Carbon Footprint of Major Wheat Growing Areas of Guanzhong Plain Shaanxi Province of China Based on Farm Survey Data: A Nitrogen Dilemma

ABSTRACT Excessive nitrogen fertiliser use is a significant problem in Chinese crop production, contributing significantly to the large release of greenhouse gases. Boosting crop yield for global food security while reducing carbon footprint (CF) poses a challenge for sustainable agriculture. Based on 136 farms in Shaanxi province, China, we assessed the CF of wheat production by quantifying GHG emissions. The average farm carbon footprint (FCF) and product carbon footprint (PCF) for wheat production were 3.29 and 0.57 t CO 2 ‐eq t −1 grain and were higher than the wheat production in other countries around the globe. Nitrogen fertiliser contributed ~62.8% of the CF. High wheat yields (~6 t ha −1 ) were achievable with 150–200 kg N ha −1 , highlighting the potential to optimise N use for sustainability. Furthermore, the small‐sized farms had higher CF as compared to medium and large‐sized farms. The findings suggest that medium‐sized farms strike an optimal balance between high yields and reduced CF. Thus, this study concluded that the CF in wheat production could be affected by farm size and crop management practices. Overall, this research underscores the significance of enhancing N management in wheat production through improved agricultural practices and scaling up farm sizes. These measures can lead to increased yields while simultaneously reducing GHG emissions, thereby averting the trade‐offs between productivity and carbon costs.