Achieving least cost GHG abatement opportunities in Australian grain farms - case study simulation outputs

This collection consists of annual values for gross margins, changes in sequestered carbon and soil-based emissions of nitrous oxide simulated for eight case study farms (described in publications included in Related Links). The farms were located across the three agroecological regions of Australia’s grains belt and had diverse soils, climate, crops and management practices. The farmers’ usual management was described together with a range of management practice scenarios that might reduce the net global warming potential (GWP) of soil-based emissions from (1) increasing sequestered carbon and/or (2) reducing N2O emissions. The scenarios included altering the timing and amount of N fertiliser applied, burning or retaining crop residues, using manure, increasing the cropping intensity (i.e., average number of crops per year using short term cover crops), and combinations of these practices. Gross margins were calculated annually from yields using crop price and direct costs of production applicable to each farm. The net GWP and gross margins of scenarios was compared to a high emissions scenario consisting of usual practice with burnt residues imposed. The scenarios were simulated for a 100-year period and repeated with ten start dates.