scholarly journals Farm-Level Effects of Emissions Tax and Adjustable Drainage on Peatlands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuomo Purola ◽  
Heikki Lehtonen
Keyword(s):  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Abatement Costs ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Emissions Tax ◽  
Limited Effectiveness ◽  
Mineral Soils

AbstractDrained agricultural peatlands emit significantly higher amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per hectare than mineral soils. GHG abatement costs for representative cereals (CF) and dairy (DF) farms in southwestern Finland were estimated by integrating an emission-based tax together with an option to invest in a subsidized adjustable drainage system on peat soils in a farm-level dynamic optimization model. With an average 10% share of peat soils from overall farm area, emissions tax rates over 15 (CF) and 19 (DF) €/tCO2e triggered adjustable drainage investments with a significant reduction in GHG emissions per ha, when assuming no crop-yield effect from the adjustable drainage. Abatement costs for emissions tax rates €12–50/tCO2e/ha were €16–44/tCO2e (CF) and €26–51/tCO2e (DF) for whole farm-soil emissions, depending on the share of peatlands on the farm, on the yield effects of adjustable drainage, and on crop prices. High emissions tax rates imply higher abatement costs since farms have a limited capability to adjust their production and land use. Thus, emissions reductions from peatlands can be achieved at reasonable costs when investing in adjustable drainage on peatlands. The income losses due to emissions tax, however, are high, but they can be compensated for farmers by lumpsum payments independent of their production decisions. Since existing agricultural policies such as the EU CAP system may have limited effectiveness on GHG emissions, the emissions tax and adjustable drainage on peatlands could promote GHG abatement significantly on farms and areas with abundant peatlands.

Greenhouse gas budget of an extensively managed grassland on drained peat soil in the Irish Midlands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Valmier ◽  
Matthew Saunders ◽  
Gary Lanigan
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Source ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Sink Strength ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Sequestration Potential ◽  
Sink Capacity

<p>Grassland-based agriculture in Ireland contributes over one third of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the LULUCF sector is a net GHG source primarily due to the ongoing drainage of peat soils. Rewetting of peat-based organic soils is now recognised as an attractive climate mitigation strategy, but reducing emissions and restoring the carbon sequestration potential is challenging, and is not always feasible notably due to agricultural demands. Nonetheless, reducing carbon losses from drained organic soils has been identified as a key action for Ireland to reach its climate targets, and carbon storage associated with improved grassland management practices can provide a suitable strategy to offset GHG emissions without compromising productivity. However, research is still needed to assess the best practices and management options for optimum environmental and production outcomes. While grasslands have been widely studied internationally, data on organic soils under this land use are still scarce. In Ireland, despite their spatial extent and relevance to the national emission inventories and mitigation strategies, only two studies on GHG emissions from grasslands on peat soils have been published.</p><p>Here we present results from a grassland on a drained organic soil that is extensively managed for silage production in the Irish midlands. Continuous monitoring of Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) using eddy covariance techniques, and weekly static chamber measurements to assess soil derived emissions of methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) and nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) started in 2020. The seasonal CO<sub>2</sub> fluxes observed were greatly dependent on weather conditions and management events. The grassland shifted from a carbon source at the beginning of the year to a sink during the growing season, with carbon uptakes in April and May ranging from 15 to 40 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> and releases in the order of 5 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>. Following the first harvest event in early June, approximately 2.5 t C ha<sup>-1</sup> was exported, and the sink capacity took around one month to recover, with an average NEE of 10 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> during that period. Carbon uptake then reached a maximum of 25 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> in August. After the second cut in mid-September, which corresponded to an export of 2.25 t.ha<sup>-1</sup> of carbon, the grassland acted once again as a strong carbon source, losing almost 30 g C m<sup>-2</sup> in a month, before stabilising and behaving as an overall small source during the winter period.</p><p>In summary, this grassland demonstrated high rates of carbon assimilation and productivity that translate in a strong carbon sink capacity highly dependent on the management. The biomass harvest is a major component of the annual budget that has the potential to shift the system to a net carbon source. Moreover, while initial measurements of CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O fluxes appeared to be negligible, some management events were not assessed due to national COVID 19 restrictions on movement, which might have impacted the sink strength of the site studied.</p>

scholarly journals The influence of feed quality from peat soils on the productivity of cattle

2021 ◽  
Vol 901 (1) ◽  
pp. 012017
Author(s):  
A N Ulanov ◽  
V N Kovshova ◽  
O G Mokrushina ◽  
A V Smirnova ◽  
A L Glubokovskih ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Genetic Potential ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Livestock Products

Abstract In the context of the implementation of environmental, resource-saving systems of agriculture, research in the system of biogeocenosis is very relevant: soil – plant-feed-animal-livestock products. Peatlands and developed peat soils are a kind of environment for human activity in this system. As a result of many years of research, it was found that perennial grasses grown on peat soils have differences in chemical composition compared to plants grown on mineral soils. They contain more organic matter and raw protein. However, their digestibility of nutrients is lower than in herbs grown on mineral soils. Therefore, for a full-fledged balanced feeding of cows, the realization of the genetic potential of animal productivity, and the preservation of their health, scientifically-based diets are necessary, developed on the basis of bulky feeds obtained from peat and developed soils, with the introduction of appropriate feed additives in them.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPIDERMAL LAYER OF CARROT ROOTS GROWN ON PEAT AND MINERAL SOIL

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 513-517
Author(s):  
E. W. CHIPMAN ◽  
F. R. FORSYTH
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Reducing Sugars ◽  
Peat Soil ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Epidermal Layer ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Mineral Soils

The epidermal layer of carrot roots grown on peat soil contained more ascorbic acid and less phenols, carotene, reducing sugars, and dry matter than those from a mineral soil. The increased level of phenol and the decreased level of the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid are the likely contributing causes of the increased browning of carrots in mineral soils relative to peat soils.

scholarly journals Structural Root-Plate Characteristics of Wind-Thrown Norway Spruce in Hemiboreal Forests of Latvia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskars Krišāns ◽  
Valters Samariks ◽  
Jānis Donis ◽  
Āris Jansons
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Root Plate ◽  
Plate Width

An increase in extreme weather events is predicted with increasing climate changes. Changes indicate major problems in the future, as Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) is one of the most important forestry species in Northern Europe and one of the most susceptible to damage from extreme weather events, like windstorms. Root architecture is essential for tree anchorage. However, information of structural root-plate volume and characteristics in relation to tree wind resistance in drained deep peat soils is lacking. Individual tree susceptibility to wind damage is dependent on tree species, soil properties, tree health and root-plate volume. We assessed the structural root-plate dimensions of wind-thrown Norway spruce on freely drained mineral and drained deep peat soils at four trial sites in Latvia, and root-plate measurements were made on 65 recently tipped-up trees and 36 trees from tree-pulling tests on similar soils. Tree height, diameter at breast height, root-plate width and depth were measured. Measurements of structural root-plate width were done in five directions covering 180° of the root-plate; rooting depth was measured on the horizontal and vertical axes of root-plate. Root-plate volume was higher in drained peat soils in comparison to mineral soils, and root-plate width was the main driver of root-plate volume. A decreasing trend was observed in structural root depth distribution with increasing distance from the stem (i.e., from the center to the edge of the root plate) with a greater decrease in mineral soils.

Measuring peat moisture content using the dual-probe heat pulse technique

Soil Research ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
David I. Campbell ◽  
Claire E. Laybourne ◽  
Ian J. Blair
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Gravimetric Method ◽  
Heat Pulse ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Pulse Technique ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Reference Measurements ◽  
High Level ◽  
Dual Probe

The dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) technique for measuring soil volumetric moisture content (Θv) is evaluated for use in peat soils with very high organic matter contents. The method has a greater sensitivity in peat soils compared with mineral soils and excellent resolution is possible, even at moisture contents as high as 90% by volume. Advantages of the DPHP technique are that sensors are simple to construct from inexpensive parts and calibration is not required since the method is based on a physical model of radial heat flow in soil. A multiplexer method was developed to allow multiple probes to be deployed in the field. DPHP measurements of Θv for small peat samples compared closely to reference measurements made using the gravimetric method, and in the field were similar to results obtained using a time domain reflectometry (TDR) method. Peat soils display a high level of spatial variation in Θv at the scales of both DPHP and TDR probes, so that multiple probes of each type are required for adequate spatial sampling of Θv. Rapid changes in peat moisture content were recorded following rainfall infiltration events yet moisture storage did not remain elevated following rainfall, even for peat that was very dry. wetlands, hydrology, soil moisture.

scholarly journals Plant-availability of soil and fertilizer zinc in cultivated soils of Finland

1993 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-270
Author(s):  
Markku Yli-Halla
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Zinc Concentration ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Zn Uptake ◽  
Zn Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Cultivated Soils

The Zn status of cultivated soils of Finland was investigated by chemical analyses and bioassays. The effect on ryegrass of different Zn fertilizers and Zn rates was studied in pot experiments and their effect on barley and timothy in field experiments. In an uncontaminated surface soil material of 72 mineral soils and 34 organogenic soils, total Zn (Zntot) was 10.3-202 mg kg-1(median 66 mg kg-1). In mineral soils, Zntot correlated positively with clay content (r = 0.81***) and in organogenic soils negatively with organic C (r = -0.53***). Zinc bound by organic matter and sesquioxides was sequentially extracted by 0.1 M K4P2O7 (Znpy) and 0.05 M oxalate at pH 2.9 (Znox), respectively. The sum Znpy + Znox, a measure of secondary Zn potentially available to plants, was 2 - 88% of Zntot and was the lowest in clay (median 5%) and highest in peat soils (median 49%). Water-soluble and exchangeable Zn consisted of0.3 - 37% (median 3%) of Zntot, the percentage being higher in acid soils, particularly in peat soils. Zinc was also extracted by 0.5 M ammonium acetate - 0,5 M acetic acid - 0.02 M Na2-EDTA at pH 4.65 (ZnAC), the method used in soil testing in Finland. The quantities of ZnAC (median 2.9 mg dm-3, range 0.6 - 29.9 mg dm-3) averaged 50% and 75% of Znpy + Znox in mineral and organogenic soils, respectively, and correlated closely with Znpy. In soil profiles, ZnAC was with few exceptions higher in the plough layer (0 - 20 cm) than in the subsoil (30 - 100 cm). In an intensive pot experiment on 107 surface soils, four crops of ryegrass took up 2 - 68% (median 26%)of Znpy + Znox. The plant-available Zn reserves were not exhausted even though in a few peat soils the Zn supply to grass decreased over time. Variation of Zn uptake was quite accurately explained by ZnAC but increasing pH had a negative impact on Zn uptake. Application of Zn (10 mg dm-3 of soil as ZnSO4 * 7 H2O) did not give rise to yield increases. In mineral soils, increase of plant Zn concentration correlated negatively with soil pH while ZnAC was of secondary importance. In those organogenic soils in which the reserves of native Zn were the most effectively utilized, plant Zn concentration also responded most strongly to applied Zn. In two 2-year field experiments, Zn application did not increase timothy or barley yields. Zinc concentration of timothy increased from 30 mg kg-1 to 33 and 36 mg kg-1 when 3 or 6 kg Zn ha-1 was applied, respectively. The efficiency of ZnSO4 * 7 H2O alone did not differ from that of a fertilizer where ZnSO4 * 7H20 was granulated with gypsum. Zinc concentration of barley grains increased by foliar sprays of Na2Zn-EDTA but only a marginal response to soil-applied Zn (4.8 or 5.4 kg ha-1 over three years) was detected in three 3-year experiments. High applications of Zn to soil (15 or 30 kg ha-1 as ZnSO4 * 7H2O) were required to increase Zn concentration of barley markedly. In order to prevent undue accumulation of fertilizer Zn in soil, it is proposed that Zn fertilizer recommendations for field crops should be based on both soil pH and ZnAC. In slightly acid and neutral soils, even if poor in Zn, response of plant Zn concentration to applied Zn remains small while there is a high response in strongly acid soils.

scholarly journals Water-extractable organic matter in the profile of mineral and organic soils of Upper Dniester alluvial plane

2017 ◽  
pp. 181-190
Author(s):  
Partyka T. ◽  
Hamkalo Z.
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Peat Soil ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Labile Pool ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Extractable Organic Matter

Content of cold water extracted organic matter (CWEOM) in organic and mineral soils of Upperdniester alluvial plane was estimated. The largest CWEOM content (mg∙100 g-1) in the upper (10 cm) soil layers was found in peat soils – 105-135, and the smallest – 20-30– in arable sod and meadow soils. The highest CWEOM content was found in the lower horizons of peat soil, where it reaches 290 mg∙100 g-1. Strong correlation (r=0.81 -0.99; P<0.05) between CWEOM and TOC was found. It indicates the presence of dynamic equilibrium in the SOM system that supports certain level of labile pool compounds – the main source of bioavailable materials and energy.

Life cycle assessment of horticultural production on UK lowland peat soils.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Freeman ◽  
David Styles ◽  
Christopher Evans ◽  
David Chadwick ◽  
David Jones
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Efficient Production ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Responsible Management ◽  
The Uk

&lt;p&gt;Global peatlands store &gt;600 Gt of Carbon (C) but are highly vulnerable to degradation following drainage for agriculture. The extensively drained East Anglian Fens include half of England&amp;#8217;s most productive agricultural land, produce ~33% of England&amp;#8217;s vegetables and support a food production industry worth approximately &amp;#163;3 billion GBP.&amp;#160; However under arable management, these fen peat soils produce ~37.5 t CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; eq ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually. This is likely to be the largest source of land use GHG emissions in the UK per unit area and there is interest in developing responsible management approaches to reduce emissions whilst maintaining economically productive systems. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is amongst the UK&amp;#8217;s most valuable crops and a substantial proportion of UK production occurs in the Fens. We undertook a life cycle assessment to compare the carbon footprint of UK Fen lettuce with alternative sources of lettuce for the UK market. We also examined the potential for responsible peat management strategies and more efficient production to reduce the carbon footprint of Fen lettuce. It is hoped this study will help to inform land use decision making and encourage responsible management of UK lowland peat resources.&lt;/p&gt;

DISTRIBUTION OF NITROGEN IN REPRESENTATIVE CANADIAN SOILS

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. SOWDEN
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Composition ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Amino Sugar ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Protein Nitrogen ◽  
Amino Acid Nitrogen ◽  
Canadian Soils ◽  
Mineral Soils

Forms of nitrogen in 92 samples were measured in a study designed to determine the similarities and differences in the nitrogen distribution in various horizons of a wide range of Canadian soils. The samples, representing all of the nine soil orders, were chosen from different climate and vegetation zones. Some peat soils were analyzed also. The data were first grouped according to the nitrogen content of the samples, but the amino acid composition of the soil "protein" did not appear to be related to this. The data were then grouped according to LFH, A, B and C horizons and also according to the Ah, Ap, Ae, Bhf, Bh, Bm and Bt layers. Again, few significant differences in the amino acid composition could be found. Data for the average amino acid composition and standard deviations for 92 mineral soils, 6 LFH and 2 ’O’ horizons of these and 18 peat soils were calculated. Since the analytical and sampling errors appear to be relatively small and would not account for all the variation between samples, there appeared to be real but relatively small and random differences in the amino acid composition of the different samples. The data for the individual soils supported this conclusion; for instance, some samples had very small or barely detectable amounts of hydroxyproline, while with other soils it made up 1–2% of the amino acid nitrogen. The amino sugar composition was more variable and the glucosamine/galactosamine ratio varied from 2:1 for the LFH horizons to 1:1 for the peat soils. In general, however, the soil "protein", which is probably largely the result of microbial degradation and synthesis, is remarkably similar to its amino acid composition. Amino acid nitrogen made up over half of the total nitrogen of the LFH and O horizons. This underestimated the "protein" nitrogen, since there is probably some amide nitrogen (about 5%) not included. In the mineral soils probably about 40% was "protein" nitrogen (including aminde), 5% was amino sugar nitrogen, 18% hydrolyzable unidentified nitrogen and 13.5% was insoluble in the acid used for hydrolysis. Clay-fixed ammonium made up 17% of the total nitrogen and much of the hydrolyzable ammonium came from this.

scholarly journals Crop Production Pushes Up Greenhouse Gases Emissions in China: Evidence from Carbon Footprint Analysis based on National Statistics Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 4931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang ◽  
Chen ◽  
Chen ◽  
He ◽  
Guan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Cropping Pattern ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
The Past ◽  
Crop System

The rapid growth of crop yield in China was maintained by more fossil fuel inputs in the past years, causing concern about the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to crop production. Therefore, this study analyzed historical dynamics of carbon footprint (CF) of 11 major crops in China during 2000–2016 and estimated possible GHG emissions of the system in 2020 under different scenarios. Results indicated that the GHG emissions of the Chinese crop system increased by 20.07% from 2000 to 2016, in which the grain crops contributed to more than 80% of the total emissions. The GHG emissions from grain crops including maize, wheat, and rice as well as sugar crops including sugarcane and sugar beet were increased by 28.07% and 14.27% in the study period, respectively, making up the primary factor of increased GHG emissions of crop system in China. Moreover, if the cropping pattern and agricultural practices is not improved in the future, the GHG emissions from Chinese crop system are estimated to increase by 346.19 million tons in 2020. If advanced agricultural policies and practices are implemented, the GHGs emissions of crop system in China in 2020 are estimated to be 2.92–12.62% lower than that in 2016. Overall, this study illustrated that the crop system in China contributed to the growth of GHG emissions in China over the past decades. Improving utilization efficiency of fertilizers and crop structure in China are the most important ways to reduce GHG emissions from the Chinese crop system.

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