Carbon emission flux and storage in the degraded peatlands of the Zoige alpine area in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The Zoige alpine peatlands cover approximately 4,605 km² of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and are considered to constitute the largest plateau peatland on the Eurasian continent. However, the Zoige alpine peatlands are undergoing major degradation because of human activities and climate change, which would cause uncertainty in the budget of greenhouse gases (CH₄ and CO₂) and carbon (C) storage in global peatlands. This study simultaneously investigates the CH₄ and CO₂ emission fluxes and C storage at three typical sites with respect to the peatland degradation gradient: peatland, wet meadow and dry meadow. Results show that peatland degradation would increase the CO₂ emission and decrease the CH₄ emission. Moreover, the average C emission fluxes were 66.05, 165.78 and 326.56 mg C m^?2 hr^?1 for the peatland, wet meadow and dry meadow, respectively. The C storage of the vegetation does not considerably differ among the three sampling sites. However, when compared with the peatland (1,088.17 t C ha^?1), the soil organic C storage decreases by 420 and 570 t C ha^?1 in case of wet and dry meadows, respectively. Although the C storage in the degraded peatlands decreases considerably, it can still represent a large capacity of C sink. Therefore, the degraded peatlands in the Zoige alpine area must be protected and restored to mitigate regional climate change.     

Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Assisted by Lignite-Derived Humic Substances

Rewetting of agriculturally used peatlands has been proposed as a measure to stop soil subsidence, conserve peat and rehabilitate ecosystem functioning. Unintended consequences might involve nutrient release and changes in the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance towards CH₄-dominated emission. To investigate the risks and benefits of rewetting, we subjected soil columns from drained peat- and clay-covered peatlands to different water level treatments: permanently low, permanently inundated and fluctuating (first inundated, then drained). Surface water and soil pore water chemistry, soil-extractable nutrients and greenhouse gas fluxes were measured throughout the experiment. Permanent inundation released large amounts of nutrients into pore water, especially phosphorus (up to 11.7 mg P-PO₄ l^?1) and ammonium (4.8 mg N-NH₄ l^?1). Phosphorus release was larger in peat than in clay soil, presumably due to the larger pool of iron-bound phosphorus in peat. Furthermore, substantial amounts of phosphorus and potassium were exported from the soil matrix to the surface water, risking the pollution of local species-rich (semi-)aquatic ecosystems. Rewetting of both clay and peat soil reduced CO₂ emissions. CH₄ emissions increased, but, in contrast to the expectations, the fluxes were relatively low. Calculations showed that rewetting reduced net cumulative GHG emissions expressed as CO₂ equivalents.     

Potential short-term effects of yak and Tibetan sheep dung on greenhouse gas emissions in two alpine grassland soils under laboratory conditions

Yak and Tibetan sheep graze extensively on natural grasslands in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and large amounts of excrement are directly deposited onto alpine grasslands. However, information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from this excrement is limited. This study evaluated the short-term effects of yak and Tibetan sheep dung on nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from alpine steppe soil at a water holding capacity (WHC) of 40 or 60 % and from alpine meadow soil at a WHC of 60 or 80 % under laboratory conditions. Cumulative N₂O emissions over a 15-day incubation period at low soil moisture conditions ranged from 111 to 232 μg N₂O–N kg soil^?1 in the yak dung treatments, significantly (P?<?0.01) higher than that of sheep dung treatments (28.7 to 33.7 μg N₂O–N kg soil^?1) and untreated soils (1.04–6.94 μg N₂O–N kg soil^?1). At high soil moisture conditions, N₂O emissions were higher from sheep dung than yak dung and non-treated soils. No significant difference was found between the yak dung and non-treated alpine meadow soil at 80 % WHC. Low N₂O emission in the yak dung treatment from relatively wet soil was probably due to complete denitrification to N₂. Yak dung markedly (P?<?0.001) increased CH₄ and CO₂ emissions, likely being the main source of these two gases. The addition of sheep dung markedly (P?<?0.001) elevated CO₂ emissions. Dung application significantly (P?<?0.01) increased global warming potential, particularly for alpine steppe soil. In conclusion, our findings suggest that yak and Tibetan sheep dung deposited on alpine grassland soils may increase GHG emissions.     

Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from grassland treated with bark- or sawdust-containing manure at different rates

On the main Japanese island of Honshu, bark or sawdust is often added to cattle excreta as part of the composting process. Dairy farmers sometimes need to dispose of manure that is excess to their requirements by spreading it on their grasslands. We assessed the effect of application of bark- or sawdust-containing manure at different rates on annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions from a grassland soil. Nitrous oxide and CH₄ fluxes from an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) grassland that received this manure at 0, 50, 100, 200, or 300?Mg?ha^?1?yr^?1 were measured over a two-year period by using closed chambers. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to examine the effect of annual manure application rates and years on annual N₂O and CH₄ emissions. Annual N₂O emissions ranged from 0.47 to 3.03?kg?N?ha^?1?yr^?1 and increased with increasing manure application rate. Nitrous oxide emissions during the 140-day period following manure application increased with increasing manure application rate, with the total nitrogen concentration in the manure, and with cumulative precipitation during the 140-day period. However, manure application rate did not affect the N₂O emission factors of the manure. The overall average N₂O emission factor was 0.068%. Annual CH₄ emissions ranged from ?1.12 to 0.01?kg?C?ha^?1?yr^?1. The annual manure application rate did not affect annual CH₄ emissions.     

Ranking factors affecting emissions of GHG from incubated agricultural soils

Agriculture significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and there is a need to develop effective mitigation strategies. The efficacy of methods to reduce GHG fluxes from agricultural soils can be affected by a range of interacting management and environmental factors. Uniquely, we used the Taguchi experimental design methodology to rank the relative importance of six factors known to affect the emission of GHG from soil: nitrate (NO₃^?) addition, carbon quality (labile and non‐labile C), soil temperature, water‐filled pore space (WFPS) and extent of soil compaction. Grassland soil was incubated in jars where selected factors, considered at two or three amounts within the experimental range, were combined in an orthogonal array to determine the importance and interactions between factors with a L₁₆ design, comprising 16 experimental units. Within this L₁₆ design, 216 combinations of the full factorial experimental design were represented. Headspace nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations were measured and used to calculate fluxes. Results found for the relative influence of factors (WFPS and NO₃^? addition were the main factors affecting N₂O fluxes, whilst glucose, NO₃^? and soil temperature were the main factors affecting CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes) were consistent with those already well documented. Interactions between factors were also studied and results showed that factors with little individual influence became more influential in combination. The proposed methodology offers new possibilities for GHG researchers to study interactions between influential factors and address the optimized sets of conditions to reduce GHG emissions in agro‐ecosystems, while reducing the number of experimental units required compared with conventional experimental procedures that adjust one variable at a time.     

小麦-玉米轮作田与菜地N2O排放的对比研究

应用静态箱/气相色谱法对旱地小麦-玉米轮作田和种菜历史超过20a的菜地进行了N2O排放的定位观测,分析了旱地和菜地生态系统N2O排放特征的差异,及施氮、土壤温度、土壤湿度和作物参与对两种农田系统N2O排放的不同影响。结果表明,不施氮情况下,旱地和菜地N2O排放通量分别为17.8±5.6和50.7±13.3μg m-2h-1,菜地N2O排放通量是旱地农田的3.1倍。在施氮(N 150 kg hm-2)情况下,菜地N2O排放系数较旱地高39.0%。粮食作物参与和蔬菜作物参与对增加各自农田生态系统N2O排放量的贡献无明显差异。旱地和菜地不同作物季N2O排放量的差异主要是由于作物生育期长短不同造成单位时间施肥强度存在差异。所以,根据作物生育期特点调节施肥量可能会减少农田生态系统N2O排放量,并且由于菜地各蔬菜生育期长短的差异更大,因此,菜地若能实现精量施肥,其N2O减排的潜力可能大于旱地农田。     

Evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions in a Miscanthus sinensis Andersson-dominated semi-natural grassland in Kumamoto,Japan

Increasing greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic activities continue to be a mounting problem worldwide. In the semi-natural Miscanthus sinensis Andersson; grasslands of Aso, Kumamoto, Japan, which have been managed for thousands of years, we measured soil methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions before and after annual controlled burns. We estimated annual soil carbon (C) accumulation, and CH₄ and N₂O emissions induced by biomass burning in 2009 and 2010, to determine the impacts of this ecosystem and its management on global warming. Environmental factors affecting soil CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were unknown, with no effect of annual burning observed on short-term soil CH₄ and N₂O emissions. However, deposition of charcoal during burning may have enhanced CH₄ oxidation and N₂O consumption at the study site, given that emissions (CH₄: ?4.33 kg C ha^?1 yr^?1, N₂O: 0.17 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) were relatively lower than those measured in other land-use types. Despite significant emission of CH₄ and N₂O during yearly burning events in early spring, the M. sinensis semi-natural grassland had a large annual soil C accumulation, which resulted in a global warming potential of ?4.86 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1 yr^?1. Consequently, our results indicate that long-term maintenance of semi-natural M. sinensis grasslands by annual burning can contribute to the mitigation of global warming.     

Micro-topographic patterns unravel controls of soil water and temperature on soil respiration in three Siberian tundra systems

Spatial and temporal patterns of soil respiration rates and controlling factors were investigated in three wet arctic tundra systems. In situ summer season carbon dioxide fluxes were measured across a range of micro-topographic positions in tussock tundra, wet sedge tundra, and low-centre polygonal tundra, at two different latitudes on the Taimyr Peninsular, central Siberia. Measurements were carried out by means of a multi-channel gas exchange system operating in continuous-flow mode.Measured soil respiration rates ranged from 0.1 g CO₂-C m^?2 d^?1 to 3.9 g CO₂-C m^?2 d^?1 and rate differences between neighbouring sites in the micro-topography (microsites) were larger than those observed between different tundra systems. Statistical analysis identified position of the water table and soil temperature at shallow depths to be common controls of soil respiration rates across all microsites, with each of these two factors explaining high proportions of the observed variations.Modelling of the response of soil respiration to soil temperature and water table for individual microsites revealed systematic differences in the response to the controlling factors between wet and drier microsites. Wet microsites – with a water table position close to the soil surface during most of the summer – showed large soil respiration rate changes with fluctuations of the water table compared to drier microsites. Wet microsites also showed consistently higher temperature sensitivity and a steeper increase of temperature sensitivity with decreasing temperatures than drier sites. Overall, Q₁₀ values ranged from 1.2 to 3.4. The concept of substrate availability for determining temperature sensitivity is applied to reconcile these systematic differences. The results highlight that soil respiration rates in wet tundra are foremost controlled by water table and only secondarily by soil temperature. Wet sites have a larger potential for changes in soil respiration rates under changing environmental conditions, compared to drier sites.It is concluded that understanding and forecasting gaseous carbon losses from arctic tundra soils and its implication for ecosystem-scale CO₂ fluxes and soil organic matter dynamics require good knowledge about temporal and spatial patterns of soil water conditions. The water status of tundra soils can serve as a control on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration.     

Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes of soils in pure and mixed stands of European beech and Norway spruce

Tree species can affect the sink and source strength of soils for atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide. Here we report soil methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes of adjacent pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce at Solling, Germany. Mean CH₄ uptake rates ranged between 18 and 48 μg C m^?2 hour^?1 during 2.5 years and were about twice as great in both mixed and the pure beech stand as in the pure spruce stand. CH₄ uptake was negatively correlated with the dry mass of the O horizon, suggesting that this diminishes the transport of atmospheric CH₄ into the mineral soil. Mean N₂O emission was rather small, ranging between 6 and 16 μg N m^?2 hour^?1 in all stands. Forest type had a significant effect on N₂O emission only in one mixed stand during the growing season. We removed the O horizon in additional plots to study its effect on gas fluxes over 1.5 years, but N₂O emissions were not altered by this treatment. Surprisingly, CH₄ uptake decreased in both mixed and the pure beech stands following the removal of the O horizon. The decrease in CH₄ uptake coincided with an increase in the soil moisture content of the mineral soil. Hence, O horizons may maintain the gas diffusivity within the mineral soil by storing water which cannot penetrate into the mineral soil after rainfall. Our results indicate that conversion of beech forests to beech–spruce and pure spruce forests could decrease soil CH₄ uptake, while the long‐term effect on N₂O emissions is expected to be rather small.     

Influence of increasing temperature and nitrogen input on greenhouse gas emissions from a desert steppe soil in Inner Mongolia

We investigated the effect of increasing soil temperature and nitrogen on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O)] from a desert steppe soil in Inner Mongolia, China. Two temperature levels (heating versus no heating) and two nitrogen (N) fertilizer application levels (0 and 100?kg?N?ha^?1?year^?1) were examined in a complete randomized design with six replications. The GHG surface fluxes and their concentrations in soil (0 to 50?cm) were collected bi-weekly from June 2006 to November 2007. Carbon dioxide and N₂O emissions were not affected by heating or N treatment, but compared with other seasons, CO₂ was higher in summer [average of 29.6 versus 8.6?mg carbon (C) m^?2?h^?1 over all other seasons] and N₂O was lower in winter (average of 2.6 versus 4.0?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1 over all other seasons). Desert steppe soil is a CH₄ sink with the highest rate of consumption occurring in summer. Heating decreased CH₄ consumption only in the summer. Increasing surface soil temperature by 1.3°C or applying 100?kg?ha^?1?year^?1 N fertilizer had no effect on the overall GHG emissions. Seasonal variability in GHG emission reflected changes in temperature and soil moisture content. At an average CH₄ consumption rate of 31.65?µg?C?m^?2?h^?1, the 30.73 million ha of desert steppe soil in Inner Mongolia can consume (sequestrate) about 85?×?10^6?kg CH₄-C, an offset equivalent to 711?×?10^6?kg CO₂-C emissions annually. Thus, desert steppe soil should be considered an important CH₄ sink and its potential in reducing GHG emission and mitigating climate change warrants further investigation.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from three ecosystems in tropical peatland of Sarawak,Malaysia

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions were measured monthly over 1 year in three ecosystems on tropical peatland of Sarawak, Malaysia, using a closed-chamber technique. The three ecosystems investigated were mixed peat swamp forest, sago (Metroxylon sagu) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations. The highest annual N₂O emissions were observed in the sago ecosystem with a production rate of 3.3 kg N ha^?1 year^?1, followed by the oil palm ecosystem at 1.2 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 and the forest ecosystem at 0.7 kg N ha^?1 year^?1. The N₂O emissions ranged from –3.4 to 19.7 µg N m^?2 h^?1 for the forest ecosystem, from 1.0 to 176.3 µg N m^?2 h^?1 for the sago ecosystem and from 0.9 to 58.4 µg N m^?2 h^?1 for the oil palm ecosystem. Multiple regression analysis showed that N₂O production in each ecosystem was regulated by different variables. The key factors influencing N₂O emissions in the forest ecosystem were the water table and the NH⁺ ₄ concentration at 25–50 cm, soil temperature at 5 cm and nitrate concentration at 0–25 cm in the sago ecosystem, and water-filled pore space, soil temperature at 5 cm and NH⁺ ₄ concentrations at 0–25 cm in the oil palm ecosystem. R² values for the above regression equations were 0.57, 0.63 and 0.48 for forest, sago and oil palm, respectively. The results suggest that the conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to agricultural crops, which causes substantial changes to the environment and soil properties, will significantly affect the exchange of N₂O between the tropical peatland and the atmosphere. Thus, the estimation of net N₂O production from tropical peatland for the global N₂O budget should take into consideration ecosystem type.     

Grassland renovation increases N2O emission from a volcanic grassland soil in Nasu,Japan

Abstract

To investigate the effects of renovation (ploughing and resowing) on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from grassland soil, we measured N₂O fluxes from renovated and unrenovated (control) grassland plots. On 22 August in both 2005 and 2006 we harvested the sward, ploughed the surface soil and then mixed roots and stubble into the surface soil with a rotovator. Next, we compacted the soil surface with a land roller, spread fertilizer at 40 kg N ha^?1 on the soil surface and sowed orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L., Natsumidori). In the control plot, we just harvested the sward and spread fertilizer. We determined N₂O fluxes for 2 months after the renovation using a vented closed chamber. During the first 2 weeks, the renovated plot produced much more N₂O than the control plot, suggesting that N was quickly mineralized from the incorporated roots and stubble. Even after 2 weeks, however, large N₂O emissions from the renovated plot were recorded after rainfall, when the soil surface was warmed by sunshine and the soil temperature rose 2.7–3.0°C more than that of the control plot. In 2005, during the 67-day period from 19 August to 26 October, the renovated and control plots emitted 5.3 ± 1.4 and 2.8 ± 0.7 kg N₂O-N ha^?1, with maximum fluxes of 3,659 and 1,322 µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1, respectively. In 2006, during the 65-day period from 21 August to 26 October, the renovated and control plots emitted 2.1 ± 0.6 and 0.96 ± 0.42 kg N₂O-N ha^?1, with maximum fluxes of 706 and 175 µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1, respectively. The cumulative N₂O emissions from plots in 2005 were greater than those in 2006, presumably because rainfall just after renovation was greater in 2005 than in 2006. These results suggest that incorporated roots and stubble may enlarge the anaerobic microsites in the soil in its decomposing process and increase the N₂O production derived from the residues and the fertilizer. In addition, rainfall and soil moisture and temperature conditions during and after renovation may control the cumulative N₂O emission.     

Spatiotemporal Variations in Nitrous Oxide Emissions from an Open Fen on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau: a 3-Year Study

To understand spatial and temporal variations of nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes, we chose to measure N₂O emissions from three plant stands (Kobresia tibetica, Carex muliensis, and Eleocharis valleculosa stands) in an open fen on the northeastern Qinghai?CTibetan plateau during the growing seasons from 2005 to 2007. The overall mean N₂O emission rate was about 0.018?±?0.056?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1 during the growing seasons from 2005 to 2007, with highly spatiotemporal variations. The hummock (K. tibetica stand) emitted N₂O at the highest rate about 0.025?±?0.051?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1, followed by the hollow stands: the E. valleculosa stand about 0.012?±?0.046?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1 and the C. muliensis stand about 0.017?±?0.068?mg?N?m^?2?h^?1. Within each stand, we also noted significant variations of N₂O emission. We also observed the significant seasonal and inter-annual variation of N₂O fluxes during the study period. The highest N₂O emission rate was all recorded in July or August in each year from 2005 to 2007. Compared with the mean value of 2005, we found the drought of 2006 significantly increased N₂O emissions by 104 times in the E. valleculosa stand, 45 times in K. tibetica stand, and 18 times in the C. muliensis stand. Though there was no significant relation between standing water depths and N₂O emissions, we still considered it related to the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil water regime under climate change.     

Water availability and abundance of microbial groups are key determinants of greenhouse gas fluxes in a dryland forest ecosystem

Forests are considered key biomes that could contribute to minimising global warming as they sequester carbon (C) and contribute to mitigate emissions of the potent greenhouse gases (GHG) including nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Management practices are prevalent in forestry, particularly in dryland ecosystems, known to be water and nitrogen (N) limited. Irrigation and fertilisation are thus routinely applied to increase the yield of forest products. However, the contribution of forest management practices to current GHG budgets and consequently to soil net global warming potential (GWP) is still largely unaccounted for, particularly in dryland ecosystems. We quantified the long-term effect (six years) of irrigation and fertilisation and the impact of land-use change, from grassland to a Eucalyptus plantation on N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ emissions and soil net GWP, within a dryland ecosystem. To identify biotic and abiotic drivers of GHG emissions, we explored the relationship of N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes with soil abiotic characteristics and abundance of ammonia-oxidizers, N₂O-reducing bacteria, methanotrophs and total soil bacteria. Our results show that GHG emissions, particularly N₂O and CO₂ are constrained by water availability and both N₂O and CH₄ are constrained by N availability in the soil. We also provide evidence of functional microbial groups being key players in driving GHG emissions. Our findings illustrate that GHG emission budgets can be affected by forest management practices and provide a better mechanistic understanding for future mitigation options.     

Effects of nitrogen and sulfur deposition on CH4 and N2O fluxes in high-altitude peatland soil under different water tables in the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

The effects of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions under low (10 cm below soil surface) and high (at soil surface) water tables were investigated in the laboratory. Undisturbed soil columns from the alpine peatland of the Tibetan Plateau were analyzed. CH₄ emission was higher and N₂O emission was lower at the high water table than those at the low water table regardless of nutrient application. Addition of N (NH₄NO₃ (ammonium nitrate), 5 g N m^?2) decreased CH₄ emission up to 57% and 50% at low and high water tables, respectively, but correspondingly increased N₂O emission by 2.5 and 10.4 times. Addition of S (Na₂SO₄ (sodium sulfate), 2.5 g S m^?2) decreased CH₄ and N₂O emission by 64% and 79% at the low water table, respectively, but had a slightly positive effect at the high water table. These results indicated that the responses of CH₄ and N₂O emissions to the S deposition depend on the water table condition in the high-altitude peatland.     

Soil–atmosphere greenhouse gas exchange in a cool,temperate Eucalyptus delegatensis forest in south-eastern Australia

Forests are the largest C sink (vegetation and soil) in the terrestrial biosphere and may additionally provide an important soil methane (CH₄) sink, whilst producing little nitrous oxide (N₂O) when nutrients are tightly cycled. In this study, we determine the magnitude and spatial variation of soil–atmosphere N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ exchange in a Eucalyptus delegatensis forest in New South Wales, Australia, and investigate how the magnitude of the fluxes depends on the presence of N₂-fixing tree species (Acacia dealbata), the proximity of creeks, and changing environmental conditions. Soil trace gas exchange was measured along replicated transects and in forest plots with and without presence of A. dealbata using static manual chambers and an automated trace gas measurement system for 2 weeks next to an eddy covariance tower measuring net ecosystem CO₂ exchange. CH₄ was taken up by the forest soil (?51.8 μg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1) and was significantly correlated with relative saturation (S_r) of the soil. The soil within creek lines was a net CH₄ source (up to 33.5 μg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1), whereas the wider forest soil was a CH₄ sink regardless of distance from the creek line. Soil N₂O emissions were small (<3.3 μg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1) throughout the 2-week period, despite major rain and snowfall. Soil N₂O emissions only correlated with soil and air temperature. The presence of A. dealbata in the understorey had no influence on the magnitude of CH₄ uptake, N₂O emission or soil N parameters. N₂O production increased with increasing soil moisture (up to 50% S_r) in laboratory incubations and gross nitrification was negative or negligible as measured through ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution.The small N₂O emissions are probably due to the limited capacity for nitrification in this late successional forest soil with C:N ratios >20. Soil–atmosphere exchange of CO₂ was several orders of magnitude greater (88.8 mg CO₂-C m^?2 h^?1) than CH₄ and N₂O, and represented 43% of total ecosystem respiration. The forest was a net greenhouse gas sink (126.22 kg CO₂-equivalents ha^?1 d^?1) during the 2-week measurement period, of which soil CH₄ uptake contributed only 0.3% and N₂O emissions offset only 0.3%.     

Landfill Methane Oxidation in Engineered Soil Columns at Low Temperature

Though engineered covers have been suggested for reducing landfill methane emissions via microbial methane oxidation, little is known about the covers' function at low temperature. This study aimed to determine the methane consumption rates of engineered soil columns at low temperature (4–12°C) and to identify soil characteristics that may enhance methane oxidation in the field. Engineered soils (30 cm thick) were mixtures of sewage sludge compost and de-inking waste, amended with sand (SDS soil) or bark chips (SDB soil). At 4–6°C, we achieved rates of 0.09 gCH₄ kgTS^?1d^?1 (0.02 m³ m^?2d^?1) and 0.06 gCH₄ kgTS^?1d^?1 (0.009 m³ m^?2d^?1) with SDS and SDB soils, respectively. With SDS, good movement and exchange of oxygen in porous soil moderated the slowdown of microbial activity so that the rate dropped only by half as temperature declined from 21–23°C to 4–6°C. In SDB, wet bark chips reduced the soil's air-filled porosity and intensified non-methanotrophic microbial activity, thus reducing the methane consumption rate at 4–6°C to one fourth of that at 21–23°C. In conclusion, soil characteristics such as air-filled porosity, water holding capacity, quantity and stabilization of organic amendments that affect the movement and exchange of oxygen are important variables in designing engineered covers for high methane oxidation at low temperature.     

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.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from a rainfed-cultivated black soil in Northeast China: effect of fertilization and maize crop

Nitrous oxide emission (N₂O) from applied fertilizer across the different agricultural landscapes especially those of rainfed area is extremely variable (both spatially and temporally), thus posing the greatest challenge to researchers, modelers, and policy makers to accurately predict N₂O emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from a rainfed, maize-planted, black soil (Udic Mollisols) were monitored in the Harbin State Key Agroecological Experimental Station (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China). The four treatments were: a bare soil amended with no N (C0) or with 225?kg?N ha^?1 (CN), and maize (Zea mays L.)-planted soils fertilized with no N (P0) or with 225?kg?N ha^?1 (PN). Nitrous oxide emissions significantly (P?<?0.05) increased from 141?±?5?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (C0) to 570?±?33?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (CN) in unplanted soil, and from 209?±?29?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (P0) to 884?±?45?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (PN) in planted soil. Approximately 75?% of N₂O emissions were from fertilizer N applied and the emission factor (EF) of applied fertilizer N as N₂O in unplanted and planted soils was 0.19 and 0.30?%, respectively. The presence of maize crop significantly (P?<?0.05) increased the N₂O emission by 55?% in the N-fertilized soil but not in the N-unfertilized soil. There was a significant (P?<?0.05) interaction effect of fertilization?×?maize on N₂O emissions. Nitrous oxide fluxes were significantly affected by soil moisture and soil temperature (P?<?0.05), with the temperature sensitivity of 1.73–2.24, which together explained 62–76?% of seasonal variation in N₂O fluxes. Our results demonstrated that N₂O emissions from rainfed arable black soils in Northeast China primarily depended on the application of fertilizer N; however, the EF of fertilizer N as N₂O was low, probably due to low precipitation and soil moisture.     

Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes during the growing season from cultivated peat soils,peaty marl and gyttja clay under different cropping systems

Drainage of peatlands affects the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Organic soils used for agriculture contribute a large proportion of anthropogenic GHG emissions, and on-farm mitigation options are important. This field study investigated whether choice of a cropping system can be used to mitigate emissions of N₂O and influence CH₄ fluxes from cultivated organic and carbon-rich soils during the growing season. Ten different sites in southern Sweden representing peat soils, peaty marl and gyttja clay, with a range of different soil properties, were used for on-site measurements of N₂O and CH₄ fluxes. The fluxes during the growing season from soils under two different crops grown in the same field and same environmental conditions were monitored. Crop intensities varied from grasslands to intensive potato cultivation. The results showed no difference in median seasonal N₂O emissions between the two crops compared. Median seasonal emissions ranged from 0 to 919?µg?N₂O?m^?2?h^?1, with peaks on individual sampling occasions of up to 3317?µg?N₂O?m^?2?h^?1. Nitrous oxide emissions differed widely between sites, indicating that soil properties are a regulating factor. However, pH was the only soil factor that correlated with N₂O emissions (negative exponential correlation). The type of crop grown on the soil did not influence CH₄ fluxes. Median seasonal CH₄ flux from the different sites ranged from uptake of 36?µg CH₄?m^?2?h^?1 to release of 4.5?µg?CH₄?m^?2?h^?1. From our results, it was concluded that farmers cannot mitigate N₂O emissions during the growing season or influence CH₄ fluxes by changing the cropping system in the field.