Abstract

Live fences have the potential to improve microclimatic conditions, moderate soil CO2 fluxes and function as carbon sinks. We quantified variation in soil CO2 fluxes from livestock silvopastoral systems under the canopies of live fences (LF), formed by Gliricidia sepium trees, or artificial fences (AF). We determined the responses of soil CO2 fluxes to environmental factors, including diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature and relative humidity in each fencing system. Measurements were made from April to June (dry season) and from July to September (rainy season), 2012. Fluxes were similar between the two livestock systems; LF emitted 1.00 lmol CO2/m2/s and AF 1.02 lmol CO2/m2/s. Soil temperatures at 5 cm depth were 3% warmer in AF than in LF, and relative humidity was 16% greater in LF than in AF. Seasonal variation in temperature greatly affected soil CO2 fluxes, which changed seasonally in parallel with temperature of the topsoil and relative humidity at 1 m height, peaking in late summer. Fluxes in LF and AF were greater in the rainy season (1.1 lmol CO2/m2/s, for both systems), when soil temperature was cooler and relative humidity was greatest, than during the dry season (0.9 lmol CO2/m2/s, for both systems). Soil fluxes were larger at night (00:00–06:00 h), when soil temperature was cooler and relative humidity greater, than during the morning (6:00–12:00 h), when soil temperature was warmer and relative humidity was less. The presence of G. sepium trees in LF did not influence soil CO2 fluxes.

Keywords

Brachiaria decumbens; closed chamber; greenhouse gases; humid tropics; silvopastoral system

Published in

Soil Use and Management
2016, Volume: 32, number: 4, pages: 553-564

SLU Authors

• Parsons, David

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Tasmania

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Soil Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12311

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79452