Preliminary findings of a two-year study from the University of the Free State (UFS) Kenilworth Experimental Farm indicate that climate-smart agriculture interventions, such as legume rotation and no-till practices, have the potential to reduce the intensity of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, particularly highly radiative gases like nitrous oxide (N₂O).

The current project of UFS Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences lecturer and researcher Dr Jerry Dlamini focuses on investigating the impact of various conservation agriculture interventions on GHG emissions, primarily targeting N₂O, methane, and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

“This is significant, as N₂O has a global warming potential 100 times greater than CO₂ over a 100-year horizon, meaning its impact on ozone depletion persists far longer despite being emitted in smaller quantities,” he explained.

In South Africa, rainfed agriculture is vital in food production, contributing substantially to the nation's agricultural output.

However, this sector also stands as a notable contributor to GHG emissions, primarily through activities such as livestock farming, fertiliser use and changes in land use.

This two-year project, from December 2022 to December 2024, is a collaborative effort between European and African universities and institutions, including Rothamsted Research in the UK, University College Dublin in Ireland, University of Nottingham in the UK, University of Poznan in Poland, the British Geological Surveys, the University of Zambia, the University of Zimbabwe, and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi.

The project is funded by the European Joint Programme and has a budget of R22-million.

GHG emissions represent a significant global concern, as they drive climate change. This concern is particularly pronounced in rain-fed agriculture, where understanding and addressing these emissions are crucial for ensuring sustainable agricultural practices, Dlamini said.

He is advocating for increased research efforts to quantify GHG emissions from South African croplands.

“Field-based measurements, similar to methodologies employed by other nations, are important to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of South Africa's GHG inventories submitted annually to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and to devise effective mitigation strategies,” he emphasised.