ABSTRACT
Greenhouse Gas (CO2 AND N2O) Emissions from Soils: A Review.

Cristina Muñoz1, Leandro Paulino1, Carlos Monreal2, and Erick Zagal1*
 
In agricultural activities, the main greenhouse gases (GHG) are those related to C and N global cycles. The impact of agriculture on GHG emissions has become a key issue, especially when considering that natural C and N cycles are influenced by agricultural development. This review focuses on CO2 and N2O soil emissions in terrestrial ecosystems, with emphasis in Chilean and similar agro-ecosystems around the world. The influence of land use and crop management practices on CO2 and N2O emissions is analyzed; some mitigation measures to reduce such emissions are also discussed here. More knowledge on the biological processes that promote of GHG emissions from soil will allow creating opportunities for agricultural development under friendly-environmental conditions, where soil can act as a reservoir and/or emitter of GHG, depending on the balance of inputs and outputs.
Keywords: Global warming, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, soil biological processes, soil organic carbon, nitrification, denitrification.
1Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Agronomía, P.O. Box 537, Chillán, Chile. *Corresponding author (ezagal@udec.cl). 2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave, K1A OC6, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.