Environmental Impact of Pasture-Based Milk Production in Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems

The environmental impact of agricultural production systems, particularly dairy farming, has become central to discussions on climate change and sustainability, especially in regions with high agricultural activity and policy-driven climate targets. This dissertation investigated the environmental effects of pasture-based milk production within an organic integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) under low-input conditions, conducted over two years (2021–2023) at the Lindhof experimental farm of Christian Albrecht University Kiel, focusing on enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, carbon (C) dynamics, and nitrogen (N) losses. The first objective assessed enteric CH₄ emissions from pasture-based Jersey dairy cows using eddy covariance (EC), feed intake, and milk yield data across four grazing campaigns, with footprint (FP) modeling to improve spatial resolution. Measured emissions were lower than IPCC Tier 2 estimates and other prediction equations, underlining the eco-efficiency of low-input pasture-based systems and the suitability of EC for field-scale CH₄ measurement. The second objective evaluated C dynamics across a ley-arable crop sequence using EC, field-scale management data, and net ecosystem carbon balance over two years. Results confirmed the soil C sequestration potential of grass-clover (GC) leys and demonstrated how management influences C dynamics, highlighting ICLSs' potential to enhance soil C retention while reducing net CO₂ emissions. The third objective examined how cultivation timing affects nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and nitrate (NO₃) leaching after GC ley termination. Spring plowing significantly reduced both cumulative N₂O emissions and NO₃ leaching during subsequent wheat cultivation compared to autumn plowing, providing a practical strategy to minimize N losses in ley-arable systems. This dissertation demonstrates that integrating pasture-based milk production into low-input ICLSs can reduce GHG emissions, improve nutrient cycling, enhance soil C retention, and lower input reliance. The findings provide empirical data supporting ICLSs as a viable strategy contributing equally to Germany's Climate Protection Act and the protection of marine environments from nutrient inputs.

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