The importance of land use change analysis in the greenhouse gases emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs

This study investigated the influence of large slaughterhouses on five variables, two related to environment impact (land use change rate and greenhouse gases emissions (GE)), and three related to cattle-ranching intensification (protein from crops, calories from crops and stocking rate). In Amazonia, the results show a reduction of the land use change rate and GE in zones both with and without the influence of large slaughterhouses. The hypothesis that slaughterhouses are leverage points to reduce deforestation in the biome was not confirmed. The slaughterhouses also seem to have no effect on cattle ranching intensification, as protein and calories production increased significantly in both zones, while the stocking rates did not change in the influence zones. In the Cerrado, cattle-ranching intensification is a reality, and is occurring independently of the presence of large slaughterhouses. In conclusion, the results show no evidence that large slaughterhouses have promoted either cattle-ranching intensification or improvements in the sustainability of the cattle-ranching activity in Amazonia and the Cerrado.

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Land use change and management of a Duric Histic Placaquand in Southern Chile: effects on biological properties and greenhouse gas emissions

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-11995 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Leandro Paulino ◽

Nelson Beas ◽

Dorota Dec ◽

Felipe Zúñiga ◽

Oscar Thiers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Soil Respiration ◽

Greenhouse Gases ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Biological Processes ◽

Southern Chile ◽

Greenhouse Gases Emissions ◽

Historical Land Use

Aquands are shallow depth and frequently waterlogged volcanic ash soils, presenting seasonal dynamics of water content in the soil profile. Land use change and management are expected to alter the Aquands biological activity due to their impact to water/air relationships as well as nutrient dynamics and greenhouse gases emissions. In southern Chile (41&#176;26&#8217;S;73&#176;07&#8217;W; 70 m a.s.l.), soil biological processes related to C- and N cycles, as well as greenhouse gas effluxes were assessed in relation to historical land use change and a drainage set in a naturalized grassland for animal husbandry. Disturbed soil samples were obtained in order to evaluate soil respiration, N mineral dynamics (NH4+ and NO3-), denitrification, nitrate reductase activity. Static-closed chambers were installed in the field to assess fluxes of CO2, N2O and CH4 from the soil surface at different seasons of the year with contrasting water table depths. Soil respiration responded to the historical land use change and draining effects. The aerobic and anaerobic biological processes related to soil nitrogen dynamics were less sensitive than respiration, and showed arbitrary effects according to the current use and management of the Aquand. Soil surface fluxes of greenhouse gases showed similar patterns, where CO2 emissions responded temporarily to land use, while N2O and CH4 did not respond conclusively. The content of soil organic carbon associated to the structural changes derived from land use change (e.g. fire clearance) and soil management (e.g. animal trampling) are plausible parameters to explain the variations of CO2 emissions from Aquand soils surface, while other elements such as microbial community and the ferrous wheel hypothesis, should be investigated in order to explain the biological responses and trace greenhouse gases emissions.

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