Methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide fluxes from a temperate salt marsh: grazing management does not alter global warming potential

Ford, Hilary; Garbutt, Angus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9145-9786; Jones, Laurence ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-9006; Jones, Davey. 2012 Methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide fluxes from a temperate salt marsh: grazing management does not alter global warming potential. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 113. 182-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2012.08.002

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2012.08.002

Abstract/Summary

Soil greenhouse gas emissions from cattle grazed and un-grazed temperate upper salt marsh were measured using dark static chambers, monthly for one year. Below-ground gas sampling tubes were also used to measure soil methane (CH4) concentrations. CH4 efflux from grazed and un-grazed salt marsh did not differ significantly although grazing did lead to ‘hotspots’ of underground CH4 (up to 6% of total air volume) and CH4 efflux (peak of 9 mg m−2 h−1) significantly linked to high soil moisture content, low soil temperatures and the presence of Juncus gerardii. Carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux was greater from the un-grazed marsh (mean of 420 mg m−2 h−1) than the grazed marsh (mean of 333 mg m−2 h−1) throughout most of the year and was positively correlated with the deeper water table and greater soil temperatures. Grazing was not a significant predictor of nitrous oxide (N2O) soil emissions. Global Warming Potential (GWP; over 100 years), calculated from mean yearly chamber fluxes for CH4 and CO2, did not differ significantly with grazing treatment. Seasonal variation in the key drivers of soil greenhouse gas efflux; soil temperature, moisture and water table, plus the presence or absence of aerenchymatous plants such as J. gerardii were more important to the magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions than grazing management per se.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2012.08.002
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Emmett
ISSN:	0272-7714
Additional Keywords:	chamber flux measurements, greenhouse gases, salt marshes, livestock grazing, UK, Ribble estuary
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	06 May 2015 08:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/510712

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2012.08.002

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Emmett

ISSN:

0272-7714

Additional Keywords:

chamber flux measurements, greenhouse gases, salt marshes, livestock grazing, UK, Ribble estuary

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment