Assessing potential of CO₂ sequestration by sowing precision of legume in support of sustainable agriculture

In response to the forecasts of ongoing global climate change, many studies emphasize the need for continuous monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions using the carbon footprint method in order to support environmental management in agricultural production, and thus slow down the rate of growth of the concentration of these gases. The use of low-emission technologies, including sequestration, which involves reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, is currently a priority action for sustainable development in agriculture, thus it is important to search for new solutions.

The material for this research consisted of the results of rigorous 5-year field experiments on yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) as a legume crop. The first factor was sowing method: row sowing (traditional) and single-grain sowing. The second factor was sowing rate: 40, 60, 80, and 100 germinated seeds per square meter. Gas emissions were calculated as the sum of direct and indirect emissions produced during fuel combustion by tractors participating in all technological operations of cultivation, gas emissions from the field as a result of the use of mineral fertilizers and their production, emissions related to seed preparation, pesticide application, and the use of electricity and agricultural machines.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of row sowing and single-grain sowing, as well as sowing rate, on the CO₂ sequestration and productivity of yellow lupine.

The carbon footprint values for yellow lupin cultivation calculated on the basis of multi-annual data for an area of 1 ha amounted to an average of 1522.6 kg CO₂ equivalent. The lowest average emission values were calculated for the lowest sowing rate and precise single-grain sowing. The increase in seed yield due to precise single-grain sowing in the sowing density range of 40-80 plants per square meter reduced the carbon footprint of the legume crop.