Effects of integrated weed management in cropping systems on soils, microbial activity and N2O fluxes

Abstract : Cultivated soils have been widely highlighted as a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This suggests that greenhouse gas emissions should be taken in account when evaluating the impact of new cropping systems. The development of integrated weed management in cropping systems introduces new agricultural practices (combinations of crop rotation, soil management, fertilization, and mechanical and chemical weed control, etc.), which may affect the microbial processes responsible for N2O production in soils. However, the effect of those practices remains to be assessed. Thus, the main objectives of our study is to provide (i) an accurate estimation of the intensity of N2O emissions from an integrated weed management system and (ii) a monitoring of soil chemical, physical, and biological parameters likely to affect N2O emissions over one year.