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Sustainable Irrigation Management of Winter Wheat and Effects on Soil Gas Emissions (N 2 O and CH 4 ) and Enzymatic Activity in the Brazilian Savannah

Author

Listed:
  • Alexsandra Duarte de Oliveira

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Jorge Cesar dos Anjos Antonini

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Marcos Vinícius Araújo dos Santos

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil
    The co-authors Marcos Vinicius Araujo da Silva and Altair Moreira de Andrade are interns at Embrapa Cerrados.)

  • Altair César Moreira de Andrade

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil
    The co-authors Marcos Vinicius Araujo da Silva and Altair Moreira de Andrade are interns at Embrapa Cerrados.)

  • Juaci Vitoria Malaquias

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Arminda Moreira de Carvalho

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Artur Gustavo Muller

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Francisco Marcos dos Santos Delvico

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Ieda de Carvalho Mendes

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Jorge Henrique Chagas

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Trigo, Passo Fundo 99050-970, RS, Brazil)

  • Angelo Aparecido Barbosa Sussel

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Julio Cesar Albrecht

    (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, EMBRAPA Cerrados, Brasília 73310-970, DF, Brazil)

Abstract

Water scarcity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pose significant challenges to sustainable wheat production in tropical regions such as the Brazilian Cerrado. This study evaluated the effects of different soil water depletion levels, denoted as f (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of available water capacity—AWC), on no-tillage winter wheat irrigated after rainfed soybean cultivation. Grain yield decreased significantly at depletion levels ≥ 60%, with the highest yields observed at f = 20% (6933 kg ha −1 ) and f = 40% (6814 kg ha −1 ). Water use efficiency (WUE) ranged from 12.4 to 14.0 kg ha −1 mm −1 , with no significant differences among treatments. Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions peaked at f = 60% (4.55 kg ha −1 ), resulting in the highest average global warming potential (GWP = 1.185.78 kg CO 2 eq ha −1 ) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI = 192.66 kg CO 2 eq Mg −1 grain). Methane (CH 4 ) acted as a net sink across all irrigation levels. Soil enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase) were not significantly affected by irrigation management. Overall, irrigation scheduling based on f = 40% soil water depletion provided the best balance between productivity and environmental sustainability, representing a climate-smart and resource-efficient strategy for wheat production in tropical agroecosystems. These findings provide promising insights for tropical agriculture by showing that sustainable irrigation can balance productivity and climate mitigation in the Cerrado. Maintaining soil water depletion below 60% significantly reduces N 2 O emissions and environmental impact, emphasizing the importance of conservation practices. Additionally, preserving soil biological quality supports the long-term viability of these practices and offers valuable guidance for policies promoting efficient irrigation in climate-vulnerable regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexsandra Duarte de Oliveira & Jorge Cesar dos Anjos Antonini & Marcos Vinícius Araújo dos Santos & Altair César Moreira de Andrade & Juaci Vitoria Malaquias & Arminda Moreira de Carvalho & Artur Gus, 2025. "Sustainable Irrigation Management of Winter Wheat and Effects on Soil Gas Emissions (N 2 O and CH 4 ) and Enzymatic Activity in the Brazilian Savannah," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-25, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7734-:d:1735873
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lucia Ottaiano & Ida Di Mola & Paul Di Tommasi & Mauro Mori & Vincenzo Magliulo & Luca Vitale, 2020. "Effects of Irrigation on N 2 O Emissions in a Maize Crop Grown on Different Soil Types in Two Contrasting Seasons," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Arminda Moreira de Carvalho & Maria Lucrecia Gerosa Ramos & Vivian Galdino da Silva & Thais Rodrigues de Sousa & Juaci Vitoria Malaquias & Fabiana Piontekowski Ribeiro & Alexsandra Duarte de Oliveira , 2024. "Cover Crops Affect Soil Mineral Nitrogen and N Fertilizer Use Efficiency of Maize No-Tillage System in the Brazilian Cerrado," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Agami, Ramadan A. & Alamri, Saad A.M. & Abd El-Mageed, T.A. & Abousekken, M.S.M. & Hashem, Mohamed, 2018. "Role of exogenous nitrogen supply in alleviating the deficit irrigation stress in wheat plants," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 261-270.
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    5. Alireza Pour-Aboughadareh & Reza Mohammadi & Alireza Etminan & Lia Shooshtari & Neda Maleki-Tabrizi & Peter Poczai, 2020. "Effects of Drought Stress on Some Agronomic and Morpho-Physiological Traits in Durum Wheat Genotypes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-14, July.
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