Hot moments drive extreme nitrous oxide and methane emissions from agricultural peatlands

Anthony, Tyler L.; Silver, Whendee L.

doi:10.1111/gcb.15802

Cited by 40 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Most peatland disturbances involve drainage, resulting in mineralization of stored organic matter and its release as CO2. Clearing or harvesting of vegetation also reduces new carbon inputs to the system, while drainage of nutrient-rich peat soils and/or fertilization during agricultural use results in N2O emissions (Anthony & Silver 2021). Induced GHG emissions can persist for decades to centuries as the peat deposit continues to decompose, even if primary disturbance activities have ceased (Waddington et al 2002).…”

Section: Peatland Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Exchangementioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Peatlands as Nature-Based Climate Solutions

Strack

Davidson

Hirano

et al. 2022

Curr Clim Change Rep

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Purpose of ReviewDespite covering only 3% of the land surface, peatlands represent the largest terrestrial organic carbon stock on the planet and continue to act as a carbon sink. Managing ecosystems to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protect carbon stocks provide nature-based climate solutions that can play an important role in emission reduction strategies, particularly over the next decade. This review provides an overview of peatland management pathways that can contribute to natural climate solutions and compiles regional and global estimates for the size of potential GHG emission reductions. Recent FindingsDegraded peatlands may account for 5% of current anthropogenic GHG emissions and therefore reducing emissions through rewetting and restoration offer substantial emission reductions. However, as a majority of peatland remains intact, particularly in boreal and subarctic regions, protection from future development is also an important peatland management pathway. Literature compilation indicates a global potential for peatland nature-based climate solutions of 1.1 to 2.6 Gt CO2e yr -1 in 2030.

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Section: Peatland Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Exchangementioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Peatlands as Nature-Based Climate Solutions

Strack

Davidson

Hirano

et al. 2022

Curr Clim Change Rep

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“…Deeply drained agricultural sites exhibit higher N 2 O emissions than near-natural sites and so the overall pattern is of increasing emissions from a peat cropland in California (Anthony & Silver, 2021).…”

Section: Water Tab Le Control Of Emiss Ionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Approximately 23–41% of net CO 2 emissions occur during the winter (October–March; Evans et al, 2016b), when farm activity is reduced, potentially providing an opportunity to reduce drainage depths. Wen et al (2020) observed 33% lower GHG emissions from mesocosms during the winter at a WTD of 0.3 m compared with 0.5 m. Arable production is possible on seasonally flooded peat in California (winter WTD up to −0.3 m), although viability may rely on adequate evapotranspiration rates, which will vary with climate (Anthony & Silver, 2021). Shallower winter WTDs may restrict vehicle access and interfere with field preparation.…”

Section: Wetland Agriculture Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tiemeyer et al (2016) found that the extent of WTD fluctuations and topsoil N stocks best predicted N 2 O emissions from German peat grasslands, while rainfall (Taghizadeh‐Toosi et al, 2019) and irrigation (Rochette et al, 2010) have also been observed to stimulate N 2 O emissions from agricultural peatlands. Hot moments, driven by the onset of winter flooding, irrigation and fertilisation, accounted for 45% of annual N 2 O emissions from a peat cropland in California (Anthony & Silver, 2021). These studies highlight the risk of large, denitrification‐driven N 2 O pulses when drained soils are subject to acute wetting events and WTD fluctuations.…”

Section: Water Table Control Of Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Responsible agriculture must adapt to the wetland character of mid‐latitude peatlands

Freeman

Evans

Musarika

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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Drained, lowland agricultural peatlands are greenhouse gas (GHG) emission hotspots and a large but vulnerable store of irrecoverable carbon. They exhibit soil loss rates of ~2.0 cm yr−1 and are estimated to account for 32% of global cropland emissions while producing only 1.1% of crop kilocalories. Carbon dioxide emissions account for >80% of their terrestrial GHG emissions and are largely controlled by water table depth. Reducing drainage depths is, therefore, essential for responsible peatland management. Peatland restoration can substantially reduce emissions. However, this may conflict with societal needs to maintain productive use, to protect food security and livelihoods. Wetland agriculture strategies will, therefore, be required to adapt agriculture to the wetland character of peatlands, and balance GHG mitigation against productivity, where halting emissions is not immediately possible. Paludiculture may substantially reduce GHG emissions but will not always be viable in the current economic landscape. Reduced drainage intensity systems may deliver partial reductions in the rate of emissions, with smaller modifications to existing systems. These compromise systems may face fewer hurdles to adoption and minimize environmental harm until societal conditions favour strategies that can halt emissions. Wetland agriculture will face agronomic, socio‐economic and water management challenges, and careful implementation will be required. Diversity of values and priorities among stakeholders creates the potential for conflict. Successful implementation will require participatory research approaches and co‐creation of workable solutions. Policymakers, private sector funders and researchers have key roles to play but adoption risks would fall predominantly on land managers. Development of a robust wetland agriculture paradigm is essential to deliver resilient production systems and wider environmental benefits. The challenge of responsible use presents an opportunity to rethink peatland management and create thriving, innovative and green wetland landscapes for everyone's future benefit, while making a vital contribution to global climate change mitigation.

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“…In the paper by Anthony and Silver (2021), Figures 2 and 3 incorrectly display the unit as “Soil Moisture (%)” but it should read “Soil Moisture (m 3 /m 3 )” as it displays volumetric water content. The updated figures reflect this change.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Corrigendum

2022

Global Change Biology

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Hot moments drive extreme nitrous oxide and methane emissions from agricultural peatlands

Cited by 40 publications

References 67 publications

The Potential of Peatlands as Nature-Based Climate Solutions

The Potential of Peatlands as Nature-Based Climate Solutions

Responsible agriculture must adapt to the wetland character of mid‐latitude peatlands

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