69
Identification of Adaptation Options for Managing Risk
Table 4.2 Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential of Adaptation Options (continued) Adaptation measure
Adaptation option reference number
Rangeland rehabilitation and management
C.20
Intercropping to maximize use of moisture Optimize use of irrigation water (for example, irrigation at critical stages of crop growth, irrigating at night) Use water-efficient crop varieties
C.27 C.28
C.29
Mitigation impact Degraded rangeland may be able to sequester additional carbon by boosting plant productivity through fertilization, irrigation, improved grazing, introduction of legumes, and/or use of improved grass species. Increases carbon inputs to soil and fosters soil carbon sequestration. Minimize CO2 emissions from energy used for pumping while maintaining high yields and crop-residue production. Minimize CO2 emissions from energy used for pumping while maintaining high yields and crop-residue production.
Mitigation potential
Sources: Islami et al. 2009; Medina and Iglesias 2010; Paustian et al. 2006; Smith et al. 2005, 2008; Weiske 2007. Note: CH4 = methane, CO2 = carbon dioxide, GHG = greenhouse gas; = high potential, = medium potential, = low potential.
of agricultural adaptation in Europe (Medina and Iglesias 2010; Paustian et al. 2006; Smith et al. 2005, 2008; Weiske 2007). The results of this review were used to corroborate the mitigation potentials identified in the SNC and to provide additional mitigation potentials for adaptive measures that were not explicitly quantified in the SNC. Each year Albania’s agricultural sector emits approximately 1.4 million tons of CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions, which are generated by CO2, nitrous oxide, and methane (Islami et al. 2009). Mitigation of CO2 emissions is primarily enabled by adaptive crop yield and cropland management practices that increase soil carbon content. Soil carbon content is augmented by either enhancing the uptake of atmospheric carbon in agricultural soils, or by r educing carbon losses from agricultural soils. Specific adaptive practices that promote carbon soil sequestration include changing fallow season and mulching practices to retain moisture and organic matter and introducing cropping systems that promote high residue yields (that is, crop rotation, strip cropping, intercropping, cover cropping, etc.). Adaptive practices that slow rates of soil decomposition and reduce soil carbon losses include reduced till and no till farming. Adaptive practices also have the ability to significantly reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions are largely driven by fertilizer overuse and misuse, which increases soil nitrogen content and generates nitrous oxide losses. By improving fertilizer application techniques, specifically through more efficient allocation, timing, and placement of fertilizers, nitrous oxide emissions can be reduced while maintaining crop yields. Mitigation of methane emissions, on the other hand, is largely enabled by increasing the efficiency of livestock production. Optimizing breed choices, for example, serves to increase Reducing the Vulnerability of Albania’s Agricultural Systems to Climate Change http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0047-4