Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) whose atmospheric concentration continues to rise, largely driven by nitrogen (N) inputs to agricultural soils. Over the past three decades, research on soil N 2 O emissions has advanced substantially, yet key uncertainties still constrain mitigation efforts. Here, we synthesize developments in measurement techniques, process understanding, microbial ecology, and modelling...

Aims Managed grasslands are important agro-ecosystems, consisting of grass monocultures with high nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs. This management results in low N use efficiency and high N losses to the environment. Growing mixtures of plant species with diverse N acquisition strategies can reduce N losses and maintain high grassland productivity, yet determining the best mixture remains a challenge. The aim of this study was...

Shifting towards healthy, plant‐based diets is widely recognized as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from food systems, primarily through reduced methane emissions from livestock. However, the implications of this transition for soil‐based GHG emissions, a major contributor to climate change, remain uncertain. We used the MAGNET economic model and the DayCent biogeochemical model to assess the impacts of die...

Species choice and richness in intensively managed grassland mixtures regulate soil carbon (C) input via rhizodeposition, with potential consequences for long‐term soil organic carbon storage. Based on a field trial with different grass–legume–forb mixtures, we removed roots from the soil, which was then subjected to particle‐size fractionation to trace fresh organic carbon (net C rhizodeposition) into particulate organic matt...