Short-Term Inventory of GHG Fluxes in Semi- Natural and Anthropogenized Grassland

Abstract

Climate change accelerates global warming and has thus become an increasing concern with need for prompt solutions. This process occurs due to increased atmospheric green house gas (GHG) emissions. The agro sector (crop and livestock agriculture) contributes 10 to 12% per year of the total global anthropogenic emission and tends to increase. Most agricultural GHG emissions arr generated by intensively fertilized soils, enteric fermentation, and manure management. Remarkable GHG fluxes occurred from grasslands which occupy 69% of global agricultural land. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and estimate GHG emissions in natural and abandoned grassland improved by managed fertilizing. Experimental data sets cover grassland (clay loam topsoil over silt loam, Calc(ar)i-Endohypogleyic Luvisol) abandoned more than 20 years, which has subsequently been fertilized with different rates of N and multiple NPK. Direct C02, N20, and CH4 emissions were measured in differently studied treatments (semi-natural sward: Control (0), N60, N120, N180, N240, N180 P120, N180 K150, and N180 P120 K150, N60 P40 K50 and N 180 P 120 K150; cultural pasture: N 180 P120 K150)during vegetation period (2009). Decreasing tendency of emission fluxes was determined during vegetation period and employing lower fertilizer rates. Therefore, appropriate fertilizing rate (N60 P40 K50) of extensive grassland should be considered for its mitigating impact on climate change.