EGU25-19169, updated on 15 Mar 2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19169
EGU General Assembly 2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Cropping systems and amendment management impact on temporal soil carbon emissions and soil water content variability in Croatian croplands
Igor Bogunovic1, Manuel Matisic1, Ivica Kisic1, Kristina Kljak2, and Marija Galic1
Igor Bogunovic et al.
  • 1University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General Agronomy, Zagreb, Croatia (ibogunovic@agr.hr)
  • 2University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Nutrition, Zagreb, Croatia

The sustainability of agroecosystems is critical for balancing environmental health with productive crop yields. Sustainable management practices, including crop rotation and organic amendments, have been identified as strategies to enhance soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve long-term agricultural productivity. Carbon cycling plays a pivotal role in maintaining soil fertility and regulating atmospheric CO₂ levels, making it a key component of climate-smart agriculture. Additionally, soil water retention is a crucial factor influencing crop productivity, water use efficiency, and resilience to climate hazards such as drought and extreme rainfall. Practices that influence carbon inputs and outputs in soil systems are essential for mitigating climate change while ensuring resilient crop production. Enhancing soil structure and organic matter content through sustainable practices can improve water holding capacity and reduce vulnerability to climate variability. This study evaluates the effects of different cropping systems (crop rotation vs. monoculture) and different soil amendments (biochar vs. manure vs. control) on soil CO₂ emissions and soil water content in Stagnosols at the Marija Magdalena site in Croatia during 2024. The experimental design consisted of two cropping systems: a maize monoculture (upper block) and a crop rotation system with field pea (lower block). Three amendment treatments were applied in both systems: manure (40 t/ha), biochar (40 t/ha), and a control with no amendments. Each treatment was replicated three times. Soil CO₂ emissions and soil water content were measured monthly, with detailed analyses focusing on three representative dates: March 22, May 18, and August 28. The results demonstrated significant variations in CO₂ emissions and soil water content based on both cropping system and amendment type. In the maize monoculture, manure application led to the highest emissions, while biochar showed a moderating effect compared to the control. Conversely, the crop rotation system exhibited generally lower emissions across all treatments, with biochar further reducing CO₂ fluxes. Seasonal variation was evident, with peak emissions observed during the growing season. The crop rotation system consistently maintained higher soil moisture levels, supporting better water availability throughout the season. Implementing crop rotation and biochar amendments effectively mitigates soil CO₂ emissions and enhances soil water retention in Stagnosols. These findings highlight the dual benefits of sustainable soil management in promoting carbon sequestration and improving drought resilience, contributing to resilient agroecosystems under changing climatic conditions.

 

Keywords: monoculture, farmyard manure, biochar, soil respiration, sustainable agriculture, carbon cycling, climate change mitigation, water conservation

 

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (‘the PRIMA Foundation’) through the “Soil Health and Agriculture Resilience through an Integrated Geographical information systems of Mediterranean Drylands” project (grant agreement number 2211) (SHARInG-MeD).

How to cite: Bogunovic, I., Matisic, M., Kisic, I., Kljak, K., and Galic, M.: Cropping systems and amendment management impact on temporal soil carbon emissions and soil water content variability in Croatian croplands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19169, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19169, 2025.