RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Precision conservation for co-management of carbon and nitrogen on the Canadian prairies JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation FD Soil and Water Conservation Society SP 396 OP 401 VO 60 IS 6 A1 D.J. Pennock YR 2005 UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/60/6/396.abstract AB Agriculture is targeted to make a substantial contribution to Canada's greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. To achieve a net reduction in emissions any gains in soil organic carbon storage cannot come at the expense of enhanced nitrous oxide emissions from the soil. In non-level agricultural landscapes of the Canadian Prairies the potential for significant soil organic carbon gain due to adoption of soil conserving practices is greatest on convex upper slope positions, which have experienced major losses of soil organic carbon due to cultivation. The potential for soil organic carbon gain in lower slope positions is limited due to their high soil organic carbon contents, but targeted wetland and riparian vegetation restoration programs could lead to significant above ground carbon gains. Several studies have shown that emissions of nitrous oxide from lower slope positions are significantly higher than the convex slope positions, and that improvements in nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency through site-specific management has the potential to significantly reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from these positions. Because of the close relationship between landform position and the key carbon and nitrogen processes, quantitative landform segmentation procedures can be used to delineate precision conservation management zones in these landscapes. Site-specific management practices such as reduced or no-till, seeding to grass, wetland restoration, and site-specific nitrogen (N) management can then be implemented to simultaneously increase soil organic carbon stores on eroded upper slope segments while preserving existing stores of soil organic carbon and reducing N2O emissions from lower slope segments. Close cooperation between precision conservation professionals and agronomists is required to ensure that information required by producers is available to guide them in their decision making and implementation of precision conservation for co-management of carbon and nitrogen.