Optimizing cover crop practices as a sustainable solution for global agroecosystem services.

Qiu, T; Shi, Y; Peñuelas, J; Liu, J; Cui, Q; Sardans, J; Zhou, F; Xia, L; Yan, W; Zhao, S; Peng, S; Jian, J; He, Q; Zhang, W; Huang, M; Tan, W; Fang, L

Optimizing cover crop practices as a sustainable solution for global agroecosystem services.

Qiu, T Shi, Y Peñuelas, J Liu, J Cui, Q Sardans, J Zhou, F Xia, L Yan, W Zhao, S Peng, S Jian, J He, Q Zhang, W Huang, M Tan, W Fang, L

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Publisher:: Springer Nature
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Nat Commun, 2024, 15, (1), pp. 10617
Issue Date:: 2024-12-05

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Qiu, T
dc.contributor.author	Shi, Y
dc.contributor.author	Peñuelas, J
dc.contributor.author	Liu, J
dc.contributor.author	Cui, Q
dc.contributor.author	Sardans, J
dc.contributor.author	Zhou, F
dc.contributor.author	Xia, L
dc.contributor.author	Yan, W
dc.contributor.author	Zhao, S
dc.contributor.author	Peng, S
dc.contributor.author	Jian, J
dc.contributor.author	He, Q
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, W
dc.contributor.author	Huang, M
dc.contributor.author	Tan, W
dc.contributor.author	Fang, L
dc.date.accessioned	2025-01-28T05:24:56Z
dc.date.available	2024-11-14
dc.date.available	2025-01-28T05:24:56Z
dc.date.issued	2024-12-05
dc.identifier.citation	Nat Commun, 2024, 15, (1), pp. 10617
dc.identifier.issn	2041-1723
dc.identifier.issn	2041-1723
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/184318
dc.description.abstract	The practice of cover crops has gained popularity as a strategy to improve agricultural sustainability, but its full potential is often limited by environmental trade-offs. Using meta-analytic and data-driven quantifications of 2302 observations, we optimized cover crop practices and evaluated their benefits for global agroecosystems. Cover crops have historically boosted crop yields, soil carbon storage, and stability, but also stimulated greenhouse gas emissions. However, combining them with long-term implementation (five years or more) and climate-smart practices (such as no-tillage) can enhance these services synergistically. A biculture of legume and non-legume cover crops, terminated 25 days before planting the next crop and followed by residue mulching, is the optimal portfolio. Such optimized practices are projected to increase agroecosystem multiservices by 1.25%, equivalent to annual gains of 97.7 million metric tons in crop production, 21.7 billion metric tons in carbon dioxide sequestration, and 2.41 billion metric tons in soil erosion reduction. By 2100, the continued implementation of optimized practices could mitigate climate-related yield losses and contribute to climate neutrality and soil stabilization, especially in harsh and underdeveloped areas. These findings underscore the promising potential of optimized cover crop practices to achieve the synergy in food security and environmental protection.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Springer Nature
dc.relation.ispartof	Nat Commun
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/s41467-024-54536-z
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Crops, Agricultural
dc.subject.mesh	Agriculture
dc.subject.mesh	Soil
dc.subject.mesh	Crop Production
dc.subject.mesh	Ecosystem
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon Sequestration
dc.subject.mesh	Climate Change
dc.subject.mesh	Conservation of Natural Resources
dc.subject.mesh	Greenhouse Gases
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon Dioxide
dc.subject.mesh	Crops, Agricultural
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon Dioxide
dc.subject.mesh	Soil
dc.subject.mesh	Conservation of Natural Resources
dc.subject.mesh	Ecosystem
dc.subject.mesh	Agriculture
dc.subject.mesh	Climate Change
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon Sequestration
dc.subject.mesh	Crop Production
dc.subject.mesh	Greenhouse Gases
dc.subject.mesh	Crops, Agricultural
dc.subject.mesh	Agriculture
dc.subject.mesh	Soil
dc.subject.mesh	Crop Production
dc.subject.mesh	Ecosystem
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon Sequestration
dc.subject.mesh	Climate Change
dc.subject.mesh	Conservation of Natural Resources
dc.subject.mesh	Greenhouse Gases
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon Dioxide
dc.title	Optimizing cover crop practices as a sustainable solution for global agroecosystem services.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	15
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-01-28T05:24:54Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	15
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

The practice of cover crops has gained popularity as a strategy to improve agricultural sustainability, but its full potential is often limited by environmental trade-offs. Using meta-analytic and data-driven quantifications of 2302 observations, we optimized cover crop practices and evaluated their benefits for global agroecosystems. Cover crops have historically boosted crop yields, soil carbon storage, and stability, but also stimulated greenhouse gas emissions. However, combining them with long-term implementation (five years or more) and climate-smart practices (such as no-tillage) can enhance these services synergistically. A biculture of legume and non-legume cover crops, terminated 25 days before planting the next crop and followed by residue mulching, is the optimal portfolio. Such optimized practices are projected to increase agroecosystem multiservices by 1.25%, equivalent to annual gains of 97.7 million metric tons in crop production, 21.7 billion metric tons in carbon dioxide sequestration, and 2.41 billion metric tons in soil erosion reduction. By 2100, the continued implementation of optimized practices could mitigate climate-related yield losses and contribute to climate neutrality and soil stabilization, especially in harsh and underdeveloped areas. These findings underscore the promising potential of optimized cover crop practices to achieve the synergy in food security and environmental protection.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/184318