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The Effects of Land-Use Change from Grassland to Miscanthus x giganteus on Soil N 2 O Emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Brendan Roth

    (Department of Botany, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland)

  • Michael Jones

    (Department of Botany, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland)

  • James Burke

    (Crops Environment and Land Use Programme, Teagasc Crop Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland
    School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland)

  • Michael Williams

    (Department of Botany, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland)

Abstract

A one year field trial was carried out on three adjacent unfertilised plots; an 18 year old grassland, a 14 year old established Miscanthus crop, and a 7 month old newly planted Miscanthus crop. Measurements of N 2 O, soil temperature, water filled pore space (WFPS), and inorganic nitrogen concentrations, were made every one to two weeks. Soil temperature, WFPS and NO 3 − and NH 4 + concentrations were all found to be significantly affected by land use. Temporal crop effects were also observed in soil inorganic nitrogen dynamics, due in part to C 4 litter incorporation into the soil under Miscanthus . Nonetheless, soil N 2 O fluxes were not significantly affected by land use. Cumulative yearly N 2 O fluxes were relatively low, 216 ± 163, 613 ± 294, and 377 ± 132 g·N·ha −1 ·yr −1 from the grassland, newly planted Miscanthus , and established Miscanthus plots respectively, and fell within the range commonly observed for unfertilised grasslands dominated by perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ). Higher mean cumulative fluxes were measured in the newly planted Miscanthus , which may be linked to a possible unobserved increase immediately after establishment. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Based on the results of this experiment, land-use change from grassland to Miscanthus will have a neutral impact on medium to long-term N 2 O emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Brendan Roth & Michael Jones & James Burke & Michael Williams, 2013. "The Effects of Land-Use Change from Grassland to Miscanthus x giganteus on Soil N 2 O Emissions," Land, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-15, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:2:y:2013:i:3:p:437-451:d:28509
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Styles, David & Jones, Michael B., 2008. "Miscanthus and willow heat production--An effective land-use strategy for greenhouse gas emission avoidance in Ireland?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 97-107, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ikabongo Mukumbuta & Mariko Shimizu & Ryusuke Hatano, 2017. "Mitigating Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensities by Applying Composted Manure in Cornfield: A 3-Year Field Study in an Andosol Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-20, February.

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