CARBOEUROPE-IP
"Assessment of the European Terrestrial Carbon Balance"
Component 1. Ecosystems
Activities 1.6. Grasslands/Wetland
Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
Version 2 (April, 14th 2004)
1) Site Description
2) Fluxes & Meteorology
3) Structural, biomass, NPP : Soil, Community composition, Sward productivity & Grass ingested
4) Biology and Physiology
5) Grassland management
6) Miscellaneous
The following tables reflect different "ranking" of the sites (verification, main, associated) and
contain the indication of :
M = Mandatory parameters
O = Optional parameters
that a specific site type has to measure & deliver.
The last columns contains the frequency and the methods for the measurments.
Reminder :
Verification sites = 3 sites for the grasslands activity : Laqueuille (France), Bugac (Hungary) &
Easter Bush (Scotland)
Main site = Site that must follow the completed CarboEurope-WP1 mandatory protocols
Associated site = all the other sites, that provide CarboEurope-IP with a least one year of data
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
1
1. Site description
Parameters
Units
Comment
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associat.
Sites
Slope
‘ vertical
-
M
M
M
*
Exposure
‘ from N
-
M
M
M
*
Elevation
m AMSL
-
M
M
M
*
Latitude
‘°N
-
M
M
M
*
Longitude
‘°E
-
M
M
M
*
Annual temperature
°C
-
M
M
M
*
Annual rainfall
mm
-
M
M
M
*
Full site description including map of
site showing dimensions, masts
location, plus photos
-
-
M
M
M
**
Topography : a map (maybe a 3D-map)
is required to draw the general
topography (flat, sloping, undulating…)
-
Request for
QA/QC ECguidelines
M
M
O
**
-
Essential to
interpret the
fluxes in
combination
with footprint
analyses
M
M
O
**
Map and description of the
surroundings & borders of the site, as
detailed as possible (coniferous forest
and age of the trees, grasslands,
croplands, roads, farms, villages…)
* Please use the Excel template "List of Grassland/Wetland site" sent by Sloan Saletes
** Information to be sent to Sloan for July 2004
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
2
2. Fluxes & Meteorology
Parameter
Class / Type
Canopy flux
densities
Parameter measured
Symbol
Units
Method
Step
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
CO2
Fc
μmol m-2 s-1
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
1
Sensible Heat
H
W m-2
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
1
Latent Heat
LE
W m-2
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
1
Water vapor
E
Mmol m-2 s-1
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
1
Momentum
τ
L hr-1
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
1
Soil heat flux density
G
W m-2
Sensors
30 min
M
M
O
1
CO2 emission
FSsoil
μmol m-2 s-1
Campaign mode
M
O
O
2
N2O emissions
N 2O
μmol m-2 s-1
Campaign mode
O
O
O
3
CH4 emissions
CH4
μmol m-2 s-1
Cuvette or
estimates
Cuvette or
estimates
Cuvette or
estimates
Campaign mode
O
O
O
3
Global radiation (SW,
LW incoming/ outgoing)
Rg
W m-2
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Net radiation
Rn
W m-2
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Photosynthetic photon
flux density, direct &
diffuse
PPFDdir
PPFDdif
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Light interception
APAR
Sensor
30 min
O
O
O
1
Air temperature
Ta
°C
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Pressure
Pa
Kpa
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Precipitation
P
mm
Pluviometer
30 min
M
M
M
1
Soil fluxes
Meteorology
μmol m-2
s-1
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
Associated
Comments
Sites
3
Hydrology
Deposition
Canopy radiative
temperature
Tc
°C
Infra-red sensor
30 min
O
O
O
1
Soil temperature profile
Ts
°C
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Relative humidity
RH
%
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
1
Snow depth
SNOWD
Mm
Sensor / Pole
15 days (30 min)
M
M
M
1
Soil water content profile
SWC
% by volume
TDR
30 min surface layer,
periodic for profiles
M
M
M
1
Soil water table
SWD
cm from
ground
Diver
Seaonal
M
M
M
1
Wet deposition
WD
Mm
Wet-only
sampler
15 days
O
O
O
4
Throughfall
TF
Mm
Pluviometer
15 days
O
O
O
4
NH3 dry deposition
NH3
Kg ha-1 month-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
4
NH4+ wet deposition
NH4+
Kg ha-1 month-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
4
Nitrate wet deposition
NO3-
Kg ha-1 month-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
4
NOx dry deposition
NOx
Kg ha-1 month-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
4
Total Atmospheric N input
(wet and dry)
TNatm
Kg ha-1 month-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
4
1 Guidelines & Template will be provided by Sabina Dore
2 See Pumpanen et al.'s paper
3 For agriculture and grasslands, continuous or campaign-targeted measurement of N2O and CH4 from the site is desirable
See Per Ambus's guidelines on the the principles for the calculation of N2O flux from increase in concentration in static chamber headspace
See also table below
4 Deposition desirable, but cannot be requested in the context of CarboEurope-IP, if possible should be executed as a completed package, including
chemical analysis of soil solution, WD, SF and TF, following the ICP-manuals
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
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N2O fluxes
Parameter
N2O fluxes using
cuvettes
Method

Automated box : for cut & rotational grazing : see Arjan Hensen:
[email protected]

Cuvette system : around 8 replicates / treatment ; those collars
should be installed permanently to avoid soil disturbances before
the measurements. They should be inserted in the ground as low as
possible and fixed to avoid damages for and from the cows. In a
second phase automatic cuvette systems may be developed in order
to track the seasonal dynamics of the fast changing fluxes. If this is
achieved, a set of 3 replicates collars should be installed and the
chambers moved from one set to the other weekly. All locations
should therefore be measured within a 3 weeks period, more often
after management event (fertilisation, rainy event…)
N2O concentration would accumulate in the temporary cuvettes
and gas samples (1 sample collected / hour during 4 hours) will be
collected through a septum installed on the cuvette with a syringe.
This gas sample will be injected in an empty (vacuum) tube that
will be analysed by GC in the lab
Comment
O
Choose
between the
2 options
See Per Ambus's guidelines on the the principles for the calculation
of N2O flux from increase in concentration in static chamber
headspace
N2O fluxes using
TDL + fast
response boxes
and/or temporary
cuvettes + gas
chromatograph
See Arjan Hensen ([email protected]) for detailed guidelines. Spatial
variability in the fluxes could be assessed using the fast response boxes
coupled with a TDL probe. TDL coupled with eddy correlation will be
used for short-term campaigns
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
O
5
3. Structural, biomass, NPP : Soil, Community composition, Sward productivity & Grass ingested
Parameter
Class / Type
Parameter measured
Symbol
Units
Method
Frequency
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Aboveground biomass
BAG
Kg m-2
Sampling
Annual / seasonal
M
M
O
Kg m-2 week-1
Sampling
Monthly
M
M
O
BH
Kg m-2
Sampling /
Statistic
Annual / seasonal
M
M
O
Res
Kg m-2
Sampling
At harvested when
relevant
M
M
O
Fine root biomass
WR
Kg m-2
To be decided
Once / twice
M
O
O
Coarse root biomass
CWR
Kg m-2
Inventory /
sampling /
allometric relat.
Once
M
O
O
Fine root turnover
WR
Kg m-2
Sampling
Annual
O
O
O
Litter and Leaf C/N
C/N
Kg m-2
Analysis
Annual
O
O
O
Leaf area index &
herbage state
LAI
m² m
Direct / indirect
sampling
Once per month or
more frequently before
and after cutting /
grazing
M
M
M
Vegetation height
h
m
Inventory
Fortnightly ??
M
M
M
Plant species composition
-
% cover of
each species
Sampling
Once / twice a year
M
M
O
Soil organic carbon stocks
(profle)
SOC
Kg m-2
Sampling
Once / twice
M
M
O
Soil description
SDESC
-
Survey
once
M
M
M
Depth of main
rooting zone
DEPTHMRZ
m
Visual
Observation
Once
M
M
O
Plant potential
productivity & herbage
characteristics under
continuous grazing*
Harvested biomass (incl.
Crop / Grass productivity)
Residue after
management practice
Structure and
Biomass
Sward
composition
Soil**
-2
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
Associated
Comments
Sites
1
2
6
Bulk density
Soil Texture
(in each layer)
pH in water
(in each layer)
BD
T
g soil m-3 dry
soil
(Cl:Sa:Si)
g/kg
Soil cylinders
Once
M
M
O
Without
decarbonatation
Once
M
M
M
3
Once
M
M
M
3
M
O
O
3
M
O
O
3
M
O
O
3
O
O
O
3
O
O
O
3
O
O
O
3
Once
O
O
O
3
mg kg-1
Once
O
O
O
mg kg-1
Once
O
O
O
pH
-
CEC Total
CEC
cmol+/kg
Metson
Exchangeable ions Ca2+,
Mg2+, K+, Na+ , P2O5
X ech.
g kg-1
NH4+ and NO3-
NH4+ , NO3-
mg kg-1
Microbial biomass
MB
Ammonium
acetate
Extrait 1/10 KCl
0.5 mol/l
fumigationextraction
method
EOM (extractable organic
matter)
POM (particular organic
matter)
Advanced SOM
measurements
Net Mineralisation rate
under laboratory
conditions
End product of
denitrification
EOM
3
POM
3
ASOM
3
At start & end of the
experiment
At start & end of the
experiment
At start & end of the
experiment
At start & end of the
experiment
At start & end of the
experiment
At start & end of the
experiment
1 Plant potential productivity is estimated using exclosures cages ; first, the area of the cage is measured, for surface sward height, then the herbage is
cut at 5 cm height, sorted into green and dead material, legumes and non-legumes ; the leaf area and N content of the green material are measured. The
exclosure cage is placed and the vegetation is allowed to regrow for 3 weeks. The herbage is then cut again at 5 cm height and the DM is measured.
2 Botanical composition
- Peak growth
- Transects (eg 20 m length, quadrats every 50 cm)
- Point quadrat: presence, including % vegetation cover vs. bare soil
3 See Greengrass Soil Guidelines
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
7
** For Institutes that are interested in following the full soil protocols of the verifications sites, please contact the WP 1.3. Activity manager: E-D
Schulze &his assistant: Marion Schrumpf ([email protected])
Soil solution (concentrations in DOC, DON, NO3- and NH4+) :
Parameter
Frequency
Method
Requirement
NH4 and NO3
concentrations
Once per
month during
the drainage
period
Tubes in ceramic for soil solution sampling (around
8/treatment, at about 50 cm depth) should be
installed : the number of measurement points will
depend on the surface area of the plots and soil
proprieties. A mapping strategy would be helpful.
Optional
DOC (Dissolved
Organic Carbon) &
DON
Once per
month
ditto
Optional
+
-
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
8
4. Biology and Physiology
Parameter
Class / Type
Biology &
Physiology

Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Campaign
O
O
O
Pressure chamber
Campaign
O
O
O
Survey
Seasonal / main events
O
O
O
Parameter measured
Symbol
Units
Method
Frequency
Photosyntetic max.
capacity
P max
μmol m-2 s-1
Gas exchange
under T/RH/CO2
control
Leaf stomatal
conductance
Gs
cm s-1
Gas exchange
Leaf dark respiration
RLD
μmol m-2 s-1
Gas exchange
Campaign to
characterise the
vegetation
Campaign to
characterise the
vegetation
Campaign to
characterise the
vegetation
Nutrient content in
component with rapid
turnover (foliage, fine
roots…)
N, P, K, C
mg g-1
Analaysis
Pre-dawn water potential
Ψ
-
Canopy development crop
phenology
CanDev
Descriptive /
days
Associated
Comments
Sites
Nutrient status: N contents of green standing biomass, interprete with N nutrition status - Measure at each regrowth (before cutting or monthly
intervals for continuous grazing)
Parameters
Frequency
Units
Required by
Method
Foliage N content
Once a month or more
frequently before and
after cut, grazing…
(% N dry matter)
Drive GEMs;
interpret fluxes
Kjeldahl or Carlo
Erba
Foliage P content
once/a year
(% P dry matter)
Foliage K content
once/a year
(% K dry matter)
Foliage C content
Monthly + more
frequently before and
after management
(% C dry matter)
Drive GEMs;
interpret fluxes
Wet oxidation or
Carbo-Erma
Root N, P, K and C
content
Once per year
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
9
5. Grassland management
Information required
Verificat.
Sites
Units
Main
Sites
Associated
Sites
Comments
CUTTING
Dates of each cut
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
1
Yield of each cut
kg m-2
M
M
M
1
Height of vegetation before & after
each cut *
m
M
M
M
1
MINERAL FERTILISER
Dates of each fertilisation
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
1
Amount of N applied at each fertiliser
event
Amount of phosphorus applied at each
fertiliser event
Amount of potassium applied at each
fertiliser event
Chemical form of mineral N, P and K
applied (e.g. straight ammonium
nitrate, urea, calcium ammonium
nitrate, potassium phosphate…)
Brand of chemical fertiliser
(manufacturer and product name/
number…)
(kg N ha-1)
M
M
M
1
(kg P ha-1)
M
M
M
1
(kg K ha-1)
M
M
M
1
-
M
M
M
1
-
O
O
O
1
ORGANIC FERTILISER
Dates of each fertilisation
Form of organic fertiliser applied at
each fertiliser event (e.g. broiler litter,
laying poultry litter, cattle FYM, cattle
slurry, pig FYM, pig slurry, sewage
sludge…)
Volume of organic fertiliser applied at
each fertiliser event
Dry matter content of organic
fertiliser at each fertiliser event
Estimated total N content of the
organic fertiliser
Estimated total C content of the
organic fertiliser
Estimated available N (ammonium
and nitrate) content of the organic
fertiliser (most will be as ammonium)
Estimated available C content of the
organic fertiliser
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
1
-
M
M
M
1
m3 ha-1
M
M
M
1
M
M
M
1
M
M
M
1
M
M
M
1
O
O
O
1
O
O
O
1
(% solids) or
%MS
(g N kg-1 dry
matter)
Kjeldahl or
“Carbo-Erma”
(g C kg-1 dry
matter)**
Wet oxidation or
“Carbo-Erma”
(g available N kg1
dry matter)*
Extractioncolourimetric
analysis
(g available C kg1
dry matter)*
ExtractionPersulphate
oxidation
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
10
Estimated N applied to surface from
organic fertiliser for each application
(kg N ha-1)
(calculate from
volume applied,
dry matter content
and N content).
M
M
M
1
Estimated C applied to surface from
organic fertiliser for each application
(kg C ha-1)
M
M
M
1
Application Method of organic
fertiliser
e.g. surface
spreading, deep
injection…
M
M
M
1
OTHER TREATMENTS
(below are some examples, please give details of any other treatments applied at the site…)
Tillage
Type of material
M
M
M
1
Depth of tillage
-
M
M
M
1
M
M
M
1
M
M
M
1
M
M
M
1
Irrigation
Note any dates of
application,
amount and type
Note any dates of
application,
amount and type
Note any dates of
irrigation
Amount of water applied during
irrigation
-
M
M
M
1
Liming
-
M
M
M
1
Pesticides
Herbicides
GRAZING
Continuous or rotational ?
-
M
M
M
1
Dates (keep log of grazing if it is
changing during measurements)
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
1
Density of animals
(number/ha)
M
M
M
1
M ****
M ****
M ****
1
M
M
1
Liveweight of individual animals***
 Weighing once per month
(continuous grazing)
 Or at each grazing even
(rotational grazing)
Type of animals + estimated emission
factor for that animal in own country
kg N animal-1 yr-1
M
kg CH4 animal-1
yr-1
ANY OTHER EVENTS
(e.g. flooding, storm, fire…)
* Grass height should be measured at least during the fast growing part of the season and the number of
cows adjusted to the forage availability on the plot. If some animals have to be removed (not enough grass
available i.e. less than 7-8 cm grass) from a plot, the stocking rate between the different treatments should be
kept constant.
** Actually measure as g N g-1 fresh weight and convert results to dry matter equivalents. Pre-drying of
samples before analysis should be avoided as much of the available N will be lost through volatilisation
*** Try to combine this measurement with the exit of the cattle from the plot ;this would allow us to have
periods (e.g. of 3 days) of measurements without cattle respiration (no CO2 emissions for instance).
**** M if continuous grazing, O if rotational grazing
1 Excel template for reporting will be provided by Sloan Saletes
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
11
Management details over a longer period
Type of information
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associated
Sites
Ecosyst.
Type
Age of grassland
(date last ploughed if not permanent)
M
M
O
1
Details of crops in the 2-3 years before field became
grassland (if the grassland is < 5 years old)
M
M
O
1
Is the grassland grazed or used for hay/silage?
M
M
O
1
For cut grassland, number of cuts/year, yield per cut or
per year on average
M
M
O
1
Is the plot drained and how ?
M
M
O
1
Fertilisation details over the last 5 years on average.
Total kg N ha-1 yr-1:
mineral:
organic:
M
M
O
1
Any specific problems with the fields, water excess, soil
conditions etc particularly in relation to the rest of the
region
M
M
O
1



1 Excel template for reporting will be provided by Sloan Saletes
6. Miscellaneous
Parameters
Comment
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associat.
Sites
Soil solution : NH4+ and NO3concentrations
DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
& DON
Tubes in ceramic for
soil solution sampling
(around 8/treatment, at
about 50 cm depth)
gas tracers (SF6) - can
be provided by INRA
Scintillation counting
(Slater 1989)
Mass spectrometry
(Balesdent and Mariotti,
1996)
For the farm modelling
works
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
CH4 cattle fluxes
C-14 soil content
C-13 soil content
Livestock farming systems close to
the site
CarboEurope-IP - Activity 1.6. Grasslands / Wetlands - Minimum datasets for Grassland Sites
Commen
ts
12