Impact of Crop Type and Soil Characteristics on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Latvian Agricultural Systems

This study investigates the impact of crop type and soil characteristics on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latvian agriculture, offering insights directly relevant to policymakers and practitioners focused on sustainable land management. From 2020 to 2023, emissions were monitored across four agricultural sites featuring different crop rotations: blueberry monoculture, continuous maize cropping, winter barley–winter rapeseed rotation, and spring barley–bean–winter wheat–fallow rotation. Results indicate that GHG emissions vary widely depending on crop and soil type. CO2 emissions varied significantly based on both crop and soil type, with organic soils under maize cultivation in Mārupe averaging 184.91 kg CO2 ha−1 day−1, while mineral soils in Bērze under spring barley emitted 60.98 kg CO2 ha−1 day−1. Methane absorption was highest in well-aerated mineral soils, reaching 6.11 g CH4 ha−1 day−1 in spring barley fields in Auce. Maize cultivation contributed the highest N2O emissions, reaching 33.15 g N2O ha−1 day−1. These findings underscore that targeted practices, like optimized crop rotation and fertilizer use, can substantially reduce GHG emissions. Climate variability across locations affects soil moisture and temperature, but these factors were statistically controlled to isolate the impacts of crop type and soil characteristics on emissions. This study provides valuable data to inform sustainable agricultural policies and help achieve EU climate goals.