Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Economics for Irrigated Cropping Systems in Northeastern Colorado

Recent soil and crop management technologies have potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions; however, these management strategies must be profitable if they are to be adopted by producers. The economic feasibility of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in irrigated cropping systems was evaluated for 5 yr on a Fort Collins clay loam soil (a fine‐loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Haplustalf). Cropping systems included conventional tillage continuous corn ( Zea mays L.) (CT‐CC), no‐till continuous corn (NT‐CC), and no‐till corn–bean (NT‐CB) including 1 yr soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and 1 yr dry bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The study included six N fertilization rates ranging from 0 to 246 kg ha −1 Results showed highest average net returns for NT‐CB, exceeding net returns for NT‐CC and CT‐CC by US$182 and US$228 ha −1 , respectively, at economically optimum N fertilizer rates. Net global warming potential (GWP) generally increased with increasing N fertilizer rate with the exception of NT‐CC, where net GWP initially declined and then increased at higher N rates. Combining economic and net GWP measurements showed that producers have an economic incentive to switch from CT‐CC to NT‐CB, increasing annual average net returns by US$228 ha −1 while reducing annual net GWP by 929 kg CO 2 equivalents ha −1 The greatest GWP reductions (1463 kg CO 2 equivalents ha −1 ) could be achieved by switching from CT‐CC to NT‐CC while also increasing net returns, but the presence of a more profitable NT‐CB alternative means NT‐CC is unlikely to be chosen without additional economic incentives.