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Chen P, Mei B, Yao Z, Yue H, Ren G, Aruhan, Li S, Qiqige, Zheng X. Three years of CO 2, CH 4 and N 2O fluxes from different sheepfolds in a semiarid steppe region, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173830. [PMID: 38866150 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
To better assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock folds in semi-arid steppe zones and reduce uncertainties in regional and national GHG emission inventories, we measured the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from sheepfolds under contrasting management regimes (i.e., summer sheepfolds under continuous and rotational grazing strategies and the winter sheepfold) for 3 consecutive years. Our results showed that these GHG fluxes had high intra-annual and interannual variations, emphasizing the importance of multi-year measurement for achieving temporally representative annual budgets. Sheep presence and temperature appeared to be the key factors driving CH4, CO2 and N2O fluxes from sheepfolds, e.g., higher GHG emissions usually occurred in seasons with sheep presence. However, the sheepfold type exerted a distinct influence on the temperature sensitivity of GHG fluxes, i.e., the Q10 values for GHG fluxes were generally higher in summer sheepfolds than in winter sheepfold. The annual CH4, CO2 and N2O emissions for the 3 sheepfolds were estimated to be 1.5-16.5 kg C ha-1 yr-1 (or 1.9-2.6 g C yr-1sheep-1), 8.6-16.0 t C ha-1 yr-1 (or 5.1-6.6 kg C yr-1sheep-1) and 28.3-41.9 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (or 19.0-26.8 g N yr-1sheep-1), respectively. Averaging across the 3 years, the annual net GHG emissions (CH4 + CO2 + N2O) for all sheepfolds ranged from 47 to 71 t CO2-eq ha-1 yr-1 (or 27-36 kg CO2-eq yr-1 sheep-1), of which CO2 and N2O emissions contributed the most; moreover, the annual net GHG emissions had no significant differences between sheepfold types or grazing strategies. Given that local steppe soils have a lower magnitude of soil respiration (CO2) and N2O emissions and are also net sink for atmospheric CH4, the sheepfold sites in this region are undoubtedly one of the significant hotspots for GHG emissions and could be key areas to focus mitigation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Baoling Mei
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China.
| | - Zhisheng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongyu Yue
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Gaojie Ren
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Aruhan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Shuai Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Qiqige
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Xunhua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China
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Li L, He XZ, Zhang J, Bryant R, Hu A, Hou F. Concurrent and legacy effects of sheep trampling on soil organic carbon stocks in a typical steppe, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 368:122121. [PMID: 39121623 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Grazing plays a key role in ecosystem biogeochemistry, particularly soil carbon (C) pools. The non-trophic interactions between herbivores and soil processes through herbivore trampling have recently attracted extensive attention. However, their concurrent and legacy effects on the ecosystem properties and processes are still not clear, due to their effects being hard to separate via field experiments. In this study, we conducted a 2-year simulated-sheep-trampling experiment with four trampling intensity treatments (i.e., T0, T40, T80, and T120 for 0, 40, 80, and 120 hoofprints m-2, respectively) in a typical steppe to explore the concurrent and legacy effects of trampling on grassland ecosystem properties and processing. In 2017 (trampling treatment year), we found that trampling decreased aboveground biomass (AGB) of plant community and community-weighted mean shoot C concentration (CWM C), soil available nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (P), but did not affect plant species diversity and belowground biomass (BGB). We show that compared with T0, trampling increased soil bulk density (BD) at T80, and decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. After the cessation of trampling for two years (i.e., in 2019), previous trampling increased plant diversity and BGB, reaching the highest values at T80, but decreased soil available N and available P. Compared with T0, previous trampling significantly increased soil BD at T120, while significantly decreased CWM C at T80 and T120, and reduced SOC stocks at T80. Compared with 2017, the trampling negative legacy effects amplified at T80 but weakened at T40 and T120. We also show that trampling-induced decreases in soil available N, AGB of Fabaceae and CWM C were the main predictors of decreasing SOC stocks in 2017, while previous trampling-induced legacy effects on soil available P, AGB of Poaceae and CWM C contributed to the variations of SOC stocks in 2019. Taken together, short-term trampling with low intensity could maintain most plant functions, while previous trampling with low intensity was beneficial to most plant and soil functions. The results of this study show that T40 caused by sheep managed at a stocking rate of 2.7 sheep ha-1 is most suitable for grassland adaptive management in the typical steppe. The ecosystem functions can be maintained under a high stocking rate through the process of providing enough time to rebuild sufficient vegetation cover and restore soil through measures such as regional rotational grazing and seasonal grazing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Technology Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Utilization of Degraded Grassland in Northwest China, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Xiong Zhao He
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Technology Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Utilization of Degraded Grassland in Northwest China, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Racheal Bryant
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - An Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Technology Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Utilization of Degraded Grassland in Northwest China, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Fujiang Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Technology Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Utilization of Degraded Grassland in Northwest China, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
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Beillouin D, Corbeels M, Demenois J, Berre D, Boyer A, Fallot A, Feder F, Cardinael R. A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3700. [PMID: 37349294 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities profoundly impact soil organic carbon (SOC), affecting its contribution to ecosystem services such as climate regulation. Here, we conducted a thorough review of the impacts of land-use change, land management, and climate change on SOC. Using second-order meta-analysis, we synthesized findings from 230 first-order meta-analyses comprising over 25,000 primary studies. We show that (i) land conversion for crop production leads to high SOC loss, that can be partially restored through land management practices, particularly by introducing trees and incorporating exogenous carbon in the form of biochar or organic amendments, (ii) land management practices that are implemented in forests generally result in depletion of SOC, and (iii) indirect effects of climate change, such as through wildfires, have a greater impact on SOC than direct climate change effects (e.g., from rising temperatures). The findings of our study provide strong evidence to assist decision-makers in safeguarding SOC stocks and promoting land management practices for SOC restoration. Furthermore, they serve as a crucial research roadmap, identifying areas that require attention to fill the knowledge gaps concerning the factors driving changes in SOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Beillouin
- CIRAD, UPR HortSys, Montpellier, France.
- HortSys, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Marc Corbeels
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- IITA, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Julien Demenois
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Turrialba, Costa Rica
- CATIE, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba, Costa Rica
| | - David Berre
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- CIRDES, USPAE, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Abigail Fallot
- CIRAD, UMR SENS, Montpellier, France
- SENS, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric Feder
- CIRAD, UPR Recyclage et Risque, Montpellier, France
- Recyclage et Risque, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Rémi Cardinael
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of Plant Production Sciences and Technologies, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Turner WC, Périquet S, Goelst CE, Vera KB, Cameron EZ, Alexander KA, Belant JL, Cloete CC, du Preez P, Getz WM, Hetem RS, Kamath PL, Kasaona MK, Mackenzie M, Mendelsohn J, Mfune JK, Muntifering JR, Portas R, Scott HA, Strauss WM, Versfeld W, Wachter B, Wittemyer G, Kilian JW. Africa’s drylands in a changing world: Challenges for wildlife conservation under climate and land-use changes in the Greater Etosha Landscape. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Ma L, Janz B, Kiese R, Mwanake R, Wangari E, Butterbach-Bahl K. Effect of vole bioturbation on N 2O, NO, NH 3, CH 4 and CO 2 fluxes of slurry fertilized and non-fertilized montane grassland soils in Southern Germany. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149597. [PMID: 34426336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Populations of rodents such as common vole (Microtus arvalis) can develop impressive soil bioturbation activities in grasslands. These burrowing and nesting activities highly impact soil physicochemical properties as well as vegetation coverage and diversity. Managed grasslands in livestock production regions receive significant amounts of slurry, commonly at high loads at the beginning of the vegetation period. However, nothing is known how the combination of vole bioturbation and slurry application may affect the fluxes of C and N trace gases from grasslands. Here we report on an in-situ experiment and supporting laboratory incubations carried out during the period March to May 2020 comparing C (CH4, CO2) and N (N2O, NO, NH3) trace gas fluxes from Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens dominated montane grasslands with and without vole bioturbation and with and without slurry application, whereby, with regard to the latter, we further differentiated between acidified and non-acidified slurry. Vole bioturbation significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil NO and NH3 emissions, while N2O fluxes were only significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced in vole affected grassland patches following slurry application (+17%). Effects of vole bioturbation on CH4 fluxes were non-significant, while slurry application significantly reduced CH4 uptake. Compared to applications of non-acidified slurry, application of acidified slurry significantly (p < 0.05) reduced NH3 volatilization by approx. 38% and 50%, for vole and non-vole affected grassland patches, respectively. A significant effect of acidified slurry application on soil NO emissions was only observed for vole affected grassland patches. Significant (p < 0.05) reductions in aboveground net primary productivity and reduced plant N uptake are likely the main mechanisms explaining the stimulation of gaseous N losses following slurry application. Long-term measurements are needed to better understand effects of vole bioturbation on grassland soil C and N cycling and ecosystem GHG balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ma
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany; College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tian-shui South Road, Cheng-guan District, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Baldur Janz
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany
| | - Ralf Kiese
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany
| | - Ricky Mwanake
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Wangari
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany
| | - Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467, Germany.
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Notenbaert AMO, Douxchamps S, Villegas DM, Arango J, Paul BK, Burkart S, Rao I, Kettle CJ, Rudel T, Vázquez E, Teutscherova N, Chirinda N, Groot JCJ, Wironen M, Pulleman M, Louhaichi M, Hassan S, Oberson A, Nyawira SS, Pinares-Patino CS, Peters M. Tapping Into the Environmental Co-benefits of Improved Tropical Forages for an Agroecological Transformation of Livestock Production Systems. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.742842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock are critical for incomes, livelihoods, nutrition and ecosystems management throughout the global South. Livestock production and the consumption of livestock-based foods such as meat, cheese, and milk is, however, under global scrutiny for its contribution to global warming, deforestation, biodiversity loss, water use, pollution, and land/soil degradation. This paper argues that, although the environmental footprint of livestock production presents a real threat to planetary sustainability, also in the global south, this is highly contextual. Under certain context-specific management regimes livestock can deliver multiple benefits for people and planet. We provide evidence that a move toward sustainable intensification of livestock production is possible and could mitigate negative environmental impacts and even provide critical ecosystem services, such as improved soil health, carbon sequestration, and enhanced biodiversity on farms. The use of cultivated forages, many improved through selection or breeding and including grasses, legumes and trees, in integrated crop-tree-livestock systems is proposed as a stepping stone toward agroecological transformation. We introduce cultivated forages, explain their multi-functionality and provide an overview of where and to what extent the forages have been applied and how this has benefited people and the planet alike. We then examine their potential to contribute to the 13 principles of agroecology and find that integrating cultivated forages in mixed crop-tree-livestock systems follows a wide range of agroecological principles and increases the sustainability of livestock production across the globe. More research is, however, needed at the food system scale to fully understand the role of forages in the sociological and process aspects of agroecology. We make the case for further genetic improvement of cultivated forages and strong multi-disciplinary systems research to strengthen our understanding of the multidimensional impacts of forages and for managing agro-environmental trade-offs. We finish with a call for action, for the agroecological and livestock research and development communities to improve communication and join hands for a sustainable agri-food system transformation.
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Gallarotti N, Barthel M, Verhoeven E, Pereira EIP, Bauters M, Baumgartner S, Drake TW, Boeckx P, Mohn J, Longepierre M, Mugula JK, Makelele IA, Ntaboba LC, Six J. In-depth analysis of N 2O fluxes in tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin combining isotope and functional gene analysis. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:3357-3374. [PMID: 34035444 PMCID: PMC8528805 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Primary tropical forests generally exhibit large gaseous nitrogen (N) losses, occurring as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O) or elemental nitrogen (N2). The release of N2O is of particular concern due to its high global warming potential and destruction of stratospheric ozone. Tropical forest soils are predicted to be among the largest natural sources of N2O; however, despite being the world's second-largest rainforest, measurements of gaseous N-losses from forest soils of the Congo Basin are scarce. In addition, long-term studies investigating N2O fluxes from different forest ecosystem types (lowland and montane forests) are scarce. In this study we show that fluxes measured in the Congo Basin were lower than fluxes measured in the Neotropics, and in the tropical forests of Australia and South East Asia. In addition, we show that despite different climatic conditions, average annual N2O fluxes in the Congo Basin's lowland forests (0.97 ± 0.53 kg N ha-1 year-1) were comparable to those in its montane forest (0.88 ± 0.97 kg N ha-1 year-1). Measurements of soil pore air N2O isotope data at multiple depths suggests that a microbial reduction of N2O to N2 within the soil may account for the observed low surface N2O fluxes and low soil pore N2O concentrations. The potential for microbial reduction is corroborated by a significant abundance and expression of the gene nosZ in soil samples from both study sites. Although isotopic and functional gene analyses indicate an enzymatic potential for complete denitrification, combined gaseous N-losses (N2O, N2) are unlikely to account for the missing N-sink in these forests. Other N-losses such as NO, N2 via Feammox or hydrological particulate organic nitrogen export could play an important role in soils of the Congo Basin and should be the focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Gallarotti
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matti Barthel
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Verhoeven
- grid.4391.f0000 0001 2112 1969College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR USA
| | - Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira
- grid.449717.80000 0004 5374 269XSchool of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX USA
| | - Marijn Bauters
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Computational and Applied Vegetation Ecology Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Simon Baumgartner
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ,grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XEarth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Travis W. Drake
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Mohn
- grid.7354.50000 0001 2331 3059Laboratory for Air Pollution/Environmental Technology, Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology, Empa Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Manon Longepierre
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John Kalume Mugula
- grid.442836.f0000 0004 7477 7760Département de Biologie, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Isaac Ahanamungu Makelele
- grid.442836.f0000 0004 7477 7760Département de Biologie, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Landry Cizungu Ntaboba
- grid.442834.d0000 0004 6011 4325Département d’ Agronomie, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Johan Six
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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van der Weerden TJ, Noble A, de Klein CAM, Hutchings N, Thorman RE, Alfaro MA, Amon B, Beltran I, Grace P, Hassouna M, Krol DJ, Leytem AB, Salazar F, Velthof GL. Ammonia and nitrous oxide emission factors for excreta deposited by livestock and land-applied manure. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2021; 50:1005-1023. [PMID: 34192353 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Manure application to land and deposition of urine and dung by grazing animals are major sources of ammonia (NH3 ) and nitrous oxide (N2 O) emissions. Using data on NH3 and N2 O emissions following land-applied manures and excreta deposited during grazing, emission factors (EFs) disaggregated by climate zone were developed, and the effects of mitigation strategies were evaluated. The NH3 data represent emissions from cattle and swine manures in temperate wet climates, and the N2 O data include cattle, sheep, and swine manure emissions in temperate wet/dry and tropical wet/dry climates. The NH3 EFs for broadcast cattle solid manure and slurry were 0.03 and 0.24 kg NH3 -N kg-1 total N (TN), respectively, whereas the NH3 EF of broadcast swine slurry was 0.29. Emissions from both cattle and swine slurry were reduced between 46 and 62% with low-emissions application methods. Land application of cattle and swine manure in wet climates had EFs of 0.005 and 0.011 kg N2 O-N kg-1 TN, respectively, whereas in dry climates the EF for cattle manure was 0.0031. The N2 O EFs for cattle urine and dung in wet climates were 0.0095 and 0.002 kg N2 O-N kg-1 TN, respectively, which were three times greater than for dry climates. The N2 O EFs for sheep urine and dung in wet climates were 0.0043 and 0.0005, respectively. The use of nitrification inhibitors reduced emissions in swine manure, cattle urine/dung, and sheep urine by 45-63%. These enhanced EFs can improve national inventories; however, more data from poorly represented regions (e.g., Asia, Africa, South America) are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alasdair Noble
- AgResearch Ltd, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Rachel E Thorman
- ADAS, ADAS Boxworth, Battlegate Road, Boxworth, Cambridge, CB23 4NN, United Kingdom
| | - Marta A Alfaro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), INIA Remehue, Carretera Panamericana Sur km. 8 Norte, Osorno, Chile
| | - Barbara Amon
- Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, Potsdam, D-14469, Germany
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Zielona Gra, Poland
| | - Ignacio Beltran
- AgResearch Ltd, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, 9053, New Zealand
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), INIA Remehue, Carretera Panamericana Sur km. 8 Norte, Osorno, Chile
| | - Peter Grace
- Queensland Univ. of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
| | | | - Dominika J Krol
- Teagasc, Environment, Soils and Land-Use Dep., Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Co., Wexford, Y35 TC97, Ireland
| | - April B Leytem
- USDA-ARS, Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Lab., Kimberly, ID 83341, USA
| | - Francisco Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), INIA Remehue, Carretera Panamericana Sur km. 8 Norte, Osorno, Chile
| | - Gerard L Velthof
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen Univ. & Research, P.O. Box 47 AA, Wageningen, 6700, The Netherlands
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Carbonell V, Merbold L, Díaz‐Pinés E, Dowling TPF, Butterbach‐Bahl K. Nitrogen cycling in pastoral livestock systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: knowns and unknowns. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02368. [PMID: 33938594 PMCID: PMC8459270 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pastoral systems are the dominant livestock production system in arid and semiarid regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). They are often the only form of agriculture that can be practiced due to unfavorable climate and soil fertility levels that prevent crop cultivation. Pastoralism can have negative impacts on the environment, including land degradation, greenhouse gas emissions and other gases to the atmosphere, soil erosion, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Here, we review the current knowledge on nitrogen (N) cycling, storage, and loss pathways, with an emphasis on identification of N emission hotspots. Our review reports a large uncertainty in the amount of N lost as ammonia from excreta and manure storage, as well as N losses via nitrate and DON leaching. We also found that another major N loss pathway (18%), soil N2 emissions, has not yet been measured. In order to summarize the available information, we use a virtual pastoral farm, with characteristics and management practices obtained from a real farm, Kapiti Research Station in Kenya. For outlining N flows at this virtual farm, we used published data, data from global studies, satellite imagery and geographic information system (GIS) tools. Our results show that N inputs in pastoral systems are dominated by atmospheric N deposition (˜80%), while inputs due to biological nitrogen fixation seems to play a smaller role. A major N loss pathway is nitrogen leaching (nitrate > DON) from pastures (33%). Cattle enclosures (bomas), where animals are kept during night, represent N emissions hotspots, representing 16% of the total N losses from the system. N losses via ammonia volatilization and N2 O were four and three orders of magnitude higher from bomas than from the pasture, respectively. Based on our results, we further identify future research requirements and highlight the urgent need for experimental data collection to quantify nitrogen losses from manure in animal congregation areas. Such information is needed to improve our understanding on N cycling in pastoral systems in semiarid regions and to provide practical recommendations for managers that can help with decision-making on management strategies in pastoral systems in semiarid savannas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Carbonell
- Department of Environmental System SciencesInstitute of Agricultural Sciences, Grassland Science GroupETH ZurichUniversitaetsstrasse 2Zurich8092Switzerland
- Mazingira CentreInternational Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)PO Box 30709NairobiKenya
- Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Meteorology and Climate ResearchAtmospheric Environmental Research (IMK‐IFU)Kreuzeckbahnstraße 19Garmisch‐Partenkirchen82467Germany
| | - Lutz Merbold
- Mazingira CentreInternational Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)PO Box 30709NairobiKenya
- Agroscope, Research Division Agroecology and EnvironmentReckenholzstrasse 191Zurich8046Switzerland
| | - Eugenio Díaz‐Pinés
- Institute of Soil Research (IBF)University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), ViennaPeter‐Jordan‐StraßeVienna82 1190Austria
| | - Thomas P. F. Dowling
- Department of GeographyKings College LondonBush House (NE), 30 AldwychLondonWC2B 4BGUnited Kingdom
| | - Klaus Butterbach‐Bahl
- Mazingira CentreInternational Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)PO Box 30709NairobiKenya
- Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Meteorology and Climate ResearchAtmospheric Environmental Research (IMK‐IFU)Kreuzeckbahnstraße 19Garmisch‐Partenkirchen82467Germany
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Houska T, Kraft P, Jehn FU, Bestian K, Kraus D, Breuer L. Detection of hidden model errors by combining single and multi-criteria calibration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 777:146218. [PMID: 33689893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental models aim to reproduce landscape processes with mathematical equations. Observations are used for validation. The performance and uncertainties are quantified either by single or multi-criteria model assessment. In a case-study, we combine both approaches. We use a coupled hydro-biogeochemistry landscape-scale model to simulate 14 target values on discharge, stream nitrate as well as soil moisture, soil temperature and trace gas emissions (N2O, CO2) from different land uses. We reveal typical mistakes that happen during both, single and multi-criteria model assessment. Such as overestimated uncertainty in multi-criteria and ignored wrong model processes in single-criterion calibration. These mistakes can mislead the development of water quality and in general all environmental models. Only the combination of both approaches reveals the five types of posterior probability distributions for model parameters. Each type allocates a specific type of error. We identify and locate mismatched parameter values, obsolete parameters, flawed model structures and wrong process representations. The presented method can guide model users and developers to the so far hidden errors in their models. We emphasize to include observations from physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes in the model assessment, rather than the typical discipline specific assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Houska
- Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management (ILR), Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - P Kraft
- Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management (ILR), Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - F U Jehn
- Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management (ILR), Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - K Bestian
- Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management (ILR), Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - D Kraus
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - L Breuer
- Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management (ILR), Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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11
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Leitner S, Ring D, Wanyama GN, Korir D, Pelster DE, Goopy JP, Butterbach-Bahl K, Merbold L. Effect of feeding practices and manure quality on CH 4 and N 2O emissions from uncovered cattle manure heaps in Kenya. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 126:209-220. [PMID: 33774581 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) rely on IPCC emission factors (EF) for GHG emission reporting. However, these were derived for industrialized livestock farms and do not represent conditions of smallholder farms (small, low-producing livestock breeds, poor feed quality, feed scarcity). Here, we present the first measurements of CH4 and N2O emissions from cattle-manure heaps representing feeding practices typical for smallholder farms in the highlands of East Africa: 1) cattle fed below maintenance energy requirements to represent feed scarcity, and 2) cattle fed tropical forage grasses (Napier, Rhodes, Brachiaria). Sub-maintenance feeding reduced cumulative manure N2O emissions compared to cattle receiving sufficient feed but did not change EFN2O. Sub-maintenance feeding did not affect cumulative manure CH4 emissions or EFCH4. When cattle were fed tropical forage grasses, cumulative manure N2O emissions did not differ between diets, but manure EFN2O from Brachiaria and Rhodes diets were lower than the IPCC EFN2O for solid storage (1%, 2019 Refinement of IPCC Guidelines). Manure CH4 emissions were lower in the Rhodes grass diet than when feeding Napier or Brachiaria, and manure EFCH4 from all three grasses were lower than the IPCC default (4.4 gCH4kg-1 VS, 2019 Refinement of IPCC Guidelines). Regression analysis revealed that manure N concentration and C:N were important drivers of N2O emissions, with low N concentrations and high C:N reducing N2O emissions. Our results show that IPCC EFs overestimate excreta GHG emissions, which calls for additional measurements to develop localized EFs for smallholder livestock systems in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Leitner
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Dónal Ring
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Trinity College Dublin, Department of Botany, The University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - George N Wanyama
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniel Korir
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David E Pelster
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2560 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec G1V 2J3, Canada
| | - John P Goopy
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; School of Agriculture and Food, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Atmospheric Environmental Research, Kreuzeckbahnstraße 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Lutz Merbold
- Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Agroscope, Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
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