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

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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Conversion of intact peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation: Effects on soil CO2 fluxes in Jambi, Sumatra

10.17528/cifor/004119 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Comeau L ◽

Hergoualc'h K. ◽

Smith J.U. ◽

Verchot L.

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

Co2 Fluxes ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Swamp Forest ◽

Peat Swamp Forest ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Peat Swamp

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Fluvial organic carbon fluxes from oil palm plantations on tropical peatland

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-15-7435-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (24) ◽

pp. 7435-7450 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sarah Cook ◽

Mick J. Whelan ◽

Chris D. Evans ◽

Vincent Gauci ◽

Mike Peacock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Land Conversion ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Tropical Peatlands ◽

Carbon Losses

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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Soil CO2 Fluxes from Different Ages of Oil Palm in Tropical Peatland of Sarawak, Malaysia

Soil Carbon ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-04084-4_44 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 447-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lulie Melling ◽

Kah Joo Goh ◽

Auldry Chaddy ◽

Ryusuke Hatano

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

Co2 Fluxes ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Different Ages

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PENGARUH SISTEM OLAH TANAH DAN PEMUPUKAN NITROGEN JANGKA PANJANG TERHADAP RESPIRASI TANAH DI LAHAN POLITEKNIK NEGERI LAMPUNG TAHUN TANAM KE-27

Jurnal Agrotek Tropika ◽

10.23960/jat.v8i2.3898 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 247

Author(s):

Erdiana Damayanti ◽

Muhajir Utomo ◽

Ainin Niswati ◽

Henrie Buchari

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

N Fertilization ◽

No Tillage ◽

Tillage Systems ◽

Tillage System

Unsustainable cultivation techniques can cause carbon loss on farm. The cultivation technique that is often used by farmers today is intensive tillage. Intensive tillage can increase CO2. Steps to reduce CO2 gas emissions, while increasing carbon stored in the soil by implementing agricultural cultivation with conservation tillage system (Olah Tanah Konservasi). The conservation tillage system is able to reduce global warming through absorption of C in the soil, and reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, fertilization can also affect CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions in the soil come from soil respiration. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term tillage systems on soil respiration, determine the effect of long-term N fertilization on soil respiration, and determine the effect of interactions between tillage systems and long-term N fertilization on soil respiration. The study was arranged in a randomized block design (RBD) consisting of two factors, namely the tillage system and nitrogen fertilization factors. The first factor is the treatment of tillage system (T) namely T0 = no tillage, and T1 = intensive tillage, while the second factor is without nitrogen fertilizer (N0) and high nitrogen fertilizer (N1). The data obtained will be tested for homogeneity by Bartlett Test and additives tested by Tukey Test. Furthermore, the data were analyzed by analysis of variance and continued with a BNJ test of 5% level. Observation of soil respiration was done 4 times, namely -1, 1, 2, 3 days after tillage. The results showed that soil respiration one day before to three days after the soil was treated in intensive tillage (OTI) was the same as the no tillage system (TOT), soil respiration -1 days after tillage to 3 days after tillage on nitrogen fertilization (100 N kg ha-1 ) given in the previous planting season the same as without fertilization (0 kg N ha-1), and there is no interaction between the tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration.

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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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SOIL CO2 FLUXES FROM DIFFERENT AGES OF OIL PALM IN TROPICAL PEATLAND OF SARAWAK, MALAYSIA AS INFLUENCED BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOIL PROPERTIES

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.2013.982.2 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 25-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L. Melling ◽

A. Chaddy ◽

K.J. Goh ◽

R. Hatano

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Co2 Fluxes ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Different Ages

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Fluvial organic carbon fluxes from oil palm plantations on tropical peatland

10.5194/bg-2018-417 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Cook ◽

Mick J. Whelan ◽

Chris D. Evans ◽

Vincent Gauci ◽

Mike Peacock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Land Conversion ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Tropical Peatlands ◽

Carbon Losses

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 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). 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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