Journal of Agronomy1812-53791812-5417Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ja.2017.32.39YeboahStephen LampteyShirley ZhangRenzhi LiLingLing 12017161Background and Objective: Soil tillage and crop rotation are used to increase crop production and resource use efficiency worldwide.
This study aimed to quantify soil respiration (Rs), Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and grain yield in spring wheat-field pea rotation in a rain-fed
semi-arid environment. Methodology: The tillage practices included; conventional tillage with straw removed (T), no-till with straw
removed (NT), no-till with straw retention on the soil surface (NTS) and conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), administered
in a randomized block design with three replicates. Soil respiration was monitored in the 2016 cropping season using LI-8100 system
(LI-COR, USA). Results: Grain yield and WUE in spring wheat were approximately 26.43 and 37.86% higher, respectively in NTS compared
with T. In a less magnitude, TS also significantly increased grain yield and water use efficiency by ≈15.96 and 26.82%, respectively,
compared with T and NT treatments. In field pea plots, NTS and NT increased grain yield and WUE by ≈35.60 and 26.35% compared with
T treatments. The NTS had carbon emission of 436.05 kg ha1 in spring wheat and 288.45 kg ha1 in field pea, representing 31.89 and
25.88% less carbon emitted than T treatment during the growing season. The NT decreased carbon emission, but the effect was lesser
relative to NTS. Conclusion: The findings of the present study show that spring wheat-field pea rotation with tillage removal coupled with
straw retention can be used to increase grain production and reduce carbon emission in semi-arid areas.]]>Forster, P., V. Ramaswamy, P. Artaxo, T. Berntsen and R. Betts et al.,20072007pp: 129-234pp: 129-234Asgedom, H. and E. Kebreab,201131433451Zhang, Y.M., C.S. Hu, J.B. Zhang, W.X. Dong, Y.Y. Wang and L.N. Song,20112, CH4 and N2O in agricultural soils.]]>19966975Tilman, D., C. Balzer, J. Hill and B.L. Befort,20111082026020264Fedoroff, N.V., D.S. Battisti, R.N. Beachy, P.J.M. Cooper and D.A. Fischhoff et al.,2010327833834Sanderman, J., R. Farquharson and J. Baldock,20102010Kirkegaard, J.A., M.K. Conyers, J.R. Hunt, C.A. Kirkby, M. Watt and G.J. Rebetzke,2014187133145Alletto, L., Y. Coquet, P. Benoit, D. Heddadj and E. Barriuso,201030367400Fuentes, M., C. Hidalgo, J. Etchevers, F. de Leon and A. Guerrero et al.,20122 emissions.]]>355183197Van Groenigen, K.J., A. Hastings, D. Forristal, B. Roth, M. Jones and P. Smith,2011140218225Ussiri, D.A.N. and R. Lal,20091043947Regina, K. and L. Alakukku,2010109144152Chaplot, V., C.N. Mchunu, A. Manson, S. Lorentz and G. Jewitt,20122 emissions from tilled and no-tilled soils and sediments.]]>1596269FAO., 19901990Jia, D., X. Dai and M. He,20125218161827Wang, D., Z. Yu and P.J. White,20131513544Huang, G.B., R.Z. Zhang, G.D. Li, L.L. Li and K.Y. Chan et al.,20081074355Alves, B.J., K.A. Smith, R.A. Flores, A.S. Cardoso and W.R.D. Oliveira et al.,20122O flux from soils.]]>46129135Wang, W., S. Peng, T. Wang and J. Fang,20102 efflux and its contribution to annual soil respiration in different ecosystems of a forest-steppe ecotone, North China.]]>42451458Zhang, R.Z., Z.Z. Luo, L.Q. Cai, G.B. Huang, L.L. Li and J.H. Xie,201120110Chen, X.P., Z.L. Cui, P.M. Vitousek, K.G. Cassman and P.A. Matson et al.,201110863996404Vermeulen, S.J., P.K. Aggarwal, A. Ainslie, C. Angelone and B.M. Campbell et al.,201215136144Yeboah, S., R. Zhang, L. Cai, M. Song and L.L. Li et al.,20161067791Rasouli, S., J. K. Whalen and C.A. Madramootoo,201494109127Hou, X.Q., R. Li, Z.K. Jia, Q.F. Han, B.P. Yang and J.F. Nie,201228551558Govaerts, B., K.D. Sayre, J.M. Ceballos-Ramirez, M.L. Luna-Guido, A. Limon-Ortega, J. Deckers and L. Dendooven,2006280143155Fan, Z., Q. Chai, G. Huang, A. Yu and P. Huang et al.,2013455258Rodeghiero, M. and A. Cescatti,2005110241041Qin, A.Z., G.B. Huang, Q. Chai, A.Z. Yu and P. Huang,2013144110Boeckx, P., K. van Nieuland and O. van Cleemput,20112O and CO2 emissions.]]>31453461Hu, F., Q. Chai, A. Yu, W. Yin, H. Cui and Y. Gan,201435701711Davidson, E.A. and I.A. Janssens,2006440165173