The role of grazing management for the net biome productivity and greenhouse gas budget (CO2, N2O and CH4) of semi-natural grassland

Allard, Vincent; Soussana, Jean‐François; Falcimagne, Robert; Berbigier, Paul; Bonnefond, Jean-Marc; Ceschia, Éric; d'Hour, Pascal P.; Hénault, Catherine; Laville, Patricia; Martin, Cécile; Pinares-Patiño, C. S.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2006.12.004

Cited by 221 publications

(146 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…2, land surface properties related to management (e.g., nutrient availably due to fertilization), soil properties (bulk density, skeleton fraction), soil carbon-nitrogen pools, soil moisture and soil temperature are heterogeneously distributed at the Rollesbroich site. The effect of soil moisture, soil temperature and soil properties on CO 2 fluxes (respiration mainly) is well known (e.g., Herbst et al, 2009;Flanagan and Johnson, 2005;Xu et al, 2004;Lloyd and Taylor, 1994;Orchard and Cook, 1983) as well as the role of grassland management (e.g., Allard et al, 2007). Results indicate that an overestimation of the two-tower based uncertainty caused by different land surface properties in the footprint area of both EC towers can be successfully filtered out by the extended approach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO<sub>2</sub> flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Post¹,

Franssen²,

Graf³

et al. 2015

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. The use of eddy covariance (EC) CO 2 flux measurements in data assimilation and other applications requires an estimate of the random uncertainty. In previous studies, the (classical) two-tower approach has yielded robust uncertainty estimates, but care must be taken to meet the often competing requirements of statistical independence (nonoverlapping footprints) and ecosystem homogeneity when choosing an appropriate tower distance. The role of the tower distance was investigated with help of a roving station separated between 8 m and 34 km from a permanent EC grassland station. Random uncertainty was estimated for five separation distances with the classical two-tower approach and an extended approach which removed systematic differences of CO 2 fluxes measured at two EC towers. This analysis was made for a data set where (i) only similar weather conditions at the two sites were included, and (ii) an unfiltered one. The extended approach, applied to weather-filtered data for separation distances of 95 and 173 m gave uncertainty estimates in best correspondence with an independent reference method. The introduced correction for systematic flux differences considerably reduced the overestimation of the two-tower based uncertainty of net CO 2 flux measurements and decreased the sensitivity of results to tower distance. We therefore conclude that corrections for systematic flux differences (e.g., caused by different environmental conditions at both EC towers) can help to apply the two-tower approach to more site pairs with less ideal conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO<sub>2</sub> flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Post¹,

Franssen²,

Graf³

et al. 2015

Biogeosciences

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“…Intensive pastures for heifers with a high stocking rate have been compared to extensive pastures with a low stocking rate on three consecutive years. Methane production per kg live-weight gain was the same in the two systems; CH 4 per hectare was much higher with the intensive system because of a higher stocking rate and thus more feed fermented in the rumen per hectare (PinaresPatiñ o et al, 2007a), but GHG balance was more negative with the extensive system (Allard et al, 2007). However, carbon sequestration decreased along the 3-year period with the extensive system, so that the sustainability of this system is questioned.…”

Section: Variations In Total Ghg Emissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methane mitigation in ruminants: from microbe to the farm scale

Martin

Morgavi

Doreau

2010

Animal

Self Cite

747

657

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Decreasing enteric methane (CH 4 ) emissions from ruminants without altering animal production is desirable both as a strategy to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and as a means of improving feed conversion efficiency. The aim of this paper is to provide an update on a selection of proved and potential strategies to mitigate enteric CH 4 production by ruminants. Various biotechnologies are currently being explored with mixed results. Approaches to control methanogens through vaccination or the use of bacteriocins highlight the difficulty to modulate the rumen microbial ecosystem durably. The use of probiotics, i.e. acetogens and live yeasts, remains a potentially interesting approach, but results have been either unsatisfactory, not conclusive, or have yet to be confirmed in vivo. Elimination of the rumen protozoa to mitigate methanogenesis is promising, but this option should be carefully evaluated in terms of livestock performances. In addition, on-farm defaunation techniques are not available up to now. Several feed additives such as ionophores, organic acids and plant extracts have also been assayed. The potential use of plant extracts to reduce CH 4 is receiving a renewed interest as they are seen as a natural alternative to chemical additives and are well perceived by consumers. The response to tannin-and saponincontaining plant extracts is highly variable and more research is needed to assess the effectiveness and eventual presence of undesirable residues in animal products. Nutritional strategies to mitigate CH 4 emissions from ruminants are, without doubt, the most developed and ready to be applied in the field. Approaches presented in this paper involve interventions on the nature and amount of energy-based concentrates and forages, which constitute the main component of diets as well as the use of lipid supplements. The possible selection of animals based on low CH 4 production and more likely on their high efficiency of digestive processes is also addressed. Whatever the approach proposed, however, before practical solutions are applied in the field, the sustainability of CH 4 suppressing strategies is an important issue that has to be considered. The evaluation of different strategies, in terms of total GHG emissions for a given production system, is discussed.Keywords: methane, greenhouse gases, ruminant, mitigation strategies Implications Methane (CH 4 ) mitigation in ruminants is possible through various strategies. Today, the feeding management approach is the most developed. Other strategies (biotechnologies, additives) are promising but the diversity and plasticity of functions of the rumen bacterial and methanogenic communities may be a limiting factor for their successful application. A possible selection of animals on CH 4 production and more likely on digestive processes is evocated. In any case, before practical solutions are proposed for field application more research in vivo is needed. The sustainability of CH 4 -suppressing strategies is also an important issue and they mi...

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“…0.6% of C intake with heifers under continuous upland grazing; Allard et al, 2007), but this fraction becomes much higher in intensive dairy production systems (e.g. 19% to 20% of C intake; Faverdin et al, 2007).…”

Section: The Carbon Balance Of Managed Grasslandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…C exports in animal products were assumed to reach 2% and 20% of C intake for meat and milk production, respectively (see text). Grazed sites: Hungary, France, Italy (see Allard et al, 2007;Soussana et al, 2007; Table 1). Cut and grazed sites: Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands (see Soussana et al, 2007; Table 1).…”

Section: Methane Exchanged With Grassland Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitigating the greenhouse gas balance of ruminant production systems through carbon sequestration in grasslands

Soussana

Tallec

Blanfort

2010

Animal

425

289

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Soil carbon sequestration (enhanced sinks) is the mechanism responsible for most of the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential in the agriculture sector. Carbon sequestration in grasslands can be determined directly by measuring changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and indirectly by measuring the net balance of C fluxes. A literature search shows that grassland C sequestration reaches on average 5 6 30 g C/m 2 per year according to inventories of SOC stocks and 2231 and 77 g C/m 2 per year for drained organic and mineral soils, respectively, according to C flux balance. Off-site C sequestration occurs whenever more manure C is produced by than returned to a grassland plot. The sum of on-and off-site C sequestration reaches 129, 98 and 71 g C/m 2 per year for grazed, cut and mixed European grasslands on mineral soils, respectively, however with high uncertainty. A range of management practices reduce C losses and increase C sequestration: (i) avoiding soil tillage and the conversion of grasslands to arable use, (ii) moderately intensifying nutrient-poor permanent grasslands, (iii) using light grazing instead of heavy grazing, (iv) increasing the duration of grass leys; (v) converting grass leys to grass-legume mixtures or to permanent grasslands. With nine European sites, direct emissions of N 2 O from soil and of CH 4 from enteric fermentation at grazing, expressed in CO 2 equivalents, compensated 10% and 34% of the on-site grassland C sequestration, respectively. Digestion inside the barn of the harvested herbage leads to further emissions of CH 4 and N 2 O by the production systems, which were estimated at 130 g CO 2 equivalents/m 2 per year. The net balance of on-and off-site C sequestration, CH 4 and N 2 O emissions reached 38 g CO 2 equivalents/m 2 per year, indicating a non-significant net sink activity. This net balance was, however, negative for intensively managed cut sites indicating a source to the atmosphere. In conclusion, this review confirms that grassland C sequestration has a strong potential to partly mitigate the GHG balance of ruminant production systems. However, as soil C sequestration is both reversible and vulnerable to disturbance, biodiversity loss and climate change, CH 4 and N 2 O emissions from the livestock sector need to be reduced and current SOC stocks preserved.

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The role of grazing management for the net biome productivity and greenhouse gas budget (CO2, N2O and CH4) of semi-natural grassland

Cited by 221 publications

References 36 publications

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO<sub>2</sub> flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO<sub>2</sub> flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Methane mitigation in ruminants: from microbe to the farm scale

Mitigating the greenhouse gas balance of ruminant production systems through carbon sequestration in grasslands

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The role of grazing management for the net biome productivity and greenhouse gas budget (CO2, N2O and CH4) of semi-natural grassland

Cited by 221 publications

References 36 publications

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Methane mitigation in ruminants: from microbe to the farm scale

Mitigating the greenhouse gas balance of ruminant production systems through carbon sequestration in grasslands

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO<sub>2</sub> flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach

Uncertainty analysis of eddy covariance CO<sub>2</sub> flux measurements for different EC tower distances using an extended two-tower approach