PRECISION AGRICLTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING: DIGITAL TECHNIQUE TO ESTIMATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM WHEAT FIELDS AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT TILLAGE PRACTICES IN BAMENDA, CAMEROON

 Engonwie Sharon Mbachan, Ngwa Martin Ngwabie

DOI: 10.26480/bda.01.2025.25.29

ABSTRACT
Tillage operations alter the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from soils. Given the increasing concern of the impacts of agricultural practices on climate change, studies on the impact, and the mitigation potential of tillage practices on greenhouse gas emissions are required to enable widespread adoption. This study aimed to apply digital technology to accurately estimate tillage impacts on greenhouse gas emissions under wheat cultivation in Bamenda, Cameroon. A field study was executed during the 2023 and 2024 crop growing seasons in Bambili, at the research field of the College of Technology of the University of Bamenda, Cameroon. Five different tillage practices namely; disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing (mechanized tillage), burning in ridges (“Ankara”), and traditional ridge tillage (traditional tillage practices), no-tillage, and strip tillage (conservation tillage practices) were applied and replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 and CH4) emitted from the wheat field were measured insitu using a digital gas measuring device. Tillage practices influenced CO2 and CH4 emissions during both the 2023, and 2024 cropping seasons. Traditional ridge tillage and burning in ridges recorded the mean highest CO2 and CH4 emissions while no-tillage, and strip tillage emitted the lowest CO2 emissions during both years. Equally, disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing emitted moderate CO2 emissions, and least CH4 emissions while no tillage released high amounts of CH4. Thus, strip tillage with low emissions of both gases is a more sustainable, environmentally safe tillage practice recommended to wheat farmers in Bamenda.

KEYWORDS
Precision agriculture, Sensors, Farm machinery, Tillage practices, Greenhouse gas emissions