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SOIL CO 2 FLUX IN GRASSLAND, AFFORESTED LAND AND RECLAIMED COALMINE OVERBURDEN DUMPS: A CASE STUDY
Author(s) -
Mukhopadhyay S.,
Maiti S. K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.1161
Subject(s) - grassland , environmental science , flux (metallurgy) , overburden , water content , soil respiration , hydrology (agriculture) , forestry , environmental chemistry , soil water , soil science , agronomy , chemistry , mining engineering , geology , geography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
The aim of this study was to measure the in situ soil CO 2 flux from grassland, afforested land and reclaimed coalmine overburden dumps by using the automated soil CO 2 flux system (LICOR‐8100® infrared gas analyzer, LICOR Inc., Lincoln, NE). The highest soil CO 2 flux was observed in natural grassland (11·16 µmol CO 2 m −2 s −1 ), whereas the flux was reduced by 38 and 59 per cent in mowed site and at 15‐cm depth, respectively. The flux from afforested area was found 5·70 µmol CO 2 m −2 s −1 , which is 50 per cent lower than natural grassland. In the reclaimed coalmine overburden dumps, the average flux under tree plantation was found to be lowest in winter and summer (0·89–1·12 µmol CO 2 m −2 s −1 ) and highest during late monsoon (3–3·5 µmol CO 2 m −2 s −1 ). During late monsoon, the moisture content was found to be higher (6–7·5 per cent), which leads to higher microbial activity and decomposition. In the same area under grass cover, soil CO 2 flux was found to be higher (8·94 µmol CO 2 m −2 s −1 ) compared with tree plantation areas because of higher root respiration and microbial activity. The rate of CO 2 flux was found to be determined predominantly by soil moisture and soil temperature. Our study indicates that the forest ecosystem plays a crucial role in combating global warming than grassland; however, to reduce CO 2 flux from grassland, mowing is necessary. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.