Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural soils is an important tool for climate change mitigation within the EU soil strategy for 2030 and can be achieved via the adoption of soil management strategies (SMS). These strategies may induce synergistic effects by simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or nitrogen (N) leaching. In contrast, other SMS may stimulate emissions of GHG such as nitrous oxide (N ₂ O) or methane (CH ₄ ), offsetting the climate change mitigation gained via SOC sequestration. Despite the importance of understanding trade‐offs and synergies for selecting sustainable SMS for European agriculture, knowledge on these effects remains limited. This review synthesizes existing knowledge, identifies knowledge gaps and provides research recommendations on trade‐offs and synergies between SOC sequestration or SOC accrual, non‐CO ₂ GHG emissions and N leaching related to selected SMS. We investigated 87 peer‐reviewed articles that address SMS and categorized them under tillage management, cropping systems, water management and fertilization and organic matter (OM) inputs. SMS, such as conservation tillage, adapted crop rotations, adapted water management, OM inputs by cover crops (CC), organic amendments (OA) and biochar, contribute to increase SOC stocks and reduce N leaching. Adoption of leguminous CC or specific cropping systems and adapted water management tend to create trade‐offs by stimulating N ₂ O emissions, while specific cropping systems or application of biochar can mitigate N ₂ O emissions. The effect of crop residues on N ₂ O emissions depends strongly on their C/N ratio. Organic agriculture and agroforestry clearly mitigate CH ₄ emissions but the impact of other SMS requires additional study. More experimental research is needed to study the impact of both the pedoclimatic conditions and the long‐term dynamics of trade‐offs and synergies. Researchers should simultaneously assess the impact of (multiple) agricultural SMS on SOC stocks, GHG emissions and N leaching. This review provides guidance to policymakers as well as a framework to design field experiments and model simulations, which can address knowledge gaps and non‐intentional effects of applying agricultural SMS meant to increase SOC sequestration.

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been recognized as a suitable tool for efficiency assessment of the economic and environmental performance of multiple similar units in the agri-food sector. In the present study, DEA methodologies were applied to 55 winter wheat farms in three farm sizes in Poland to benchmark the level of operational efficiency for each producer. Next, the potential reduction in the consumption levels of inputs were defined, and the environmental profits linked to these reduction targets were calculating. Our results indicate that 55% of the analysed farms operated efficiently. The technical efficiency scores of inefficient farms were 0.72 for small farms and 0.84 for medium and large ones. The production of 1 kg winter wheat results with average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 0.448, 0.481, and 0.411 kg CO₂ eq. per kg of grain, for small, medium, and large farms, respectively. The performed analysis shows that GHG emissions per hectare depend on farm size and ranged from 2,378 kg CO₂ eq. for the small farms to 2,759 kg CO₂ eq. for large farms. The reduction of material input in inefficient farms, converted into environmental gains, resulted in GHG emissions reduction of 25.7, 29.0, and 28.6% for small, medium, and large farms, respectively. The estimated potential reduction of global warming potential (GWP) according to the DEA for the whole sample ranged from 7 to 18%, and was dependent on farm size. The major contributor to GWP was nitrous oxide field emissions (49-52%), followed by nitrogen fertilizer (31-33%), and diesel (11-13%). Raising operational efficiency is recommended for potential environmental improvement in the surveyed region.

Soil management strategies involving the application of organic matter (OM) inputs (crop residues, green and livestock manure, slurry, digestate, compost and biochar) can increase soil carbon storage but simultaneously lead to an increase in non‐CO ₂ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as N ₂ O. Although multiple meta‐analyses have been conducted on the topic of OM input impacts on GHG, none has focused specifically on European arable soils. This study plugs this gap and can assist policymakers in steering European agriculture in a more sustainable direction. The objective of this meta‐analysis was to quantify how OM inputs of different nature and quality, but also the application strategy, can mitigate soil N ₂ O emissions in different pedoclimatic conditions in Europe. We quantitatively synthesised the results of over 50 field experiments conducted in 15 European countries. Diverse arable crops, mainly cereals, were cultivated in monoculture or in crop rotations on mineral soils. Cumulative N ₂ O emissions were monitored during periods of 30–1070 days in treatments, which received OM inputs, alone or in combination with mineral N fertiliser; and in controls fertilised with mineral N. The overall effect of OM inputs had a slight tendency to reduce N ₂ O emissions by 10% ( n = 53). With the increasing carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio of the OM inputs, this mitigation effect became more pronounced. In particular, compost and biochar significantly reduced N ₂ O emissions by 25% ( n = 6) and 33% ( n = 8) respectively. However, their effect strongly depended on pedoclimatic characteristics. Regarding the other types of OM inputs studied, a slight N ₂ O emission reduction can be achieved by their application alone, without mineral N fertiliser (by 16%, n = 17). In contrast, their co‐application with mineral N fertiliser elevated emissions to some extent compared to the control (by 14%, n = 22). We conclude that amongst the seven OM inputs studied, the application of compost and biochar are the most promising soil management practices, clearly demonstrating N ₂ O emission reduction compared to mineral N fertiliser. In contrast, other OM inputs had a small tendency to mitigate N ₂ O emissions only when applied without mineral N fertiliser.

Our paper uses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines in combination with the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) to estimate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions at the farm level. The study adopts a cross-cutting approach that combines emissions related to different categories (agriculture and energy/fuel). Overall, the aim was to assess the intensities of emissions from conventional farms classified according to production type, economic size, and utilized agricultural area (UAA). The results show that large variations in farms justify the micro approach to farm evaluation. Applying the methodology revealed that conventional dairy farm types, medium-small (25≤€<50) and medium-large (20<=UAA<30), were characterized by the highest GHG emissions intensity indexes compared to other farm types and sizes. The FADN originally was developed for evaluating the income of agricultural holdings and the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, our study demonstrates that the current FADN database could also be used to provide indirect information on environmental farm performance, identify differences between farm types, and give insight into the environmental impact caused by the agricultural sectors in European countries. These results may also be useful for farm advisors to benchmark some aspects of farm environmental performance using farm financial data.

The aim of this study was to compare four tools for calculation of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions under the renewable energy directive. All the tools follow the methodology of the international panel on climate change. The first calculations of N₂O fluxes were based on the Tier 1 method using the BioGrace tool. The second and the third ones followed the Tier 2 methodology, applying the global nitrous oxide calculator and the Lesschen emission factors, respectively. The last assessment was performed in accordance with the Tier 3 approach by using the denitrification- decomposition model. The N₂O fluxes were calculated for rapeseed cultivation in a 4-year crop rotation in Poland. The same input data were applied in all methods. The average of N₂O emissions varied in the range of 1.99-3.78 kg N₂O ha^-1 y^-1, depending on the approach used (Lesschen emission factors > denitrificationdecomposition > global nitrous oxide calculator > BioGrace). This paper illustrates that, at country level, the Lesschen emission factors method worked as well as the denitrification-decomposition model for Poland. The advantage of this approach is the simplicity of collecting the necessary data, in contrast to process-based modelling. Moreover, the Tier 2 method provides mitigation measures similar to the denitrification-decomposition model, related to crop type, climatic conditions, and management practices.

Rolnictwo jest drugim po sektorze energii emitentem gazów cieplarnianych (GHG), których stężenie w atmosferze wzrasta w wyniku działalności człowieka. W celu ograniczenia emisji GHG kraje ratyfikujące porozumienie z Kioto zobowiązały się do sporządzania rocznych raportów emisji oraz do ich redukcji. Celem badań była analiza zmian wielkości emisji z rolnictwa na świecie, w Unii Europejskiej (UE) i Polsce w latach 1990-2014. W badaniach wykorzystano bazę danych Organizacji Narodów Zjednoczonych do Spraw Wyżywienia i Rolnictwa (FAOSTAT), Ramowej Konwencji Narodów Zjednoczonych w sprawie zmian klimatu (UNFCCC) oraz Światowego Instytutu Zasobów (CAIT). Z przeprowadzonej analizy wynika, że w badanym okresie na świecie nastąpił wzrost emisji GHG ogółem o 85%, a w rolnictwie o 15%. Jednakże UE należąca do grupy krajów rozwiniętych tj. Aneksu I obniżyła emisje ogółem i z rolnictwa odpowiednio o 24 i 23%. Redukcja emisji była efektem wdrażania pro środowiskowych regulacji prawnych.