Greenhouse gas emissions from intensively managed peat soils in an arable production system

Taft, Helen; Cross, Paul; Edwards‐Jones, Gareth; Moorhouse, E. R.; Jones, Davey L.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2016.11.015

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Consistent with our results, some previous studies have also reported that 20-cm watertable increases do not significantly affect soil CH 4 fluxes (e.g., Couwenberg & Fritz, 2012;Turetsky et al, 2014). Additionally, the CH 4 flux rate was close to 0 in our study, agreeing with very low CH 4 emission measured in the field by others (−0.15 to 0.25 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 yr −1 ; Taft et al, 2017Taft et al, , 2018. Such low emissions are typically found at sites, where topsoil is unsaturated, indicating predominantly aerobic conditions To provide an effective and practical strategy to reduce peat oxidation and GHG losses from cultivated peatlands, further complementary aspects should be evaluated in future studies.…”

Section: Effect Of Cover Crop Incorporation and Watertable Managementsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Taft et al, 2017). Total GWP was dominated by N 2 O emissions (90-98%) after vetch incorporation but mainly affected by CO 2 emissions (46-80%) following rye input.…”

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confidence: 94%

“…KEYWORDS carbon storage, Histosol, hydrological regime, Secale cereale, Vicia sativa 1 | INTRODUCTION Peatlands cover only 3% of the world's land area but disproportionately contain 30% of the global soil carbon (C) reserves (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016;Limpens et al, 2008). Of these, 10-20% have been drained for agriculture or forestry (Maljanen et al, 2010), causing a loss of soil at rates of 1.10-1.48 cm yr −1 due to a combination of microbial breakdown, subsidence, and wind erosion (Dawson, Kechavarzi, Leeds-Harrison, & Burton, 2010;Taft, Cross, Edwards-Jones, Moorhouse, & Jones, 2017). This drainage and intensification of land use have turned these nutrient-rich peat soils into hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Drösler, Freibauer, Christensen, & Friborg, 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Rye cover crop incorporation and high watertable mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cultivated peatland

et al. 2019

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Drainage and cultivation of peat soils almost always result in rapid soil degradation and a loss of soil organic matter (SOM). Winter cover crop cultivation and subsequent incorporation and watertable elevation have been considered as potential strategies to improve soil quality and decrease nutrient loss in drained and cultivated peatlands. However, the combined effect of residue incorporation and watertable management on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in these highly productive fen peat soils remains unknown. In the present study, two winter cover crops with contrasting carbon/nitrogen ratios (vetch [Vicia sativa], 45–60; rye [Secale cereale], 13–14) were incorporated into peat soils as green manure (without extra synthetic/organic N addition) at two watertable depths (−50 and −30 cm). Our results showed that fast mineralization of incorporated residues can cause a large pulse of GHG release under favourable environmental conditions. Both vetch and rye incorporation increased CO2 emissions compared with the bare soil treatments due to labile C addition and removal of N constraints. However, the two cover crops had strongly contrasting effects on N2O emissions. Incorporation of low C/N ratio vetch stimulated N2O emissions (average 21.8 ± 7.3 mg N m−2 hr−1) compared with the bare soil treatments, whereas high C/N ratio rye decreased N2O emissions (average 0.09 ± 0.03 mg N m−2 hr−1). Raising the watertable slightly reduced CO2 emissions from an average of 1.3 ± 0.4 (the bare soils) to 0.9 ± 0.3 g C m−2 hr−1 by inhibiting SOM mineralization but significantly increased N2O emissions in the vetch treatments by stimulating denitrification. CH4 fluxes were not affected by watertable depth, and their contribution to total global warming potential was negligible. Therefore, we conclude that high C/N ratio cover crops (e.g., rye) in combination with a raised watertable may represent a viable management option to mitigate GHG fluxes in fen peat soils.

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Section: Effect Of Cover Crop Incorporation and Watertable Managementsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Taft et al, 2017). Total GWP was dominated by N 2 O emissions (90-98%) after vetch incorporation but mainly affected by CO 2 emissions (46-80%) following rye input.…”

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Rye cover crop incorporation and high watertable mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cultivated peatland

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“…It has been estimated that 35-100% of drained Histosol loss may be attributable to microbially mediated CO 2 production (Leifeld et al, 2011). The small net consumption of CH 4 in these soils does little to offset CO 2 loss, whilst N 2 O emissions can be substantial, forming approximately one third to one half of the total GHG budget (Taft et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of mitigation measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from intensively cultivated peatlands

Taft

Cross

Jones

2018

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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Drained and cultivated fen peats represent some of the world's most productive soils, however, they are susceptible to degradation and typically exhibit high rates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. We hypothesised that GHG losses from these soils could be reduced by manipulating water table depth, tillage regime, crop residue application or horticultural fleece cover. Using intact soil columns from a horticultural peatland, emissions of CO 2 , N 2 O and CH 4 were monitored over a six-month period, using a closed-chamber method. Concurrent measurements of soil properties allowed identification of the key controls on GHG emissions. Raising the water table to the soil surface provided the strongest reduction in global warming potential (GWP 100 ; 26 ± 6 kg CO 2-e ha-1 d-1), compared to a free-draining control (81 ± 1 kg CO 2-e ha-1 d-1), but this effect was partially negated by an emission pulse when the water table was subsequently lowered. The highest emissions occurred when the water table was maintained 15 cm below the surface (172 ± 12 kg CO 2-e ha-1 d-1), as this stimulated N 2 O loss. Placement of horticultural fleece over the soil surface during spring had no significant effect on GWP 100 , but prolonged fleece application exacerbated GHG emissions. Leaving lettuce crop residues on the surface increased soil GWP 100 (106 ± 4 kg CO 2-e ha-1 d-1) in comparison to when residues were incorporated into the soil (85 ± 4 kg CO 2-e ha-1 d-1), however, there was no evidence that this promoted positive priming of native soil organic matter (SOM). For maximum abatement potential, mitigation measures should be applied during the growing season, when GHG emissions are greatest. Our results also suggest that introduction of zeroor minimum-till practices may not reduce GHG emissions. Maintaining a high water table was the only option that reliably reduced GHG emissions, however, this option is impractical to implement within current horticultural systems. We conclude that alternative strategies or a major change in land use (e.g., conversion from horticulture/arable to wetland) should be explored as a means of preserving these soils for future generations.

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“…It is well established that N2O emissions from organic soil may be enhanced by drainage (Martikainen et al, 1993;Taft et al, 2017). The response will appear within days, as shown by Aerts and Ludwig (1997) in an incubation study with an oscillating WT.…”

Section: Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Water Table Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Regulation of N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from acid organic soil drained for agriculture: Effects of land use and season

Taghizadeh‐Toosi¹,

Elsgaard²,

Clough³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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10Drained organic soils are extensively used for cereal and high-value cash crop production or as grazing land, but emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) are enhanced by the drainage and cultivation. A study was conducted to investigate the regulation of N2O emissions in a raised bog area drained for agriculture. The area has been classified as potentially acid sulfate soil, and we hypothesised that pyrite (FeS2) oxidation was a potential driver of N2O emissions through microbially mediated reduction of nitrate (NO3 -). Two sites with rotational grass, and two sites with a potato crop, were 15 equipped for monitoring of N2O emissions, as well as sub-soil N2O concentrations at 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 cm depth, during spring and autumn 2015. Precipitation, air and soil temperature, soil moisture, water table (WT) depth, and soil mineral N were recorded during weekly field campaigns. In late April and early September, intact cores were collected to 1 m depth at adjacent grassland and potato sites for analysis of soil properties, which included acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and chromium-reducible sulfur (CRS) to quantify, respectively, iron monosulfide (FeS) and FeS2, as well as 20 total reactive iron (TRFe) and nitrite (NO2 -). Soil organic matter composition and total reduction capacity was also determined. The soil pH varied between 4.7 and 5.4. Equivalent soil gas phase concentrations of N2O ranged from around 10 µL L -1 at grassland sites to several hundred µL L -1 at potato sites, in accordance with lower soil mineral N concentrations at grassland sites. Total N2O emissions during 152-174 days were 3-6 kg N2O-N ha -1 for rotational grass, and 19-21 kg N2O-N ha -1 for potato sites. Statistical analyses by graphical models showed that soil N2O concentration 25 in the capillary fringe was the strongest predictor for N2O emissions in spring, and for grassland sites also in the autumn. For potato sites in the autumn, nitrate (NO3 -) availability in the top soil, together with temperature, were the main controls on N2O emissions. Pyrite oxidation coupled with NO3reduction could not be dismissed as a source of N2O, but the total reduction capacity of the peat soil was much higher than explained by the FeS2 concentration, and the concentrations of TRFe were much higher than pyrite concentrations. The potential for chemodenitrification being a 30 source of N2O during WT drawdown in spring is discussed. In contrast, the N2O emissions associated with rapid soil wetting and WT rise in autumn were consistent with biological denitrification. Soil N availability and seasonal WT changes were important controls of N2O emissions.Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.

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Greenhouse gas emissions from intensively managed peat soils in an arable production system

Cited by 31 publications

References 49 publications

Rye cover crop incorporation and high watertable mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cultivated peatland

Rye cover crop incorporation and high watertable mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cultivated peatland

Efficacy of mitigation measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from intensively cultivated peatlands

Regulation of N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from acid organic soil drained for agriculture: Effects of land use and season

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Greenhouse gas emissions from intensively managed peat soils in an arable production system

Cited by 31 publications

References 49 publications

Rye cover crop incorporation and high watertable mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cultivated peatland

Rye cover crop incorporation and high watertable mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cultivated peatland

Efficacy of mitigation measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from intensively cultivated peatlands

Regulation of N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions from acid organic soil drained for agriculture: Effects of land use and season

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Regulation of N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from acid organic soil drained for agriculture: Effects of land use and season