No significant differences in soil organic carbon contents along a chronosequence of shrub willow biomass crop fields

Pacaldo, Renato S.; Volk, Timothy A.; Briggs, Russell D.

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.10.018

Cited by 31 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Differences between TBI and non-TBI systems are observed numerically, and further accounted for in terms of the financial benefits of C sequestration in the next section in accordance with the SPEDE program. The statistical differences in C stocks between these two systems is not observed in this study (t-test, p = 0.05 for St. Edouard and p = 0.10 for St. Paulin) nor in a previous 19-year short rotation willow system [14].…”

Section: Carbon Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 72%

Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Markets for Tree-Based Intercropping Systems in Southern Quebec, Canada

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Since agriculture directly contributes to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, integrating trees into agricultural landscapes through agroforestry systems is a viable adaptive strategy for climate change mitigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the carbon (C) sequestration and financial benefits of C sequestration according to Quebec's Cap-and-Trade System for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowances (C & T System) or the Système de plafonnement et d'échange de droits d'émission de gaz à effet de serre du Québec (SPEDE) program for two experimental 10-year-old tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems in southern Quebec, Canada. We estimated total C stored in the two TBI systems with hybrid poplar and hardwoods and adjacent non-TBI systems under agricultural production, considering soil, crop and crop roots, litterfall, tree and tree roots as C stocks. The C sequestration of the TBI and adjacent non-TBI systems were compared and the market value of the C payment was evaluated using the net present value (NPV) approach. The TBI systems had 33% to 36% more C storage than adjacent non-TBI systems. The financial benefits of C sequestration after 10 years of TBI practices amounted to of $2,259-$2,758 CAD ha´1 and $1,568-$1,913 CAD ha´1 for St. Edouard and St. Paulin sites, respectively. We conclude that valorizing the C sequestration of TBI systems could be an incentive to promote the establishment of TBI for the purpose of GHG mitigation in Quebec, Canada.

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Section: Carbon Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 72%

Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Markets for Tree-Based Intercropping Systems in Southern Quebec, Canada

et al. 2016

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“…Overall, there was no SOC change in the study of Walter et al . (2014) which is in line with results of a 20‐year chronosequence for SRC plantations in the USA (Pacaldo et al ., ). These findings suggest that the C inputs from short‐term components (as Fr, leaves, weeds) did not result in a SOC accumulation over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil carbon and belowground carbon balance of a short‐rotation coppice: assessments from three different approaches

et al. 2016

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Uncertainty in soil carbon (C) fluxes across different land‐use transitions is an issue that needs to be addressed for the further deployment of perennial bioenergy crops. A large‐scale short‐rotation coppice (SRC) site with poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix) was established to examine the land‐use transitions of arable and pasture to bioenergy. Soil C pools, output fluxes of soil CO 2, CH 4, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and volatile organic compounds, as well as input fluxes from litter fall and from roots, were measured over a 4‐year period, along with environmental parameters. Three approaches were used to estimate changes in the soil C. The largest C pool in the soil was the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool and increased after four years of SRC from 10.9 to 13.9 kg C m−2. The belowground woody biomass (coarse roots) represented the second largest C pool, followed by the fine roots (Fr). The annual leaf fall represented the largest C input to the soil, followed by weeds and Fr. After the first harvest, we observed a very large C input into the soil from high Fr mortality. The weed inputs decreased as trees grew older and bigger. Soil respiration averaged 568.9 g C m−2 yr−1. Leaching of DOC increased over the three years from 7.9 to 14.5 g C m−2. The pool‐based approach indicated an increase of 3360 g C m−2 in the SOC pool over the 4‐year period, which was high when compared with the −27 g C m−2 estimated by the flux‐based approach and the −956 g C m−2 of the combined eddy‐covariance + biometric approach. High uncertainties were associated to the pool‐based approach. Our results suggest using the C flux approach for the assessment of the short‐/medium‐term SOC balance at our site, while SOC pool changes can only be used for long‐term C balance assessments.

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“…Whilst these differences are not large, the transition may still be at the early stages of C redistribution through the soil profile, though further data would be required to confirm this postulation. Chronosequence data also suggest that after initial conversion from grassland to SRC willow, there can be a loss of soil carbon for up to 5 years, which is followed by recovery up to 19 years (Pacaldo et al ., ). Our site is only 7 years postconversion and therefore is likely still in the recovery phase with respect to soil carbon.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Land‐use change to bioenergy: grassland to short rotation coppice willow has an improved carbon balance

et al. 2016

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The effect of a transition from grassland to second-generation (2G) bioenergy on soil carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) balance is uncertain, with limited empirical data on which to validate landscape-scale models, sustainability criteria and energy policies. Here, we quantified soil carbon, soil GHG emissions and whole ecosystem carbon balance for short rotation coppice (SRC) bioenergy willow and a paired grassland site, both planted at commercial scale. We quantified the carbon balance for a 2-year period and captured the effects of a commercial harvest in the SRC willow at the end of the first cycle. Soil fluxes of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and methane (CH 4 ) did not contribute significantly to the GHG balance of these land uses. Soil respiration was lower in SRC willow (912 AE 42 g C m À2 yr À1) than in grassland (1522 AE 39 g C m À2 yr À1 ). Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) reflected this with the grassland a net source of carbon with mean NEE of 119 AE 10 g C m À2 yr À1 and SRC willow a net sink, À620 AE 18 g C m À2 yr À1 . When carbon removed from the ecosystem in harvested products was considered (Net Biome Productivity), SRC willow remained a net sink (221 AE 66 g C m À2 yr À1 ). Despite the SRC willow site being a net sink for carbon, soil carbon stocks (0-30 cm)were higher under the grassland. There was a larger NEE and increase in ecosystem respiration in the SRC willow after harvest; however, the site still remained a carbon sink. Our results indicate that once established, significant carbon savings are likely in SRC willow compared with the minimally managed grassland at this site. Although these observed impacts may be site and management dependent, they provide evidence that land-use transition to 2G bioenergy has potential to provide a significant improvement on the ecosystem service of climate regulation relative to grassland systems.

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No significant differences in soil organic carbon contents along a chronosequence of shrub willow biomass crop fields

Cited by 31 publications

References 33 publications

Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Markets for Tree-Based Intercropping Systems in Southern Quebec, Canada

Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Markets for Tree-Based Intercropping Systems in Southern Quebec, Canada

Soil carbon and belowground carbon balance of a short‐rotation coppice: assessments from three different approaches

Land‐use change to bioenergy: grassland to short rotation coppice willow has an improved carbon balance

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