Publication Date: 2017-01-10
• Subjects: Climate change -- Greenhouse gas emissions -- Fertilizer product types -- Fertilizer scenarios; N nitrogen -- P2O5 phosphoric anhydride -- K2O potassium oxide -- GHG greenhouse gas -- CO2eq CO2 equivalents -- CSYD China Statistical Yearbooks Database -- PAS2050 Publicly Available Specification 2050 -- GWP global warming potential -- NBSPRC National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China -- IFA International Fertilizer Industry Association -- DRSESSBS Department of the Rural Social and Economic Survey, State Bureau of Statistics -- LCA Life cycle assessment; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Increasing awareness of climate change and food security has spawned an interest in low-carbon agriculture, an important aspect of which is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As the largest source of agricultural emissions is fertilizer application, using a different type of fertilizer may help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture systems. The objectives of this study were to report a basic estimate of agricultural inputs and greenhouse gas emissions of crop production using national statistical data available for the period of 1993–2007, to compare the quantities of greenhouse gas emissions from different fertilizer types (per unit of N, P2 O5, and K2 O), to identify fertilizer types with the lowest emissions and the lowest costs, and to quantify the emissions gap between the lowest and actual emission scenarios, which will provide critical information for pursuing low-carbon agriculture in the future. According to available data, the use of all agricultural inputs increased during 1993–2012, resulting in an increase in not only yield but also in total greenhouse gas emissions from crop production. Not considering direct N2 O emissions from the field, fertilizer-induced emissions accounted for up to 47.71% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from crop production. Therefore, lowering fertilizer-induced emissions is a priority measure that will result in low-carbon agriculture. Furthermore, ammonium bicarbonate, calcium superphosphate, and potassium chloride were found to be fertilizers with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions, and adoption of these fertilizers would result in a 49.15% reduction in fertilizer-induced emissions. This finding indicates that the judicious choice of fertilizer type would contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in intensive production systems in China. Accordingly, utilizing ammonium bicarbonate, calcium superphosphate, and potassium chloride would be beneficial for greenhouse gas emission reduction and could be adopted as a good practice of low-carbon agriculture in China. This study highlights that changing to an appropriate fertilizer type could be an efficient option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in crop production in China. Highlights: GHG emissions from different types of fertilizer products were compared. The lowest emissions of the N, P, and K fertilizers were identified, respectively. Adoption of the lowest emissions result in a 49% reduction of fertilizer emissions.