Effects of the Road Deicing Practices on Gas Exchange Parameters in Urban Lawn Ecosystems
Author(s)
Date Issued
2020
Type
bookPart
Start Page
45
End Page
51
Journal
Abstract
Abstract. More than 1100 million ha of the lands are affected by the soil
salinity globally. In Europe, soil salinization affects 1 to 4 million ha and is
concentrated mainly in Mediterranean. Among the major causes of salinization
in rural areas are salt-water introgression into the ground waters used for irrigation
and dust suppression practices, in urban areas - deicing of roads with
chloride salts (NaCl, CaCl2). To simulate urban soil salinization after the release
of the deicing agents, Lolium perenne, typically used in urban public and private
lawns, was planted in pots and grown in the green house for 5 months before
being treated with NaCl 0 mM, 30 mM and 90 mM solution as regular irrigation
practice. The grass was moved to 4 cm height. Gas exchange measurements:
soil respiration, ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem exchange were
measured from planted and non-planted collars, installed in the pots. Soil
salinization affected negatively soil respiration rates but increased plant respiration
proportionally to the level of salinization. Together with the decline in
gross primary production, it resulted in no changes in the net ecosystem
exchange rates between control and salt treatments. Lolium perenne could be
recommended for urban lawns subjected to periodical salinization