Integrated nutrient management influences greenhouse gas emissions, biomass production and carbon balance in jute cultivation

Jute is an important cash crop in Bangladesh. It is cultivated aerobically, which emits greenhouse gas (GHG) and enhances soil carbon. Not much information is available on GHG emission patterns, carbon dioxide absorption (CO 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ) release, and soil net carbon sequestration during jute cultivation. GHG fluxes have been evaluated by using the closed static chamber technique. Imposed treatments were Vermicompost and Cow dung with an integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), as well as the sole recommended commercial fertilizers with three applications during 2022–2023. Vermicompost-IPNS produced the highest total biomass (13.35 t ha⁻¹) and fiber yield (3.89 t ha⁻¹) compared to sole NPKSZn fertilization. Across all treatments, stick biomass constituted 50–52% of total biomass. Without life-cycle assessment (LCA), Vermicompost-IPNS showed maximum estimated net CO 2 absorption of 4.60 kg CO 2 eq. kg − 1 fiber production and release of 3.34 kg O 2 kg − 1 fiber production. CO 2 absorptions were 0.94–1.09 kg and 4.56–4.73 kg for each kg fiber production in LCA and without LCA, respectively. Based on treatments, estimated O 2 release rates were 3.32–3.44 kg without LCA and 0.68–0.79 kg with LCA for each kg fiber production. Use of commercial fertilizers at recommended rates, Vermicompost at 2 t ha − 1 as IPNS-based fertilizers (Vermicompost-IPNS) and Cow dung at 2 t ha − 1 as IPNS-based fertilizers (Cow dung-IPNS) treatments resulted in a positive net ecosystem carbon sequestration. Vermicompost-IPNS added 411–438 kg ha⁻¹ season − 1 more carbon compared to other treatments. Thus, Jute cultivation is helpful in minimizing GHG emissions from crop agriculture.