Net carbon storage measured in a mowed and grazed temperate sown grassland shows potential for carbon sequestration under grazed system

Senapati, Nimai; Chabbi, Abad; Gastal, François; Smith, Pete; Mascher, Nicolas; Loubet, Benjamin; Cellier, Pierre; Naisse, Christophé

doi:10.1080/17583004.2014.912863

Cited by 41 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…, Senapati et al. ) and high‐yielding croplands have been found to have similar or higher annual CO 2 uptake compared to forest ecosystems (Gilmanov et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon use efficiency of hayed alfalfa and grass pastures in a semiarid environment

2018

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Management, environment, and agroecosystem type are key factors influencing photosynthetic carbon (C) uptake and C use efficiency (CUE), calculated as the ratio of net ecosystem production to gross ecosystem production (NEP:GEP). Current literature has mainly emphasized annual C balance in studies involving multiple years with continuous monitoring of ecosystem C fluxes, yet CUE has not been thoroughly analyzed during the growing season, particularly in paired comparisons of contrasting types of pasture under semiarid conditions. From 2009 through 2013, we used eddy covariance method to determine daily, seasonal, and annual C budgets in rainfed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and grass ecosystems subjected to periodic harvest (haying) near Mandan, North Dakota, USA. We found consistently higher magnitudes of C fluxes (ecosystem respiration [ER], NEP, GEP) and hay production in alfalfa than grassland. Leaf area and canopy nitrogen content per unit land area were key driving factors for daily, seasonal, and annual differences in C fluxes between agroecosystems. Net ecosystem C balance indicated C losses occurred through haying in both ecosystems, though no changes in soil C stocks were detected in either ecosystem over the course of the study. Mean NEP:GEP ratios (±standard error) during periods of steady carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake before and after haying were 0.43 ± 0.01 and 0.26 ± 0.03 for alfalfa and grassland, respectively, implying more efficient C use in the former. Moreover, alfalfa had consistently greater CUE than grassland despite variations in sunlight, temperature, and precipitation within and between growing seasons. Ratios of ER to GEP were also repeatedly lower in alfalfa than grassland in all five growing seasons. Under drought conditions, we infer alfalfa roots accessed water in the soil profile unavailable to more shallow‐rooted grass species. Overall, hayed alfalfa was more efficient and tolerant than grassland in assimilating and using atmospheric CO2 under variable intra‐ and inter‐seasonal conditions. Outcomes from this study suggest the inclusion of alfalfa in unirrigated crop rotations can sustain high CUE, C uptake, and hay production while mitigating C losses in a semiarid environment.

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“…, Senapati et al. ) and high‐yielding croplands have been found to have similar or higher annual CO 2 uptake compared to forest ecosystems (Gilmanov et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon use efficiency of hayed alfalfa and grass pastures in a semiarid environment

2018

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“…For example Senapati et al (2014) compared two pastures that were either mowed three to five times per year or grazed five to nine times per year and found no difference in annual GPP between the two. However, management of grazed vs. cut pastures can often differ in significant ways.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies have shown that defoliation, either by grazing or mowing, causes a rapid decrease in gross primary productivity (GPP), as photosynthetic capacity is primarily controlled by leaf area index and the plant's capacity to absorb photosynthetically active radiation (Morgan and Brown, 1983;Novick et al, 2004;Byrne et al, 2005). Grazing and mowing could potentially have different effects on the decrease and subsequent recovery in GPP because mowing results in a relatively rapid, complete and uniform removal of all leaf area above the cutting height whereas grazing can take place over several hours to days and stubble height following grazing is more spatially heterogeneous as some plants are more heavily grazed than others (Senapati et al, 2014). Similarly, these factors can also affect how quickly or whether GPP recovers to pre-defoliation levels.…”

Section: Defoliation Effects On Pasture Photosynthesis and Respirationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defoliation Effects on Pasture Photosynthesis and Respiration

Skinner

Goslee

2016

Crop Science

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Ecosystem C gain or loss from managed grasslands depends on management practices. However, limited information is available at the field scale on how the type of defoliation, specifically grazing vs. cutting, affects gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (RE) immediately after defoliation and during the regrowth process. This study takes advantage of daily field‐scale micrometeorological measurements of GPP and RE made over a 9‐yr period on two pastures that were grazed or cut approximately five times per year to examine the relative effects of grazing and cutting on GPP and RE. The null hypotheses were that the initial reduction in GPP and RE following defoliation and the time required for recovery to pre‐defoliation levels did not differ in response to defoliation method. Overall, RE was greater in cut pastures than in grazed pastures. Regardless of defoliation method, RE did not change during the first week after defoliation, or during the 5 wk following. The initial reduction in GPP2000 (GPP in full sunlight) was greater when pastures were cut (70%) than grazed (46%) and recovery to pre‐defoliation levels took 5 wk for cut pastures vs. 3 wk when grazed. This study suggests, all other management practices being similar, that grazed pastures should be stronger annual C sinks than cut pastures. However, cut and grazed pastures are rarely managed in the same way such that the realized balance between GPP and RE will depend on both physiological responses to defoliation and management intensity.

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“…The higher C storage was attributed to greater export by harvest under cutting regime, whereas under grazing a substantial amount of C is returned in form of dung and urine (Senapati et al, 2014). However, grazing and mowing may also stimulate differently plant physiology and rhizospheric C input, thereby probably altering SOM storage in soil.…”

Section: Effect Of Grassland Management On Om Inputmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intensive grazing leads to significantly decreased SOC stocks associated with higher bulk density in topsoils (Steffens et al, 2008(Steffens et al, , 2009 and aggregate stability and thus carbon storage than harvest by mowing (Franzluebbers et al, 2000). This corresponds to the increase of net C storage measured by CO 2 fluxes in temperate grazing systems compared to mowed grasslands (Senapati et al, 2014).…”

Section: Effect Of Grassland Management On Om Inputmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of grassland management on biogeochemical cycles involving carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

Rumpel

Creme²,

Ngo

et al. 2015

J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.

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Grassland introduction into intensively managed agricultural landscapes may enhance soil organic matter (SOM) content and ecosystem services. However, the magnitude of this effect depends on grassland management practices, and their influence on the soil system. The aim of this paper is to highlight these impacts and their consequences for SOM dynamics and element cycling. We focused in particular on the effect of different grassland management practices in terms of grazing regime, fertilization, and species choice.While carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles are more strongly coupled under grassland as compared to permanent cropping, uncoupling of elemental cycles may occur through management intensification. Grazing regime, fertilization and species choice affect elemental coupling and SOM turnover via organic matter input and rhizosphere activity to different extent, thereby resulting in contrasting SOM storage. Grazing may be more beneficial for SOM contents compared to mowing up to a certain animal density depending on soil type and pedoclimatic context. SOM storage may be increased in some cases through specific fertilizer additions, whereas in others no change was observed. Species choice, e.g. high diversity or introduction of legumes, influence element budgets and soil nutrient availability through plant physiological constraints as well as intraor interspecific interactions. The effect of different plant species mixtures on soil parameters has rarely been elucidated.We conclude that the impact of grassland management practices on SOM of different soil types and the resulting ecosystem services, such as C and nutrient storage need further research in contrasting pedoclimatic contexts. More studies on the controls of belowground biogeochemical cycling of elements are necessary in order to fully understand and manage belowground processes via aboveground plant communities.

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Net carbon storage measured in a mowed and grazed temperate sown grassland shows potential for carbon sequestration under grazed system

Cited by 41 publications

References 43 publications

Carbon use efficiency of hayed alfalfa and grass pastures in a semiarid environment

Carbon use efficiency of hayed alfalfa and grass pastures in a semiarid environment

Defoliation Effects on Pasture Photosynthesis and Respiration

The impact of grassland management on biogeochemical cycles involving carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

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