Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-489-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-489-2025
Original research article
 | 
08 Jul 2025
Original research article |  | 08 Jul 2025

Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials

Victoria Nasser, René Dechow, Mirjam Helfrich, Ana Meijide, Pauline Sophie Rummel, Heinz-Josef Koch, Reiner Ruser, Lisa Essich, and Klaus Dittert

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Cited articles

Abalos, D., Rittl, T. F., Recous, S., Thiébeau, P., Topp, C. F. E., van Groenigen, K. J., Butterbach-Bahl, K., Thorman, R. E., Smith, K. E., Ahuja, I., Olesen, J. E., Bleken, M. A., Rees, R. M., and Hansen, S.: Predicting field N2O emissions from crop residues based on their biochemical composition: A meta-analytical approach, Sci. Total Environ., 812, 152532, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152532, 2022. 
Abdalla, M., Hastings, A., Cheng, K., Yue, Q., Chadwick, D., Espenberg, M., Truu, J., Rees, R. M., and Smith, P.: A critical review of the impacts of cover crops on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balance and crop productivity, Glob. Change Biol., 25, 2530–2543, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14644, 2019. 
Adetunji, A. T., Ncube, B., Mulidzi, R., and Lewu, F. B.: Management impact and benefit of cover crops on soil quality: A review, Soil Till. Res., 204, 104717, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104717, 2020. 
Araújo, F. C. D., Nascente, A. S., Guimarães, J. L. N., Sousa, V. S., Freitas, M. A. M. D., and Santos, F. L. D. S.: Cover crops in the off-season in the weed management at notillage area, Rev. Caatinga, 34, 50–57, https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252021v34n106rc, 2021. 
Balkcom, K. S., Duzy, L. M., Kornecki, T. S., and Price, A. J.: Timing of Cover Crop Termination: Management Considerations for the Southeast, Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management, 1, cftm2015.0161, https://doi.org/10.2134/cftm2015.0161, 2015. 
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Short summary
This study evaluated the impact of contrasting cover crops on topsoil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N2O emissions, and carbon (C) sequestration. Non-legume cover crops reduced SMN levels, showed potential for mitigating indirect N2O emissions, and increased C sequestration but did not reduce cumulative N2O emissions compared to fallow. The results highlight the need for tailored cover crop strategies to balance SMN capture, N2O emissions, and C sequestration effectively.
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