Co-benefits and trade-offs of water quality mitigation measures on greenhouse gas emissions from New Zealand dairy systems

<p dir="ltr">As part of government climate change policy, New Zealand dairy farmers will be encouraged to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a proposed pricing mechanism. With integrated farm plans on the horizon, farmers need information on how mitigations for water quality will impact GHG emissions. Using a typology approach that captured the main production attributes and drivers of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses to water we assessed the impact of 12 current N and P contaminant mitigations on GHG co-benefits or trade-offs. Four of the mitigations had a co-benefit effect, with most of these being N mitigation measures.<br>Trade-offs were detected for two water quality mitigations (stand-off pads and deferring effluent application), resulting in an increase in estimated GHG emissions. The remaining six water quality mitigations tested, either had a minimal impact, or had both a tradeoff and co-benefit. Our data provides pastoral farmers and rural professionals with information to guide initial conversations on options to reduce losses to water and air for developing integrated farm plans</p>