CO2 flux and c balance due to the replacement of bare soil with agro-ecological service crops in Mediterranean environment
Author(s)
Osipitan, Adewale O.
Safahani Langeroodi, Ali Reza
Date Issued
2019
Type
article
Volume
9
Issue
4
Journal
Abstract
Intensive agriculture practices often results in decomposition of organic matter, thus
causing soil CO2 emissions. Agro-ecological service crop could be profitably cultivated to improve
soil characteristics and reduce CO2 emissions under Mediterranean environment. Two-year field
trials were conducted in central Italy. The treatments were three agro-ecological service crops (hairy
vetch, oat, and oilseed rape) and a no-service cover. Plant development, soil characteristics, and
CO2 emissions were measured. Oat and oilseed rape showed a rapid growth, while hairy vetch
started to grow rapidly only after the cold period. Soil CO2 emissions trend was similar among
the agro-ecological service crops and tended to decrease during the cold period, then gradually
increased until April when warm temperatures were observed. The high soil CO2 emissions and
respiration index observed in hairy vetch probably stimulated mineral nutrients, especially nitrogen,
to become more available in the soil compared to oat and oilseed rape throughout the decomposition
of soil organic matter. These results confirmed that the cultivation of agro-ecological service crops,
especially hairy vetch, could represent a suitable strategy for enhancing carbon sequestration and
lead to a mitigation of CO2 emissions during the fallow period and could thus contribute to the
climate change mitigation.
Subjects
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Name
CO2 flux agriculture2019.pdf
Description
Article
Size
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Format
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