Contribution of CO2 emission from litter decomposition in an oil palm plantation on tropical peatland

Abstract. Intact tropical peatlands are dense long-term stores of carbon. However, the future security of these ecosystems is at risk from land conversion and extensive peatland drainage. This can enhance peat oxidation and convert long-term carbon sinks into significant carbon sources. In Southeast Asia, the largest land use on peatland is for oil palm plantation agriculture. Here, we present the first annual estimate of exported fluvial organic carbon in the drainage waters of four peatland oil palm plantation areas in Sarawak, Malaysia. Total organic carbon (TOC) fluxes from the plantation second- and third-order drains were dominated (91 %) by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ranged from 34.4 ± 9.7 C m−2 yr−1 to 57.7 %, 16.3 g C m−2 yr−1 (± 95 % confidence interval). These fluxes represent a single-year survey which was strongly influenced by an El Ninõ event and therefore lower discharge than usual was observed. The magnitude of the flux was found to be influenced by water table depth, with higher TOC fluxes observed from more deeply drained sites. Radiocarbon dating on the DOC component indicated the presence of old (pre-1950s) carbon in all samples collected, with DOC at the most deeply drained site having a mean age of 735 years. Overall, our estimates suggest fluvial TOC contributes ∼ 5 % of total carbon losses from oil palm plantations on peat. Maintenance of high and stable water tables in oil palm plantations appears to be key to minimising TOC losses. This reinforces the importance of considering all carbon loss pathways, rather than just CO2 emissions from the peat surface, in studies of tropical peatland land conversion.

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N fertilization effects on N2O fluxes from oil palm plantation on tropical peatland

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10546 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Auldry Chaddy ◽

Lulie Melling ◽

Kiwamu Ishikura ◽

Ryusuke Hatano

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

Elaeis Guineensis ◽

Pore Space ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Soil N ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

The Impact

Anthropogenic activities, and in particular the use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer, have a significant influence on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from oil palm plantation on tropical peatland. Finding a suitable N rate for optimum N uptake efficiency and yield with low environmental impact and production cost is crucial for the economic growth of Malaysia&#8217;s oil palm sector. However, studies on the impact of N fertilizers on N2O emissions&#160;from&#160;tropical peatland are limited. Thus, long-term monitoring was conducted to investigate the effects of N fertilization on soil N2O emissions. This study was conducted in an oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantation located in a tropical peatland in Sarawak, Malaysia. Monthly soil N2O fluxes were measured using the closed-chamber method in a control (T1, without N fertilization), and under three different N treatments: low N (T2, 31.1 kg N ha&#8722;1), moderate N (recommended rate) (T3, 62.2 kg N ha&#8722;1), and high N (T4, 124.3 kg N ha&#8722;1), from January 2010 to December 2013 and from January 2016 to December 2017. The only N fertiliser rate to significantly increase (p<0.05) annual cumulative N2O emissions was 124.3 kg N ha-1 (T4). Increased&#160;in water-filled pore space (WFPS) (>70%) with a decrease in both N2O flux and nitrate (NO3&#8722;) implies that complete denitrification has taken place.&#160;Increased in NO3-&#160;uptake by oil palm with an increase in WFPS decreased NO3- concentration in soil, resulting in the reduction of N2O emission. This study highlights the importance of WFPS on denitrification and N uptake by oil palm in tropical peatland. This needs to be taken into account for the accurate assessment of N dynamics in oil palm plantations on tropical peatland in order to enhance N fertilization management strategies and counteract anthropogenic activities that produce greenhouse gases.Keywords: WFPS, oil palm yield, NO3-, N uptake

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Importance of CO2 production in subsoil layers of drained tropical peatland under mature oil palm plantation

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2018.10.021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 186 ◽

pp. 206-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Setiari Marwanto ◽

Supiandi Sabiham ◽

Shinya Funakawa

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

Co2 Production ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation

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Effects of Long-Term Nitrogen Fertilization and Ground Water Level Changes on Soil CO2 Fluxes from Oil Palm Plantation on Tropical Peatland

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12101340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 1340

Author(s):

Auldry Chaddy ◽

Lulie Melling ◽

Kiwamu Ishikura ◽

Kah Joo Goh ◽

Yo Toma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Oil Palm ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Root Activity ◽

Co2 Fluxes ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation

A long-term study on the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in tropical peatland was conducted to (1) quantify the annual CO2 emissions from an oil palm plantation under different N application rates and (2) evaluate the temporal effects of groundwater level (GWL) and water-filled pore space (WFPS) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and CO2 fluxes. Monthly measurement of soil CO2 fluxes using a closed chamber method was carried out from January 2010 until December 2013 and from January 2016 to December 2017 in an oil palm plantation on tropical peat in Sarawak, Malaysia. Besides the control (T1, without N fertilization), there were three N treatments: low N (T2, 31.1 kg N ha−1 year−1), moderate N (T3, 62.2 kg N ha−1 year−1), and high N (T4, 124.3 kg N ha−1 year−1). The annual CO2 emissions ranged from 7.7 ± 1.2 (mean ± SE) to 16.6 ± 1.0 t C ha−1 year−1, 9.8 ± 0.5 to 14.8 ± 1.4 t C ha−1 year−1, 10.5 ± 1.8 to 16.8 ± 0.6 t C ha−1 year−1, and 10.4 ± 1.8 to 17.1 ± 3.9 t C ha−1 year−1 for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Application of N fertilizer had no significant effect on annual cumulative CO2 emissions in each year (p = 0.448), which was probably due to the formation of large quantities of inorganic N when GWL was temporarily lowered from January 2010 to June 2010 (−80.9 to −103.4 cm below the peat surface), and partly due to low soil organic matter (SOM) quality. A negative relationship between GWL and CO2 fluxes (p < 0.05) and a positive relationship between GWL and WFPS (p < 0.001) were found only when the oil palm was young (2010 and 2011) (p < 0.05), indicating that lowering of GWL increased CO2 fluxes and decreased WFPS when the oil palm was young. This was possibly due to the fact that parameters such as root activity might be more predominant than GWL in governing soil respiration in older oil palm plantations when GWL was maintained near or within the rooting zone (0–50 cm). This study highlights the importance of roots and WFPS over GWL in governing soil respiration in older oil palm plantations. A proper understanding of the interaction between the direct or indirect effect of root activity on CO2 fluxes and balancing its roles in nutrient and water management strategies is critical for sustainable use of tropical peatland.

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Soil N2O Emissions under Different N Rates in an Oil Palm Plantation on Tropical Peatland

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture9100213 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 213 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Auldry Chaddy ◽

Lulie Melling ◽

Kiwamu Ishikura ◽

Ryusuke Hatano

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

N Uptake ◽

N2o Emission ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

N Availability ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

N Rates

(1) Background: Nitrogen (N) fertilization on drained tropical peatland will likely stimulate peat decomposition and mineralization, enhancing N2O emission from the peat soil. (2) Methods: A field experiment was conducted to quantify the N2O emissions from soil in an oil palm plantation (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) located in a tropical peatland in Sarawak, Malaysia, under different rates of N fertilizers. The study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2013 and resumed from January 2016 to December 2017. Nitrous oxide (N2O) flux was measured every month using a closed chamber method for four different N rates; control—without N (T1), 31.1 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (T2), 62.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (T3), and 124.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (T4); (3) Results: Application of the N fertilizer significantly increased annual cumulative N2O emissions for T4 only in the years 2010 (p = 0.017), 2011 (p = 0.012), 2012 (p = 0.007), and 2016 (p = 0.048). The highest average annual cumulative N2O emissions were recorded for T4 (41.5 ± 28.7 kg N ha−1 yr−1), followed by T3 (35.1 ± 25.7 kg N ha−1 yr−1), T1 (25.2 ± 17.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1), and T2 (25.1 ± 15.4 kg N ha−1 yr−1), indicating that the N rates of 62.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 124.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 increased the average annual cumulative N2O emissions by 39% and 65%, respectively, as compared to the control. The N fertilization had no significant effect on annual oil palm yield (p = 0.994). Alternating between low (deeper than −60 cm) and high groundwater level (GWL) (shallower than −60 cm) enhanced nitrification during low GWL, further supplying NO3− for denitrification in the high GWL, and contributing to higher N2O emissions in high GWL. The emissions of N2O ranged from 17 µg N m−2 hr−1 to 2447 µg N m−2 hr−1 and decreased when the water-filled pore space (WFPS) was between 70% and 96%, suggesting the occurrence of complete denitrification. A positive correlation between N2O emissions and NO3− at 70–96% WFPS indicated that denitrification increased with increased NO3− availability. Based on their standardized regression coefficients, the effect of GWL on N2O emissions increased with increased N rate (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was found that annual oil palm yields negatively correlated with annual N2O emission and NO3− for all treatments. Both nitrification and denitrification increased with increased N availability, making both processes important sources of N2O in oil palm cultivation on tropical peatland.; and (4) Conclusions: To improve understanding of N2O mitigation strategies, further studies should consider plant N uptake on N2O emissions, at least until the completion of the planting.

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Simulasi Model Matematik Dampak Penerapan Kebijakan Mandatori Blending Biodiesel-Solar terhadap Kebutuhan Lahan Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit dan Tingkat Emisi CO2

JIEMS (Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems) ◽

10.30813/jiems.v9i2.44 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Petir Papilo ◽

Hartrisari H

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Co2 Emission ◽

Land Area ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Mandatory Policy ◽

The Impact

The implementation of the mandatory policy of mixing (blending) between biofuels into the fuel has an impact on the icreasing of biodiesel needs, increasing the oil palm plantation area and environmental impact in the form of CO2 emissions by the year 2025. This study aimed to identify the level of each factor needs as well as the impact on the environment. Through the analysis of the design of mathematical models, it is known that the gradually until 2030 has been an increased need for biofuels amounted 14.79 million KL. In an effort to meet the needs of the necessary biofuel oil palm plantations of 35,2 million hectares and an increase in CO2 emissions of 5,41 Gg t CO2.Keywords: Biodiesel, CO2 Emission, Land Area, Mandatory Policy. Biodiesel, CO2 Emission, Land Area, Mandatory Policy

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Tree-scale spatial variability of soil carbon cycling in a mature oil palm plantation

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr15211 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 397 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Iain Goodrick ◽

Paul N. Nelson ◽

Steven Nake ◽

Michael J. Webb ◽

Michael I. Bird ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variability ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Co2 Emission ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Carbon Fluxes ◽

Accurate Estimate ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Soil Co2 Emission ◽

Oil Palm Plantation

Soil carbon fluxes are highly variable in space and time under tree crops such as oil palm, and attempts to model such fluxes must incorporate an understanding of this variability. In this work, we measured soil CO2 emission, root biomass and pruned frond deposition rates and calculated carbon fluxes into and out of the soil in a mature (20-year-old, second planting cycle) oil palm plantation in Papua New Guinea. Tree-scale spatial variability in CO2 emission and root biomass was quantified by making measurements on a 35-point trapezoid grid covering the 38.5-m2 repeating unit of the plantation (n = 4 grids). In order to obtain an overall mean soil CO2 emission rate within 5% of the most accurate estimate, ≥24 measurement points were required. Soil CO2 emissions were spatially correlated with calculated carbon inputs (r2 = 0.605, slope 1 : 1), but not with soil water content or temperature. However, outputs were higher than inputs at all locations, with a mean overall output of 7.24 µmol m–2 s–1 and input of 3.02 µmol m–2 s–1. Inputs related to fronds, roots and groundcover constituted 60%, 36% and 4% of estimated inputs, respectively. The spatial correlation of carbon inputs and outputs indicates that mineralisation rate is controlled mostly by the amount rather than the nature or input depth of the additions. The spatially uniform net carbon emission from soil may be due to inaccuracies in calculated fluxes (especially root-related inputs) or to non-biological emissions.

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