No general soil carbon sequestration under Central European short rotation coppices

Walter, Katja; Don, Axel; Flessa, Heinz

doi:10.1111/gcbb.12177

Cited by 54 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…In our study, the CO 2 emission from the soil decreased with time (weeks) after planting or harvesting, but increased from the first to the second and from the second to the third rotation period. It is noteworthy that under certain conditions, C may be enriched in the soil of SRC, as shown by Abou Jaoude et al [42], Walter et al [59] and Harris et al [60]. Such C enrichment results from the decay of roots and litter and the turnover to soil organic carbon [42,61].…”

Section: Driving Forces Of Ghg Emissions In Srcmentioning

confidence: 92%

Environmental Effects over the First 2½ Rotation Periods of a Fertilised Poplar Short Rotation Coppice

et al. 2017

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A short rotation coppice (SRC) with poplar was established in a randomised fertilisation experiment on sandy loam soil in Potsdam (Northeast Germany). The main objective of this study was to assess if negative environmental effects as nitrogen leaching and greenhouse gas emissions are enhanced by mineral nitrogen (N) fertiliser applied to poplar at rates of 0, 50 and 75 kg N ha −1 year −1 and how these effects are influenced by tree age with increasing number of rotation periods and cycles of organic matter decomposition and tree growth after each harvesting event. Between 2008 and 2012, the leaching of nitrate (NO 3 − ) was monitored with self-integrating accumulators over 6-month periods and the emissions of the greenhouse gases (GHG) nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) were determined in closed gas chambers. During the first 4 years of the poplar SRC, most nitrogen was lost through NO 3 − leaching from the main root zone; however, there was no significant relationship to the rate of N fertilisation. On average, 5.8 kg N ha −1 year −1 (13.0 kg CO 2equ ) was leached from the root zone. Nitrogen leaching rates decreased in the course of the 4-year study parallel to an increase of the fine root biomass and the degree of mycorrhization. In contrast to N leaching, the loss of nitrogen by N 2 O emissions from the soil was very low with an average of 0.61 kg N ha −1 year −1 (182 kg CO 2equ ) and were also not affected by N fertilisation over the whole study period. Real CO 2 emissions from the poplar soil were two orders of magnitude higher ranging between 15,122 and 19,091 kg CO 2 ha −1 year −1 and followed the rotation period with enhanced emission rates in the years of harvest. As key-factors for NO 3 − leaching and N 2 O emissions, the time after planting and after harvest and the rotation period have been identified by a mixed effects model.

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Section: Driving Forces Of Ghg Emissions In Srcmentioning

confidence: 92%

Environmental Effects over the First 2½ Rotation Periods of a Fertilised Poplar Short Rotation Coppice

et al. 2017

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“…Comparable SOC sequestration rates of 3. [46], whilst others have reported losses of SOC under willow [47], particularly on former grassland [18,48]. On average, a lower mean annual SOC sequestration rate under willow of 0.6 Mg ha −1 year −1 has been reported [15].…”

Section: Soc and Tn Under Bioenergy Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[17,48]), they are not unprecedently so (e.g. [43,52]), and the rates of change relative to initial SOC stocks are comparable elsewhere.…”

Section: Soc and Tn Under Bioenergy Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species and Genotype Effects of Bioenergy Crops on Root Production, Carbon and Nitrogen in Temperate Agricultural Soil

et al. 2018

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Bioenergy crops have a secondary benefit if they increase soil organic C (SOC) stocks through capture and allocation belowground. The effects of four genotypes of short-rotation coppice willow (Salix spp., 'Terra Nova' and 'Tora') and Miscanthus (M. × giganteus ('Giganteus') and M. sinensis ('Sinensis')) on roots, SOC and total nitrogen (TN) were quantified to test whether below-ground biomass controls SOC and TN dynamics. Soil cores were collected under ('plant') and between plants ('gap') in a field experiment on a temperate agricultural silty clay loam after 4 and 6 years' management. Root density was greater under Miscanthus for plant (up to 15.5 kg m −3 ) compared with gap (up to 2.7 kg m −3 ), whereas willow had lower densities (up to 3.7 kg m −3 ). Over 2 years, SOC increased below 0.2 m depth from 7.1 to 8.5 kg m −3 and was greatest under Sinensis at 0-0.1 m depth (24.8 kg m −3 ). Miscanthus-derived SOC, based on stable isotope analysis, was greater under plant (11.6 kg m −3 ) than gap (3.1 kg m −3 ) for Sinensis. Estimated SOC stock change rates over the 2-year period to 1-m depth were 6.4 for Terra Nova, 7.4 for Tora, 3.1 for Giganteus and 8.8 Mg ha −1 year −1 for Sinensis. Rates of change of TN were much less. That SOC matched root mass down the profile, particularly under Miscanthus, indicated that perennial root systems are an important contributor. Willow and Miscanthus offer both biomass production and C sequestration when planted in arable soil.

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“…Therefore, increasing our knowledge about C cycling and storage in poplar plantations is important to assess the C balance of this expanding type of land use. There is growing evidence that the establishment of short rotation coppices and fast-growing plantations of broadleaved species on agricultural land may not increase soil C stocks on a general basis [9][10][11], with considerable uncertainties regarding the sustainability of soil organic C enrichment in bioenergy woody crops [12]. However, many of these systems may increase, on the shortterm, belowground C storage through root biomass growth [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Allometry in Coarse Root Biomass of Mature Hybrid Poplar Plantations

et al. 2015

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In this study, we sampled coarse root biomass of three poplar clones in four 13-year-old hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) plantations, with the objective of developing an allometric relationship between diameter at breast height (DBH) and coarse root biomass. A second objective was to test significance of site, clone and ×site clone interaction effects on coarse root biomass, using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with DBH as a covariate. Across the four sites, the general allometric relationship between DBH and coarse root biomass was highly significant (R 2 =0.78, p<0.001). However, given the high significance of the site effect (p< 0.001) in the ANCOVA and the differences in data distribution between sites, two allometric relationships were developed based on the fertility class of sites (high and moderate). Environmentspecific allometric relationships developed for two site fertility classes had a better fit (R 2 =0.81-0.90, p<0.001). ANCOVA, with DBH as a covariate and site fertility class as a main effect, also showed that both of these variables significantly affected (p <0.001) coarse root biomass allocation. Environmentspecific equations showed that higher coarse root biomass was allocated in harsher environments for a given DBH, probably to improve access to growth limiting soil nutrients or to build-up larger storage sites for amino acids and non-structural carbohydrates. Consequently, poplar coarse root biomass growth is both driven by ontogeny (size) and environment, reflecting the plasticity of the root system of mature poplars. Implications of using general vs. environment-specific equations in estimating stand-level root biomass and shoot to root ratios are discussed. Shoot to root ratios calculated using environment-specific equations were more strongly correlated to key environmental variables than ratios calculated using the general equation, with soil NO 3 supply rate being the strongest predictor of the ratio (R 2 =0.90, p<0.001).

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No general soil carbon sequestration under Central European short rotation coppices

Cited by 54 publications

References 46 publications

Environmental Effects over the First 2½ Rotation Periods of a Fertilised Poplar Short Rotation Coppice

Environmental Effects over the First 2½ Rotation Periods of a Fertilised Poplar Short Rotation Coppice

Species and Genotype Effects of Bioenergy Crops on Root Production, Carbon and Nitrogen in Temperate Agricultural Soil

Plastic Allometry in Coarse Root Biomass of Mature Hybrid Poplar Plantations

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