{"paper_id":"49cdd552-7d28-4526-a682-e5b893877147","body_text":"Long-term model simulation of yield and GHG emissions: Sustaining dryland winter wheat systems with one-time composted cattle manure application and annual cover cropping | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Long-term model simulation of yield and GHG emissions: Sustaining dryland winter wheat systems with one-time composted cattle manure application and annual cover cropping Mavis Badu Brempong, Urszula Norton, Rechiatu Asei This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9158197/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Dryland winter wheat-fallow rotation in the US Northern High Plains face soil fertility and climate-related challenges, which contribute to low yields and reduced sustainability. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and wheat yield were monitored following a one-time compost (0, 15, 30, and 45 Mg ha⁻¹) in 20015 combined with annual cover cropping (2:1 Austrian winter pea and oats) during fallow phases. This study used the DAYCENT biogeochemical model to assess climate-smartness of the management, and determine the optimal timing for compost re-application between 2015 to 2050. The model was validated using field GHG observations and wheat yields from 2016, 2017 and 2018. The model showed positive correlations between observed and simulated carbon dioxide (CO₂, R² = 0.62), methane (CH₄, R² = 0.64), nitrous oxide (N₂O, R² = 0.52) emissions, and grain yield (R² = 0.93). Simulations for the period between 2015 to 2050 revealed that CO₂ and N₂O emissions peaked at 923 mg C m -2 hr -1 and 78 µg N m -2 hr -1 around 7 years after one-time compost application; and remained elevated between 923 to 1030 mg C m -2 hr -1 and 57 to 78 µg N m -2 hr -1 until 2031 and 2033 respectively, before gradually declining. CH₄ was consistently assimilated throughout the simulation, with an average of 99% greater uptake in compost and annual cover-crop- amended soils. Wheat yield followed a similar trajectory, declining slightly during the first 3-5 years, then increasing until year 15 (2031), after which yields gradually declined across all treatments. The simulations suggest that a single 45 Mg ha -1 compost application integrated with annual cover cropping can enhance soil function, increase productivity, and maintain a favorable GHG profile for 10 – 15 years (up to 2030). Compost re-application is necessary beyond this period to sustain long-term agronomic and environmental benefits. DAYCENT model carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 14 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 14 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 19 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 19 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 18 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-9158197\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":609367002,\"identity\":\"f966d262-eaf0-4bf0-afb9-bfcf6783f033\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Mavis Badu Brempong\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABFklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCRiDvQFF/AARWnhQFRGjRSKBSC26s3sfPrq5wyZPPvLxsw8fd9Tl8/MfPvi5ouYOA7/08QvYtJjdOW5snHsmrdjwdprxzJlnDlvOnJGWLHnm2DMGyb6cAqxabqSxSee2HU7cODuHmZm37YCBwQ0eA8nGhsMMBmd4EnBoYf8N1jLzDEhLnYH9+fOffxLQwsYM0jJfggekhdnAgCGHDWoLO9YwMLtzjFka6JfEDTxpxoxAvxhI3Egzs2w4dphHsocHa4iZ3W5j/Jy7wyZxfvvhxwzAEDPg7z/8+GZDzWE5fh72B1j1gABjAwODwQEoAwaAVvAY4NUi34CmBQjw2DIKRsEoGAUjCQAAWgNoqdIFQH0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Council for Scientific and Industrial Research\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Mavis\",\"middleName\":\"Badu\",\"lastName\":\"Brempong\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":609367005,\"identity\":\"9bc97f81-ca31-4154-ab53-7012e24af3b6\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Urszula Norton\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"University of Wyoming\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Urszula\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Norton\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":609367008,\"identity\":\"48e5e360-9272-4a7a-9f72-c518ac948c65\",\"order_by\":2,\"name\":\"Rechiatu Asei\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Sunyani Technical University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Rechiatu\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Asei\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2026-03-18 10:38:35\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9158197/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9158197/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":105565103,\"identity\":\"9fb631b3-5522-4edc-96ee-731ab0eb26b7\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-03-27 12:51:56\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":1289466,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"daycentpaperwithrfigures.UNRECMBBB.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9158197/v1_covered_fd841f19-4fa6-467b-95d8-b72966ae22c0.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Long-term model simulation of yield and GHG emissions: Sustaining dryland winter wheat systems with one-time composted cattle manure application and annual cover cropping\",\"fulltext\":[],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":false,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":false,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":true,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":true,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":true,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"international-journal-of-plant-production\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"ijpo\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [International Journal of Plant Production](https://link.springer.com/journal/42106)\",\"snPcode\":\"42106\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://www.editorialmanager.com/ijpo/default2.aspx\",\"title\":\"International Journal of Plant Production\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"em\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Springer Hybrid\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":false},\"keywords\":\"DAYCENT model, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O)\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9158197/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9158197/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eDryland winter wheat-fallow rotation in the US Northern High Plains face soil fertility and climate-related challenges, which contribute to low yields and reduced sustainability. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and wheat yield were monitored following a one-time compost (0, 15, 30, and 45 Mg ha⁻¹) in 20015 combined with annual cover cropping (2:1 Austrian winter pea and oats) during fallow phases. This study used the DAYCENT biogeochemical model to assess climate-smartness of the management, and determine the optimal timing for compost re-application between 2015 to 2050. The model was validated using field GHG observations and wheat yields from 2016, 2017 and 2018. The model showed positive correlations between observed and simulated carbon dioxide (CO₂, R² = 0.62), methane (CH₄, R² = 0.64), nitrous oxide (N₂O, R² = 0.52) emissions, and grain yield (R² = 0.93). Simulations for the period between 2015 to 2050 revealed that CO₂ and N₂O emissions peaked at 923 mg C m\\u003csup\\u003e-2\\u003c/sup\\u003e hr\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and 78 µg N m\\u003csup\\u003e-2\\u003c/sup\\u003e hr\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e around \\u0026nbsp;7 years after one-time compost application; and remained elevated between 923 to 1030 mg C m\\u003csup\\u003e-2\\u003c/sup\\u003e hr\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and 57 to 78 µg N m\\u003csup\\u003e-2\\u003c/sup\\u003e hr\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e until 2031 and 2033 respectively, before gradually declining. CH₄ was consistently assimilated throughout the simulation, with an average of 99% greater uptake in compost and annual cover-crop- amended soils. Wheat yield followed a similar trajectory, declining slightly during the first 3-5 years, then increasing until year 15 (2031), after which yields gradually declined across all treatments. The simulations suggest that a single 45 Mg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e compost application integrated with annual cover cropping can enhance soil function, increase productivity, and maintain a favorable GHG profile for 10 – 15 years (up to 2030). Compost re-application is necessary beyond this period to sustain long-term agronomic and environmental benefits.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Long-term model simulation of yield and GHG emissions: Sustaining dryland winter wheat systems with one-time composted cattle manure application and annual cover cropping\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2026-03-24 14:49:13\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9158197/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0},{\"type\":\"decision\",\"content\":\"Revision requested\",\"date\":\"2026-04-14T15:43:28+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-04-14T06:26:54+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"234980975548836418433511947694668154537\",\"date\":\"2026-03-20T09:34:55+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewersInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-19T13:26:41+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorAssigned\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-19T05:50:59+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"checksComplete\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-19T05:50:09+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"submitted\",\"content\":\"International Journal of Plant Production\",\"date\":\"2026-03-18T10:29:28+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"international-journal-of-plant-production\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"ijpo\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [International Journal of Plant Production](https://link.springer.com/journal/42106)\",\"snPcode\":\"42106\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://www.editorialmanager.com/ijpo/default2.aspx\",\"title\":\"International Journal of Plant Production\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"em\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Springer Hybrid\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":false}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"d66e6648-f747-41b7-b0fb-09fb13049980\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"March 24th, 2026\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"under-review\",\"subjectAreas\":[],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2026-04-28T17:09:32+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":[],\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2026-03-24 14:49:13\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-9158197\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-9158197\",\"identity\":\"rs-9158197\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}