Evaluation of the potential of rapeseed as green manure under conditions of elevated temperatures

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 18, Kremlevskaya str., Kazan, 420008, Russia

^* Corresponding author: polinazwerewa@yandex.ru

Abstract

Climate change affects all areas of human life, including agriculture. In agriculture, techniques have been developed and can be widely implemented to capture CO₂ from the atmosphere and reduce the carbon footprint of products, and, accordingly, the negative effects of climate change. One such approach is the use of green manure. In this paper, we assessed the CO₂ capture potential of rapeseed plants grown at different temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) based on data on root growth, shoot growth, biomass increase, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, in addition, the impact of rapeseed cultivation and increased temperatures on CO₂ emissions from the soil based on respiratory activity data. Elevated temperature (30°C) led to an increase in the length of rapeseed roots by 1.2–1.4 times, a decrease in shoot growth and biomass by 1.3–2.2 times, an intensification of photorespiration, and an increase in CO₂ emission from the soil by 1.5–2.5 times.