Seasonal variation and fire effects on CH4, N2O and CO2 exchange in savanna soils of northern Australia

Tropical savanna ecosystems are a major contributor to global CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O greenhouse gas exchange. Savanna fire events represent large, discrete C emissions but the importance of ongoing soil-atmosphere gas exchange is less well understood. Seasonal rainfall and fire events are likely to impact upon savanna soil microbial processes involved in N₂O and CH₄ exchange. We measured soil CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes in savanna woodland (Eucalyptus tetrodonta/Eucalyptus miniata trees above sorghum grass) at Howard Springs, Australia over a 16 month period from October 2007 to January 2009 using manual chambers and a field-based gas chromatograph connected to automated chambers. The effect of fire on soil gas exchange was investigated through two controlled burns and protected unburnt areas. Fire is a frequent natural and management action in these savanna (every 1-2 years). There was no seasonal change and no fire effect upon soil N₂O exchange. Soil N₂O fluxes were very low, generally between −1.0 and 1.0 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹, and often below the minimum detection limit. There was an increase in soil NH₄⁺ in the months after the 2008 fire event, but no change in soil NO₃⁻. There was considerable nitrification in the early wet season but minimal nitrification at all other times.Savanna soil was generally a net CH₄ sink that equated to between −2.0 and −1.6 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ with no clear seasonal pattern in response to changing soil moisture conditions. Irrigation in the dry season significantly reduced soil gas diffusion and as a consequence soil CH₄ uptake. There were short periods of soil CH₄ emission, up to 20 μg C m⁻² h⁻¹, likely to have been caused by termite activity in, or beneath, automated chambers. Soil CO₂ fluxes showed a strong bimodal seasonal pattern, increasing fivefold from the dry into the wet season. Soil moisture showed a weak relationship with soil CH₄ fluxes, but a much stronger relationship with soil CO₂ fluxes, explaining up to 70% of the variation in unburnt treatments. Australian savanna soils are a small N₂O source, and possibly even a sink. Annual soil CH₄ flux measurements suggest that the 1.9 million km² of Australian savanna soils may provide a C sink of between −7.7 and −9.4 Tg CO₂-e per year. This sink estimate would offset potentially 10% of Australian transport related CO₂-e emissions. This CH₄ sink estimate does not include concurrent CH₄ emissions from termite mounds or ephemeral wetlands in Australian savannas.     

Physical,chemical and microbiological soil attributes influence soil greenhouse gases fluxes in Atlantic Forest and pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in Brazil

Forest soils can be sources or sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs) depending on soil attributes that affect biomass and activity of soil micro-organisms involved in GHGs fluxes. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that soil physical, chemical and microbiological attributes, under different forests ecosystems, affect the soil GHGs [nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄)] fluxes. The study was carried out in two locations in southern Brazil in 2019, with three experimental plots of 900 m² in native forests of the Atlantic Forest biome and in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations. Air samples released from the soil surface were analysed for concentration and flux of CO₂, N₂O and CH₄. Soil samples were analysed for chemical attributes, density (Ds), soil microporosity (MiPs), soil macroporosity (MaPs), total porosity (TP), water-filled pore space (WFPS), microbial biomass carbon (MB-C), basal respiration (BR), microbial (qMic) and metabolic (qCO₂) quotient and activities of soil urease and β-glucosidase enzymes. The seasons influenced the CO₂ and N₂O emissions, probably because of the changes in seasonal conditions. However, native forests consumed more CH₄ than pine plantations. Meanwhile, the native forests presented soils with lower Ds (average 21.5% lower), more TP (average 12.5% higher) and more moisture (average 33% higher), which improved the microbiological attributes of the soil (20% to 60% more MB-C, 67% higher urease activity and 30% higher β-glucosidase activity) compared with pine plantations. Native forests contributed more intensely to CH₄ consumption than pine plantations because they present better physical, chemical and microbiological soil conditions. Therefore, it is possible that forestry practices that improve soil physical attributes are likely to contribute to increase CH₄ consumption, and to reduce GHGs emissions in forest ecosystems.     

Variations in the Diurnal Flux of Greenhouse Gases from Soil and Optimizing the Sampling Protocol for Closed Static Chambers

There is no standardized method for the sampling of greenhouse gas fluxes from soil. Two methods are primarily used: closed dynamic chamber (CDC) and closed static chamber (CSC) systems. The most complex and costly are the CDC systems, which can sample gases in situ. However, the low-cost CSC systems are being increasingly used in which the gas samples are collected manually and analyzed off-site at a later date. Given their growing popularity, it is important to optimize the sampling procedure of the CSC systems to ensure that the measurements are both repeatable and representative. Samples from a commercial potato crop were collected in the morning and afternoon at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after the chambers were closed, and the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) were determined using gas chromatography. The concentrations of CO₂ and N₂O inside chambers increased linearly over time, whereas the concentration of CH₄ remained constant. The fluxes of CO₂ and N₂O from soil were greater in the afternoon than the morning, whereas the flux of CH₄ was greater in the morning. For longer-term single-point soil flux monitoring using CSCs with a volume of 6.3 L, it is recommended that samples are collected in the morning at 0, 30, and 60 min after chambers are closed. This approach will ensure that the concentration of the gases are representative and will allow for a high level of repeatability and certainty in the results.     

The effect of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on emissions of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane from a wheat field in a semi-arid environment in northern China

There are no reports on the effects of elevated carbon dioxide [CO₂] on the fluxes of N₂O, CO₂ and CH₄ from semi-arid wheat cropping systems. These three soil gas fluxes were measured using closed chambers under ambient (420 ± 18 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated (565 ± 37 μmol mol⁻¹) at the Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment experimental facility in northern China. Measurements were made over five weeks on a wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Zhongmai 175). Elevated [CO₂] increased N₂O and CO₂ emission from soil by 60% and 15%, respectively, but had no significant effect on CH₄ flux. There was no significant interaction between [CO₂] and N application rate on these gas fluxes, probably because soil N was not limiting. At least 22% increase in C storage is required to offset the observed increase in greenhouse gas emissions under elevated [CO₂].     

Snow cover and soil moisture controls of freeze–thaw-related soil gas fluxes from a typical semi-arid grassland soil: a laboratory experiment

In situ field measurements as well as targeted laboratory studies have shown that freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) affect soil trace gas fluxes. However, most of past laboratory studies adjusted soil moisture before soil freezing, thereby neglecting that snow cover or water from melting snow may modify effects of FTCs on soil trace gas fluxes. In the present laboratory study with a typical semi-arid grassland soil, three different soil moisture levels (32 %, 41 %, and 50 % WFPS) were established (a) prior to soil freezing or (b) by adding fresh snow to the soil surface after freezing to simulate field conditions and the effect of the melting snow on CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes during FTCs more realistically. Our results showed that adjusting soil moisture by watering before soil freezing resulted in significantly different cumulative fluxes of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O throughout three FTCs as compared to the snow cover treatment, especially at a relatively high soil moisture level of 50 % WFPS. An increase of N₂O emissions was observed during thawing for both treatments. However, in the watering treatment, this increase was highest in the first thawing cycle and decreased in successive cycles, while in the snow cover treatment, a repetition of the FTCs resulted in a further increase of N₂O emissions. These differences might be partly due to the different soil water dynamics during FTCs in the two treatments. CO₂ emissions were a function of soil moisture, with emissions being largest at 50 % WFPS and smallest at 32 % WFPS. The largest N₂O emissions were observed at WFPS values around 50 %, whereas there were only small or negligible N₂O emissions from soil with relatively low soil water content, which indicates that a threshold value of soil moisture might exist that triggers N₂O peaks during thawing.     

不同耕作条件下豆麦双序列轮作农田土壤温室气体的排放及影响因素研究

为了研究耕作措施对双序列轮作农田土壤温室气体的排放及影响, 采用CO₂分析仪、静态箱 气相色谱法在陇中黄土高原半干旱区对传统耕作不覆盖、免耕不覆盖、免耕秸秆覆盖和传统耕作+秸秆还田4种耕作措施下豆麦双序列轮作农田土壤温室气体(CO₂、N₂O和CH₄)的排放及影响因素进行了连续测定和分析。结果表明: 测定期内4种耕作措施下农田土壤均表现为CO₂源、N₂O源和CH₄净吸收汇; 除传统耕作不覆盖措施, 其他3种耕作措施不同程度地减少了2种轮作序列土壤的N₂O排放通量, 并显著增加了土壤对CH4的吸收。CO₂和N₂O的排放通量分别与地表、地下5 cm处、地下10 cm处的土壤温度呈极显著和显著正相关关系, 相关系数分别为0.92^**和0.89^**、0.95^**和0.91^**、0.77^*和0.62^*; 而CH₄吸收通量与不同地层的温度之间无明显的相关关系; CO₂和CH₄的通量与0~5 cm、5~10 cm的土壤含水量均呈显著正相关关系, 相关系数分别为0.69^*和0.72^*、0.77^*和0.64^*, 而与10~30 cm土壤含水量无明显相关关系; N₂O排放通量与各层次的土壤含水量之间均呈不显著负相关关系。对2种轮作序列各处理下土壤中排放的3种温室气体的增温潜势计算综合得出: 4种耕作措施中, 免耕不覆盖处理可相对减少土壤温室气体的排放量, 进而降低温室效应。     

Applicability of the soil gradient method for estimating soil–atmosphere CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes for steppe soils in Inner Mongolia

For evaluating the applicability of the soil gradient method as a substitute for CO₂‐, CH₄‐, and N₂O‐flux measurements in steppe, we carried out chamber measurements and determined soil gas concentration at an ungrazed (UG99) and a grazed (WG) site in Inner Mongolia, China. The agreement of the concentration‐based flux estimates with measured chamber‐based fluxes varied largely depending on the respective GHG in the sequence CO₂ > CH₄ >> N₂O. A calibration of the gas‐transport parameter used to calculate fluxes based on soil gas concentrations improved the results considerably for CO₂ and CH₄. After calibration, the average deviation from the chamber‐based annual cumulative flux for both sites was 11.5%, 10.5%, and 59% for CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O. The gradient method did not constitute an adequate stand‐alone substitute for greenhouse‐gas flux estimation since a calibration using chamber‐based measurements was necessary and vigorous production processes were confined to the uppermost, almost water‐saturated soil layer.     

Tillage-induced environmental conditions in soil and substrate limitation determine biogenic gas production

Tillage changes soil environmental conditions and controls the distribution of residues in the soil, both actions that affect the production and emission of soil biogenic gases (CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄). The objective of this study was to determine how tillage-induced environmental conditions and substrate quality affect the mineralization rate of easily metabolizable compounds and the subsequent production of these gases. Carbon compounds, with and without nitrogen, were applied to soil cropped to maize under tilled and no-till systems. Following substrate application in the spring and summer, biogenic gases were measured periodically at the soil surface (flux) and within the profile (concentration) at 10-, 20-, and 30-cm depths (i.e., within, at the bottom of, and below the plough layer). Strong CO₂ and N₂O responses to sucrose and glycine in both the field and the laboratory indicate that the soil was C- and N-limited. Surface fluxes of CO₂ and N₂O were greater in soils amended with glycine than with sucrose and were greater in tilled than no-till soils. Transient emission of CH₄ following the addition of glycine was observed and could be attributed to inhibition of N mineralization and nitrification processes on CH₄ oxidation. Laboratory and field measurements indicated that the larger substrate-induced CO₂ emission from the tilled soils could not be attributed to differences in the total biomass or the basal respiratory activity of the soils. Thus, there appears to be no underlying difference in the functional capacity of the microbial communities under different tillage regimes. Comparison of gas profiles indicates relative accumulation of CO₂ at depth in soils under no-till, as well as greater decline in profile CO₂ content with time in the tilled compared to the no-till soil. These results support the conclusion that greater CO₂ efflux from the tilled soils resulted from more rapid gas diffusion through the profile. Hence, the observed differences in gas fluxes between tilled and no-till soils can be attributed to differences in physical environment.     

Dissolved organic matter and inorganic N jointly regulate greenhouse gases fluxes from forest soils with different moistures during a freeze-thaw period

ABSTRACT

Antecedent soil moisture before freezing can affect greenhouse gases (GHG) fluxes from soils during thaw, but their critical threshold values for GHG fluxes and the underlying mechanisms are still not clear. By using packed soil-core incubation experiments, we have studied nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes from a mature broadleaf and Korean pine-mixed forest soil and an adjacent white birch forest soil with nine levels of soil moisture ranging from 10 to 90% water-filled pore space (WFPS) during a 2-month freezing at ?8°C and the following 10-day thaw at 10°C. The threshold values of soil moisture ranged from 50 to 70% WFPS for CH₄ uptake and from 70 to 90% WFPS for N₂O and CO₂ emissions from the two soils during the freeze-thaw period. Under the optimum soil moisture condition, fulvic-like compounds with high bioavailability contributed more than 60% of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the soil. Cumulative N₂O emissions from forest soils during the freeze-thaw period were greatest when the concentration ratio of nitrate-N to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was 0.04 g N g^?1 C. Cumulative soil CO₂ emissions and CH₄ uptake during the freeze-thaw period were both regulated by the interaction between soil DOC and net N mineralization. The activities of β-1,4-glucosidase and β-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, microbial biomass C and N, and the microbial biomass C-to-N ratios, were all significantly correlated to the soil N₂O, CO₂, and CH₄ fluxes. Overall, upon a freeze-thaw period with different soil moistures, GHG fluxes from forest soils were jointly regulated by inorganic N and DOC concentrations, and related to the labile components of DOM released into the soil, which could be strictly controlled by the related microbial properties.     

How do greenhouse gas emissions vary with biofertilizer type and soil temperature and moisture in a tropical grassland?

Greenhouse gases are known to play an important role in global warming. In this study, we determined the effects of selected soil and climate variables on nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from a tropical grassland fertilized with chicken slurry, swine slurry, cattle slurry, and cattle compost. Cumulative N₂O emissions did not differ between treatments and varied from 29.26 to 32.85 mg N m^-2. Similarly, cumulative CH₄ emissions were not significantly different among the treatments and ranged from 6.34 to 57.73 mg CH₄ m^-2. Slurry and compost application induced CO₂ emissions that were significantly different from those in the control treatment. The CH₄ conversion factors measured were 0.21%, 1.39%, 4.39%, and 5.07% for cattle compost, chicken slurry, swine slurry, and cattle slurry, respectively, differing from the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The fraction of added N emitted as N₂O was 0.39%, which was lower than the IPCC default value of 2%. Our findings suggest that N₂O emissions could be mitigated by replacing synthetic fertilizer sources with either biofertilizer or compost. Our results indicate the following:N₂O emission was mainly controlled by soil temperature, followed by soil moisture and then soil NH₄⁺ content; CH₄ fluxes were mainly controlled by soil moisture and chamber headspace temperature; and CO₂ fluxes were mainly controlled by chamber headspace temperature and soil moisture.     

Drivers of nitrous oxide fluxes from the semi-arid Leymus chinensis grassland in Inner Mongolia,China

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) flux in the semi-arid Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. grassland in Inner Mongolia, China was measured for two years (from January 2005 to December 2006) with the enclosed chamber technique. The measurements were made twice per month in the growing season and once per month in the non-growing season. To evaluate the effect of aboveground vegetation on N₂O emission, the ecosystem N₂O flux over the grassland was measured, and concurrently soil N₂O flux was measured after the removal of all the aboveground biomass. The possible effect of water-heat factors on N₂O fluxes was statistically examined. The ecosystem N₂O flux ranged from 0.21 to 0.26?kg nitrous oxide-nitrogen (N₂O–N) ha^{? 1} year^{? 1}, indicating that the Leymus chinensis grassland of Inner Mongolia was a source for the atmospheric N₂O. There was no significant difference between the ecosystem N₂O flux and the soil N₂O flux. The ecosystem N₂O flux was under similar environmental control as the soil N₂O flux. Soil moisture was the primary driving factor of the N₂O fluxes in the growing season of both years; the changes in water–filled pore space (WFPS) of soil surface layers could explain 45–67% of the variations in N₂O fluxes. The high seasonal variation of the N₂O fluxes in the growing seasons was regulated by the distribution of effective rainfall, rather than the precipitation intensity. While in the non-growing season, the N₂O fluxes were restricted much more by air temperature or soil temperature, and 83–85% of the variations of the N₂O fluxes were induced by changes in temperature conditions.     

Emissions of N2O and CO2, denitrification measurements and soil properties in red clover and ryegrass stands

The relationships between the fluxes of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and their concentrations in the soil air, three different measures of potential denitrification, soil moisture, soil temperature and precipitation were investigated in soils from beneath ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and mixture of ryegrass-red clover stands on a gleic cambisol. Investigations were carried out in order to test the hypothesis that the measure(s) of potential denitrification are good predictor(s) of N₂O fluxes and thus may be used in empirical models of N₂O emission. Potential denitrification characteristics used in this study involved (i) short-term denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), (ii) long-term denitrification potential (DP), both determined in soils amended with nitrate and glucose, and (iii) denitrification rate (DR) measured using intact soil cores. Flux measurements were made using cylindrical chambers (internal diameter 31 cm, volume 0.015 m³). The fluxes of N₂O and CO₂ and many other characteristics showed large spatial and temporal variability. Emissions of N₂O from the grass plots were closely related to N₂O concentrations in the soil atmosphere at 22.5 cm depth. Most soil properties did not correlate with N₂O fluxes. It was concluded that DP was not a good predictor for N₂O flux. DEA did not show significant relationship with N₂O flux, but it is suggested that if determined in representative, large soil samples, DEA could be a predictor of N₂O fluxes; this assumption needs, however, verification. The only potential denitrification characteristic which was significantly related to N₂O emission both in grass and clover treatments was DR, which was determined in soil cores.     

Greenhouse gas flux from cropland and restored wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region

It has been well documented that restored wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America do store carbon. However, the net benefit of carbon sequestration in wetlands in terms of a reduction in global warming forcing has often been questioned because of potentially greater emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄). We compared gas emissions (N₂O, CH₄, carbon dioxide [CO₂]) and soil moisture and temperature from eight cropland and eight restored grassland wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region from May to October, 2003, to better understand the atmospheric carbon mitigation potential of restored wetlands. Results show that carbon dioxide contributed the most (90%) to net-GHG flux, followed by CH₄ (9%) and N₂O (1%). Fluxes of N₂O, CH₄, CO₂, and their combined global warming potential (CO₂ equivalents) did not significantly differ between cropland and grassland wetlands. The seasonal pattern in flux was similar in cropland and grassland wetlands with peak emissions of N₂O and CH₄ occurring when soil water-filled pore space (WFPS) was 40-60% and >60%, respectively; negative CH₄ fluxes were observed when WFPS approached 40%. Negative CH₄ fluxes from grassland wetlands occurred earlier in the season and were more pronounced than those from cropland sites because WFPS declined more rapidly in grassland wetlands; this decline was likely due to higher infiltration and evapotranspiration rates associated with grasslands. Our results suggest that restoring cropland wetlands does not result in greater emissions of N₂O and CH₄, and therefore would not offset potential soil carbon sequestration. These findings, however, are limited to a small sample of seasonal wetlands with relatively short hydroperiods. A more comprehensive assessment of the GHG mitigation potential of restored wetlands should include a diversity of wetland types and land-use practices and consider the impact of variable climatic cycles that affect wetland hydrology.     

Repeated drying–rewetting cycles and their effects on the emission of CO2, N2O,NO, and CH4 in a forest soil

Prolonged summer droughts due to climate change are expected for this century, but little is known about the effects of drying and wetting on biogenic trace‐gas fluxes of forest soils. Here, the response of CO₂, N₂O, NO, and CH₄ fluxes from temperate forest soils towards drying–wetting events has been investigated, using undisturbed soil columns from a Norway spruce forest in the “Fichtelgebirge”, Germany. Two different types of soil columns have been used for this study to quantify the contribution of organic and mineral horizons to the total fluxes: (1) organic horizons (O) and (2) organic and mineral soil horizons (O+M). Three drying–wetting treatments with different rewetting intensities (8, 20, and 50 mm of irrigation d^–1) have been compared to a constantly moist control to estimate the influence of rainfall intensity under identical drying conditions and constant temperature (+15°C). Drought significantly reduced CO₂, N₂O, and NO fluxes in most cycles. Following rewetting, CO₂ fluxes quickly recovered back to control level in the O columns but remained significantly reduced in the O+M columns with total CO₂ fluxes from the drying–wetting treatment ranging approx. 80% of control fluxes. Fluxes of N₂O and NO remained significantly reduced in both O and O+M columns even after rewetting, with cumulative fluxes from drying–wetting treatments ranging between 20% and 90% of the control fluxes, depending on gas and cycle. Fluxes of CH₄ were small in all treatments and seem to play no significant role in this soil. No evidence for the release of additional gas fluxes due to drying–wetting was found. The intensity of rewetting had no significant effect on the CO₂, N₂O, NO, and CH₄ fluxes, suggesting that the length of the drought period is more important for the emission of these gases. We can therefore not confirm earlier findings that fluxes of CO₂, N₂O, and NO during wetting of dry soil exceed the fluxes of constantly moist soil.     

Dynamics of upward and downward N2O and CO2 fluxes in ploughed or no-tilled soils in relation to water-filled pore space, compaction and crop presence

Sharp peaks in nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes under no-tillage in wet conditions appear to be related to near surface soil and crop cover conditions. Here we explored some of the factors influencing tillage effects on short-term variations in gas flux so that we could learn about the mechanisms involved. Field investigations revealed that a cumulative emission of 13 kg N₂O–N ha⁻¹ over a 12-week period was possible under no-tillage for spring barley. We investigated how reducing crop cover and changing the structural arrangement of the water-filled pore space (WFPS) by short-term laboratory compaction influenced N₂O and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes in upward and downward directions in core samples from tilled and untilled soil. Increasing the downward flux of N₂O within a soil profile by changing soil or moisture conditions may increase the likelihood of its further reduction to N₂ or dissolution. We took undisturbed cores from 3 to 8 cm depth, equilibrated them to −1 or −6 kPa matric potential, incubated them and measured N₂O and CO₂ fluxes from the upper and lower surfaces in a purpose-designed apparatus before and after compaction in an uniaxial tester. We also measured WFPS, air permeability, bulk density and air-filled porosity before and after compaction. Spring barley was tested in 1999 and winter barley in 2000.Fluxes of N₂O were from 1.5 to 35 times higher from no-tilled than ploughed even where the soil was of similar bulk density. Reduction of the crop cover increased CO₂ flux and could reduce N₂O flux. The effects of structural changes induced by laboratory compaction on the fluxes of N₂O and CO₂ were not influenced greatly by the tillage and crop cover treatments. Fluxes from the upper surfaces of cores (corresponding to 3 cm soil depth, upwards direction) could be up to 100 times greater (N₂O) or 8 times (CO₂) than from the lower surfaces (8 cm depth, downwards direction). These differences between surfaces were greatest when N₂O fluxes were very high in no-tilled soil (4.2 mg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹) as occurred when WFPS exceeded 80% or became blocked with water, an effect that was increased by our compaction treatment. In general N₂O fluxes increased with WFPS. The production and emission of N₂O were strongly influenced by the soil physical environment, the magnitude of the water-filled pore space and continuity of the air-filled pore space in particular, produced in no-till versus plough cultivation.     

Do earthworms increase N2O emissions in ploughed grassland?

Earthworm activity has been reported to lead to increased production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O). This is due to emissions from worms themselves, their casts and drilosphere, as well as to general changes in soil structure. However, it remains to be determined how important this effect is on N₂O fluxes from agricultural systems under realistic conditions in terms of earthworm density, soil moisture, tillage activity and residue loads. We quantified the effect of earthworm presence on N₂O emissions from a pasture after simulated ploughing of the sod (‘grassland renovation’) for different soil moisture contents during a 62-day mesocosm study. Sod (with associated soil) and topsoil were separately collected from a loamy Typic Fluvaquent. Treatments included low (L), medium (M) and high (H) moisture content, in combination with: only soil (S); soil+incorporated sod (SG); soil+incorporated sod+the anecic earthworm Aporrectodea longa (SGE). Nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes were measured for 62 d. At the end of the incubation period, we determined N₂O production under water-saturated conditions, potential denitrification and potential mineralization of the soil after removing the earthworms. Cumulative N₂O and CO₂ fluxes over 62 d from incorporated sod were highest for treatment HSGE (973 μg N₂O-N and 302 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil) and lowest for LSG (64 μg N₂O-N and 188 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil). Both cumulative fluxes were significantly different for soil moisture (p<0.001), but not for earthworm presence. However, we observed highly significant earthworm effects on N₂O fluxes that reversed over time for the H treatments. During the first phase (day 3-day 12), earthworm presence increased N₂O emissions with approximately 30%. After a transitional phase, earthworm presence resulted in consistently lower (approximately 50%) emissions from day 44 onwards. Emissions from earthworms themselves were negligible compared to overall soil fluxes. After 62 d, original soil moisture significantly affected potential denitrification, with highest fluxes from the L treatments, and no significant earthworm effect. We conclude that after grassland ploughing, anecic earthworm presence may ultimately lead to lower N₂O emissions after an initial phase of elevated emissions. However, the earthworm effect was both determined and exceeded by soil moisture conditions. The observed effects of earthworm activity on N₂O emissions were due to the effect of earthworms on soil structure rather than to emissions from the worms themselves.     

生物炭和秸秆还田对干旱区玉米农田土壤温室气体通量的影响

为了研究生物炭及秸秆还田对干旱区玉米农田温室气体通量的影响,以内蒙古科尔沁地区玉米农田为试验对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对分别施入生物炭0 t·hm^-2（CK）、15 t·hm^-2（C15）、30 t·hm^-2（C30）、45 t·hm^-2（C45）及秸秆还田（SNPK）的土壤进行温室气体（CO₂、CH₄和N₂O）通量的原位观测,并估算生长季CH₄和N₂O的综合增温潜势（GWP）与排放强度（GHGI）。结果表明：添加生物炭能够显著减少土壤CO₂和N₂O的排放量,并促进土壤对CH₄的吸收作用。其中处理C15对CO₂的减排效果最好,与对照相比CO₂排放量降低21.16%。随着施入生物炭量的增加,生物炭对N₂O排放的抑制作用不断增强,处理C45对减排效果最好,与对照相比N₂O排放量降低86.25%。处理C15对土壤吸收CH₄的促进效果最好,CH₄吸收量增加56.62%;处理C45对CH₄的排放有促进作用,使生长季土壤吸收CH₄减少81.36%。SNPK对温室气体的减排作用接近处理C15。添加生物炭和秸秆还田对提高玉米产量和降低农田GWP与GHGI均有显著效果,施用生物炭及秸秆还田均有效提高了科尔沁地区的玉米产量,且玉米产量随着施入生物炭含量的增大而提升。从GWP上来看,施用15 t·hm^-2生物炭对温室气体减排的整体效果最好。从GHGI上来看,施用生物炭及秸秆还田均具有一定的经济效益和减排意义,其中施用15 t·hm^-2生物炭的综合效益最高。因此综合经济效益与环境因素,建议科尔沁地区农田在种植玉米时添加15 t·hm^-2生物炭,如不具备购买生物炭条件,可以考虑秸秆还田来实现玉米增产与温室气体减排。     

Wavelet analysis of wintertime and spring thaw CO2 and N2O fluxes from agricultural fields

Fluxes of N₂O and CO₂ are not limited to the growing season; winter and spring thaw can represent a significant emission period. The objective of this study was to apply wavelet analysis to winter and spring thaw CO₂ and N₂O fluxes and soil temperatures, to yield additional information about underlying processes, examining temporal patterns and relationships among them. Fluxes used in this analysis were measured over 4 years using micrometeorological methods, in a study comparing two agricultural management practices, best management (BM) and conventional (CONV) practices. Cross-wavelet transform (XWT) and wavelet coherence (WCO) were applied to daily mean time series of N₂O fluxes for BM and CONV replicates and treatments, CO₂ vs. N₂O fluxes, CO₂ flux vs. air and soil temperatures, and N₂O flux vs. air and soil temperatures. N₂O fluxes for replicate plots had small differences in temporal variation while N₂O fluxes from BM and CONV treatments showed a large difference in their time series. XWT and WCO analysis confirmed differences in N₂O fluxes between management practices due to differences in temporal trends in the time series. Field emissions of N₂O and CO₂ fluxes showed times of common high fluxes, such as thaw events. Nitrous oxide and CO₂ flux time series showed a strong coherence with surface (air) temperatures. The relationship between N₂O fluxes and temperature decreased with depth but the relationship between CO₂ flux and temperature was similar for surface and at depth. The strong coherence between emissions and surface conditions does not support the suggested mechanism of trapped gas release. A release of trapped gases from below the ice formation would have been indicated by a strong coherence from CO₂ and N₂O with temperatures at depth as the trapping ice barrier melted. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of wavelets as a tool to investigate temporal relationships in GHG emissions, which is a relatively new application for this type of analysis.     

Interactions between physical and biotic factors influence CO2 flux in Antarctic dry valley soils

Soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux is an integrative measure of ecosystem functioning representing both biotic and physical controls over carbon (C) balance. In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, soil CO₂ fluxes (approximately −0.1-0.15 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) are generally low, and negative fluxes (uptake of CO₂) are sometimes observed. A combination of biological respiration and physical mechanisms, driven by temperature and mediated by soil moisture and mineralogy, determine CO₂ flux and, therefore, soil organic C balance. The physical factors important to CO₂ flux are being altered with climate variability in many ecosystems including arid forms such as the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, making it critical to understand how climate factors interact with biotic drivers to control soil CO₂ fluxes and C balances. We measured soil CO₂ flux in experimental field manipulations, microcosm incubations and across natural environmental gradients of soil moisture to estimate biotic soil respiration and abiotic sources of CO₂ flux in soils over a range of physical and biotic conditions. We determined that temperature fluctuations were the most important factor influencing diel variation in CO₂ flux. Variation within these diel CO₂ cycles was explained by differences in soil moisture. Increased temperature (as opposed to temperature fluctuations) had little or no effect on CO₂ flux if moisture was not also increased. We conclude that CO₂ flux in dry valley soils is driven primarily by physical factors such as soil temperature and moisture, indicating that future climate change may alter the dry valley soil C cycle. Negative CO₂ fluxes in arid soils have recently been identified as potential net C sinks. We demonstrate the potential for arid polar soils to take up CO₂, driven largely by abiotic factors associated with climate change. The low levels of CO₂ absorption into soils we observed may not constitute a significant sink of atmospheric CO₂, but will influence the interpretation of CO₂ flux for the dry valley soil C cycle and possibly other arid environments where biotic controls over C cycling are secondary to physical drivers.     

耕作方式转变对冬小麦季农田温室气体排放和产量的影响

合理耕作方式对农业可持续生产和减缓全球气候变化有重要意义。为评价耕作方式转变对农田温室气体排放的影响,本研究针对连续16年的长期旋耕小麦/玉米农田进行不同的轮耕处理,采用原位静态箱-气相色谱法分析了小麦季农田土壤3种温室气体CH_4、CO_2、N_2O排放规律。试验共设3个处理:在前期旋耕基础上分别进行翻耕处理(XF)和深松处理(XS),另外保持旋耕(X)作为对照。试验结果表明:CO_2排放通量在耕作后1周有明显排放峰,XF处理显著低于X和XS处理;N_2O排放通量在耕作和灌溉施肥后有明显排放峰,XS处理显著高于XF和X处理;两种气体排放通量在越冬期出现最低值。CH_4从耕作后到越冬期有持续明显的吸收过程,其中XS处理的吸收通量显著高于XF和X处理。农田土壤在冬小麦生长季表现为CO_2的源,累积排放量为XS(5 241 kg·hm~(-2))X(5 160 kg·hm~(-2))XF(4 840 kg·hm~(-2)),XS与X处理间差异不显著,均显著高于XF;N_2O的源,累积排放量表现为XS(4.38 kg·hm~(-2))XF(2.39 kg·hm~(-2))X(2.26 kg·hm~(-2)),XS与XF处理间差异不显著,均显著高于X处理;CH_4的汇,累积吸收量为XS(6.14 kg·hm~(-2))XF(5.64 kg·hm~(-2))X(3.70 kg·hm~(-2))。将累积温室气体换算为CO_2当量,对增温效应的贡献表现为XF(5.32 t·hm~(-2))X(5.66 t·hm~(-2))XS(6.23 t·hm~(-2)),三者之间差异达显著水平。经翻耕处理后,0~10 cm土壤有机质含量明显低于X处理,而10~20 cm土壤有机质升高,表层有机质降低可能是翻耕处理CO_2的排放减少的主要原因。不同耕作处理后小麦产量差异明显,X处理冬小麦产量最高,且显著高于XS处理,XF处理与X和XS处理差异均不显著。综合考虑耕作方式对温室气体排放和冬小麦产量的影响,短期内旋耕-翻耕可能是较适宜的轮耕模式,旋耕深松模式不利于控制温室气体排放,但未来需要加强对不同轮耕模式长期效应研究。