The Carbon Cycle of Switchgrass
Elke Eichelmann,
Claudia Wagner-Riddle, Jon Warland
School of Environmental Sciences
University of Guelph
5th September 2014
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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The Terrestrial Carbon Cycle
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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The Terrestrial Carbon Cycle
Switchgrass has the potential to sequester large amounts of CO2
via its extensive root system
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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The Terrestrial Carbon Cycle
Switchgrass has the potential to sequester large amounts of CO2
via its extensive root system
What is the net carbon budget of Switchgrass?
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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The Measurement Setup
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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Climatic Conditions in 2012 and 2013
40
Soil
Air
20
o
Temperature [ C]
30
10
0
−10
−20
Volumetric Water Content [%]
01/12
30
04/12
07/12
10/12
01/13
04/13
07/13
10/13
01/14
04/12
07/12
10/12
01/13
Month/Year
04/13
07/13
10/13
01/14
25
20
15
10
01/12
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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CO2 Flux Measurements
CO2 Flux [umol/(m2s)]
20
10
0
−10
−20
−30
−40
2
tent Heat Flux [W/m ]
01/12
500
04/12
07/12
10/12
01/13
04/13
07/13
10/13
01/14
400
300
200
100
Elke Eichelmann
(University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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Results: Annual Budgets
Carbon Budget
Plant C Uptake [kgC/ha]
Respiration C Loss [kgC/ha]
Net [kgC/ha]
Yield [kg/ha]
C removed [kgC/ha]
Net C Balance [kgC/ha]
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
2012
-13540
9737
- 3803
10900
4860
1057
2013
-14299
10001
- 4298
7900
3713
- 585
5th September 2014
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Results: Annual Budgets
Carbon Budget
Plant C Uptake [kgC/ha]
Respiration C Loss [kgC/ha]
Net [kgC/ha]
Yield [kg/ha]
C removed [kgC/ha]
Net C Balance [kgC/ha]
2012
-13540
9737
- 3803
10900
4860
1057
2013
-14299
10001
- 4298
7900
3713
- 585
In 2012 the field was a net carbon source
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
6/7
Results: Annual Budgets
Carbon Budget
Plant C Uptake [kgC/ha]
Respiration C Loss [kgC/ha]
Net [kgC/ha]
Yield [kg/ha]
C removed [kgC/ha]
Net C Balance [kgC/ha]
2012
-13540
9737
- 3803
10900
4860
1057
2013
-14299
10001
- 4298
7900
3713
- 585
In 2012 the field was a net carbon source
In 2013 the field was a net carbon sink
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
6/7
Results: Annual Budgets
Carbon Budget
Plant C Uptake [kgC/ha]
Respiration C Loss [kgC/ha]
Net [kgC/ha]
Yield [kg/ha]
C removed [kgC/ha]
Net C Balance [kgC/ha]
2012
-13540
9737
- 3803
10900
4860
1057
2013
-14299
10001
- 4298
7900
3713
- 585
In 2012 the field was a net carbon source
In 2013 the field was a net carbon sink
→ Carbon budget varies greatly between years
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
6/7
Results: Annual Budgets
Carbon Budget
Plant C Uptake [kgC/ha]
Respiration C Loss [kgC/ha]
Net [kgC/ha]
Yield [kg/ha]
C removed [kgC/ha]
Net C Balance [kgC/ha]
2012
-13540
9737
- 3803
10900
4860
1057
2013
-14299
10001
- 4298
7900
3713
- 585
In 2012 the field was a net carbon source
In 2013 the field was a net carbon sink
→ Carbon budget varies greatly between years
→ Need to assess long term budget with more measurements and
modelling
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
6/7
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Don Nott for letting us work on his field
Thanks to my advisors Claudia Wagner-Riddle and Jon Warland and
everybody in the Agmet group
Elke Eichelmann (University of Guelph)
Carbon Balance of Switchgrass
5th September 2014
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