GHG balance of Dutch fen meadows GHG balance of Dutch fen meadows and their management potential for and their management potential for

emission reduction.emission reduction.

How does management affect the emission of GHG

Arina Schrier

Study areasStudy areasMean annual

precipitation: 870 mmMean annual

temperature: 10.4 oCSoil: peat with clay > 80 % grassland Ca. 8 % open water< 10 % forested

Plot Stein

Plot Oukoop

Site descriptionSite descriptionStein

• Less intensive management

• Difference in land use history between plots

• Water level manipulation

Oukoop

• Intensive management

• Cattle grazing

• No water level manipulation

ObjectivesObjectives

To gain quantitative insight in how- and to what extent GHG (CO2, CH4, N2O) are produced at small- and landscape scale in Dutch fen meadows;

Study the effect of management (ground water level manipulation, fertilization, husbandry) on GHG production and emission;

Develop a system for upscaling of GHG emission from plot scale to landscape scale in fen meadow ecosystems, together with other researchers.

Research question 1Research question 1

What are the processes that influence GHG emission in fen meadow

ecosystems

(processes)

Research question 2Research question 2

What are the effects of groundwater level, land use change, aerenchymatic

plants, amount of clay, fertilization and husbandry on GHG emission

((management)factors)

Research question 3Research question 3

What is the temporal and spatial variability of GHG emission in

Dutch fen meadows and to what is this related;

(variability)

Research question 4Research question 4

What are the opportunities for the usage of fen meadows for GHG emission reduction and what are

the implications for nature management in fen meadows;

(relevance, future management => emission reduction)

Research question 5Research question 5

How can scaling up/modeling of emission from fen meadow systems

be improved using knowledge of spatial- and temporal variability

(modeling and upscaling)

Tools to be usedTools to be used

Literature

Field experiments

Greenhouse experiments

Models

Field measurementsField measurements Flux measurements (Eddy

Corr. + closed chambers)

Meteorology measurements

Hydrology measurements (quantity and quality)

Soil measurements

Vegetation analyses and descriptions

Management descriptions

Greenhouse experiments Greenhouse experiments fluxflux measurements under constant measurements under constant

conditions, except water level changesconditions, except water level changes

Intensive and less intensive management

Plot 20 years out of production and plot 2 years out of production

Different land elements such as ditch(edge), low- and high parts (often related to vegetation: with and without aerenchym)

Modeling and upscalingModeling and upscaling Modeling Parameters estimated from the field work

will be used to calculate future distributions of greenhouse gas emission in fen meadows by aggregation of the landscape (weight factor per aggregate)

Total area

Extensive management

Intensive management

No management

Open water Ditch edges

Low parts field

High parts field

Open water Ditch edges

Lowparts field

High parts field

Open water Ditch edges

Low parts field

High parts field

FluxesFluxes Flux chamber measurements every two or three weeks (in

winter less intensive) at fixed locations (Photo Acoustic Field Gas monitor: INNOVA) of N2O, CH4 and CO2;

Flux chamber measurements: intensive field campaigns in spring, sample design will be based on land form elements;

Flux measurements at special events as mowing, cleaning of ditches, heavy rain, frost/thaw, manure application;

Flux measurements under constant conditions in the greenhouse of N2O, CH4 and CO2.

Continuous measurements of CO2 fluxes, water vapour and energy (Eddy correlation, open path Licor 7500) at both sites (e.g. Aubinet et al., 2000) following the Carbo Europe protocol;

First results Stein First results Stein (Ko van Huissteden)(Ko van Huissteden)

First results Oukoop First results Oukoop (ko van Huissteden)(ko van Huissteden)

CooperationCooperation Field measurements with Petra Kroon (ECN) and

Dimmie Hendriks (VU);

Modeling/upscaling in cooperation with partners ECN, VU, WU, UG, ALTERRA, TNO (Dimmie, Petra K., Petra S., Linda, Sander);

Collaborative papers, to be discussed next PHD meeting;

Meeting discussion group (PHD’s) every half a year

Plans for next yearPlans for next year

January: chamber measurements every 3 or 4 weeks at both sites at 5 fixed locations, design intensive field campaigns, finish research proposal;

February: design greenhouse experiment, continue chamber measurements, start intensive field campaigns (first manure application);

March: continue intensive field campaigns, start greenhouse experiment, continue chamber measurements;

April, may, june: continue July: stop intensive field campaigns, stop greenhouse

experiment, continue chamber measurements.

Thank you!Thank you!

Questions?