The effects of cutting frequencies at equal fertiliser rates on bio-diverse permanent grassland: Soil organic C and apparent N budget

Kramberger, B.; Podvršnik, Miran; Gselman, A.; Šuštar, Vilma; Kristl, Janja; Muršec, Mateja; Škorjanc, Dejan

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2015.06.001

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…However, the urban lawn in that study was fertilised and irrigated, while the urban lawns in our study were not. In a long-term field experiment on cutting frequency effects on grass yield, Kramberger et al (2015) found the lowest yield in plots with the highest cutting frequency (2-week intervals) and the highest yield in plots with moderate to low cutting frequency (8-to 12-week intervals). This is in contrast to our results from Uppsala and Malmö, but in line with the results from Gothenburg, where we found higher aboveground biomass in the meadow-like lawns.…”

Section: Effect Of Cutting Frequency On Aboveground Productivitymentioning

confidence: 95%

“…For this reason, the results of our study are not directly applicable to mown grasslands or leys, which are usually harvested. The responses of SOC to management intensity in those systems are not well studied, but studies performed to date show mixed results ranging from no effect (Kramberger et al, 2015) to significantly positive effects of high cutting frequency (Ammann et al, 2007). In the latter case, the difference in SOC stocks between intensively and extensively managed grassland was attributed to differences in N fertilisation, which caused N deficiency and thus N mining in the extensive grassland, leading to stronger mineralisation of stable organic matter.…”

Section: Effect Of Cutting Frequency On Soil Organic Carbon In Relatimentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of grassland cutting frequency on soil carbon storage – a case study on public lawns in three Swedish cities

Poeplau

Marstorp

Thored

et al. 2016

SOIL

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Abstract. Soils contain the largest terrestrial carbon pool and thus play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Grassland soils have particularly high soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. In Europe (EU 25), grasslands cover 22 % of the land area. It is therefore important to understand the effects of grassland management and management intensity on SOC storage. City lawns constitute a unique study system in this context, since they provide a high functional diversity and thus a wide range of different management intensities per unit area. In this study we investigated frequently mown (on average eight times per season) utility lawns and rarely mown (once per season) meadow-like lawns at three multi-family housing areas in each of three Swedish cities: Uppsala, Malmö, and Gothenburg. The two different lawn types were compared regarding their aboveground net primary production (NPP) and SOC storage. In addition, root biomass was determined in Uppsala. We found significantly higher aboveground NPP and SOC concentrations and significantly lower soil C : N ratio for the utility lawns compared with the meadow-like lawns. On average, aboveground NPP was 24 % or 0.7 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 higher and SOC was 12 % or 7.8 Mg ha−1 higher. Differences in SOC were well explained by differences in aboveground NPP (R2 = 0.39), which indicates that the increase in productivity due to more optimum CO2-assimilating leaf area, leading to higher carbon input to the soil, was the major driver for soil carbon sequestration. Differences in soil C : N ratio indicated a more closed N cycle in utility lawns, which might have additionally affected SOC dynamics. We did not find any difference in root biomass between the two management regimes, and concluded that cutting frequency most likely only exerts an effect on SOC when cuttings are left on the surface.

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Section: Effect Of Cutting Frequency On Aboveground Productivitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Effect Of Cutting Frequency On Soil Organic Carbon In Relatimentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of grassland cutting frequency on soil carbon storage – a case study on public lawns in three Swedish cities

Poeplau

Marstorp

Thored

et al. 2016

SOIL

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“…To verify these two hypotheses, an experiment was conducted in the natural grassland, which is rich in both variability and multi-functionality, and is one of largest ecosystems in the world. Grassland can provide excellent foraging opportunities for animals, as well as many benefits to humans [25]. There has been an increasing concern regarding biodiversity and its role in environmental conservation of grasslands over last few decades [26,27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Fertilizers on Biomass and Biodiversity on a Semi-Arid Grassland of Northern China

et al. 2019

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Semi-arid grassland in northern China faces degradation and desertification problems, with fertilizer application appearing to be a potential solution by improving soil fertility and plant fields or biodiversity. In this study, mineral and organic fertilizers were used in a semi-arid natural grassland in Hebei Province for three years. The plant characteristics, biomass and species diversity index were assessed and analyzed. In the years 2016 and 2017, mineral fertilizers (RC) significantly increased the total aboveground biomass and the aboveground biomass, natural height, density and coverage of Leymus chinensis compared with organic fertilizers (RO), especially at a moderate application rate (RC2). Leymus chinensis was first divided into its own group and then separated into four groups via cluster tree analysis. The importance values of Leymus chinensis showed continuous increases in mineral fertilizer treatments, but not for organic fertilizers. Margalef’s species richness indexes increased significantly (to 2.09) in the organic treatment (RO1) when compared with RC2. Thus, it was concluded that mineral fertilizers could enhance the position of Leymus chinensis in the natural grassland, while organic fertilizers could promote species biodiversity. This study also provides recommendations regarding the use of fertilizers for the purposes of increasing plant biomass and biodiversity in semi-arid grasslands of northern China.

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“…Few studies have attempted to calculate N budgets from managed grasslands (e.g. Chen et al, 2004;Ammann et al, 2009;Kramberger et al, 2015), whereas C budgets have been assessed more often and are available for various ecosystems (e.g. Aubinet et al, 2000;Soussana et al, 2007;Ammann et al, 2007;Rytter et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The nitrogen, carbon and greenhouse gas budget of a grazed, cut and fertilised temperate grassland

et al. 2017

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Intensively managed grazed grasslands in temperate climates are globally important environments for the exchange of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). We assessed the N and C budget of a mostly grazed and occasionally cut and fertilised grassland in SE Scotland by measuring or modelling all relevant imports and exports to the field as well as changes in soil C and N stocks over time. The N budget was dominated by import from inorganic and organic fertilisers (21.9 g N m−2 a−1) and losses from leaching (5.3 g N m−2 a−1), N2 emissions (2.9 g N m−2 a−1), and NOx and NH3 volatilisation (3.9 g N m−2 a−1), while N2O emission was only 0.6 g N m−2 a−1. The efficiency of N use by animal products (meat and wool) averaged 9.9 % of total N input over only-grazed years (2004–2010). On average over 9 years (2002–2010), the balance of N fluxes suggested that 6.0 ± 5.9 g N m−2 a−1 (mean ± confidence interval at p > 0.95) were stored in the soil. The largest component of the C budget was the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE), at an average uptake rate of 218 ± 155 g C m−2 a−1 over the 9 years. This sink strength was offset by carbon export from the field mainly as grass offtake for silage (48.9 g C m−2 a−1) and leaching (16.4 g C m−2 a−1). The other export terms, CH4 emissions from the soil, manure applications and enteric fermentation, were negligible and only contributed to 0.02–4.2 % of the total C losses. Only a small fraction of C was incorporated into the body of the grazing animals. Inclusion of these C losses in the budget resulted in a C sink strength of 163 ± 140 g C m−2 a−1. By contrast, soil stock measurements taken in May 2004 and May 2011 indicated that the grassland sequestered N in the 0–60 cm soil layer at 4.51 ± 2.64 g N m−2 a−1 and lost C at a rate of 29.08 ± 38.19 g C m−2 a−1. Potential reasons for the discrepancy between these estimates are probably an underestimation of C losses, especially from leaching fluxes as well as from animal respiration. The average greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of the grassland was −366 ± 601 g CO2 eq. m−2 yr−1 and was strongly affected by CH4 and N2O emissions. The GHG sink strength of the NEE was reduced by 54 % by CH4 and N2O emissions. Estimated enteric fermentation from ruminating sheep proved to be an important CH4 source, exceeding the contribution of N2O to the GHG budget in some years

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The effects of cutting frequencies at equal fertiliser rates on bio-diverse permanent grassland: Soil organic C and apparent N budget

Cited by 13 publications

References 32 publications

Effect of grassland cutting frequency on soil carbon storage – a case study on public lawns in three Swedish cities

Effect of grassland cutting frequency on soil carbon storage – a case study on public lawns in three Swedish cities

The Effect of Fertilizers on Biomass and Biodiversity on a Semi-Arid Grassland of Northern China

The nitrogen, carbon and greenhouse gas budget of a grazed, cut and fertilised temperate grassland

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