Workpackage 1 -Carbon pool changes in forest soils
Team
- Dr Ken Byrne
- Dr Thomas Cummins
- Dr Alina Premrov
- Mr DJ Lane (funded by the Irish Research Council)
- Mr Mike Clancy
- Mr Antonio Jonay Jovani Sancho
Background
This WP will provide data on soil carbon stocks and stock changes for input to the CARBWARE system. In particular the WP will address key
information gaps by pursuing the following objectives:
- To review existing data on forest soil carbon stocks and identify data gaps where further soil sampling is necessary;
- Refine the national soil carbon reporting system by integrating soil and spatial data using existing and new research data;
- To develop soil carbon emission factors for organics soils and mineral soils with a thin organic surface layer;
- To develop baseline soil carbon stocks for mineral soils;
- To investigate the use of the empirical and process-based models for assessment of changes in soil carbon stocks.
Work Plan
Task 1.3 Soil-carbon stocks and stock changes on forested mineral soils
- Task 1.3.1: Meta-analysis of existing data to identify research needs;
- Task 1.3.2 Data analysis and modelling.
Task 1.1 Carbon emission factors from organic soils
C stock changes in organic soils are reported using CO2 emission factors (Penman et al., 2003). Development of emission factors (EFs) requires assessment
of CO2 emissions from heterotrophic respiration associated with drainage of forest lands (IPCC, 2006). There is a need for nationally specific EFs and this
Task will address this information deficit.
The project team will identify a chronosequence of coniferous afforestation on blanket peat. Soil CO2 emissions will be measured using two portable
CO2 analysers and chambers. Heterotrophic respiration will be measured from plots where fine roots have been excluded by inserting steel pipes into the
soil and the litter layer has been removed. Empirical response functions will be used to develop EFs for all sites.
Task 1.2 Soil carbon stocks and carbon emission factors for shallow organic soils
While carbon stock changes in organic soils are reported using EFs and changes in mineral soils are based on soil carbon stocks, the correct approach for shallow
organic soils (i.e. mineral soils with shallow surface peat) is unclear.
This task will be carried out on a chronosequence of coniferous forests on shallow organic soils in Co. Limerick. Soil respiration will be measured using the same
methodology as described for Task 1.1. In addition, soil carbon stocks will be determined at all sites to a depth of 30 cm using the soil sampling protocol developed
by Task 1.3.2. This data will be used to investigate the change in soil carbon stock with age. Following this the Task will identify the best approach to use for
reporting carbon stock changes in shallow organic soils.
Task 1.3 Soil-carbon stocks and stock changes on forested mineral soils
Task 1.3 is divided into two sub-tasks as described below:
- Task 1.3.1: Meta-analysis of existing data to identify research needs
The first aim of this task will be to compile existing data on soil carbon stocks in Irish forest soils into a geo-database combining spatial, SOC data and soil
textural characteristics. Meta-analysis will then be conducted using preliminary hierarchal analysis of variance to determine if there is a difference between
SOC of soil types, land use categories with in soil type, land use categories and climatic zones within soil types. This will be used to decide
- how to stratify data for model improvement and
- what soil types, land uses and climate zones require further sampling.
Following this a maximum of 60 sites will be selected for soil sampling to determine soil carbon stocks. Where possible, sites will be selected from National Forest
Inventory permanent sample plots because of availability of ancillary data from these plots, which could be used for modelling (see Task 1.3.2).
- Task 1.3.2 Data analysis and modelling
Data modelling will consider both empirical approaches, such as hierarchical analysis of variance and process based models such as YASSO. The new geo-referenced
SOC data will be combined with existing data in collaboration with WP4. The new data will be incorporated in to the national framework (Figure 1) by assigning the
SOC values to each cell raster (see Scott et al., 2002).
The YASSO model is a simple process-based model for mineral soils carbon stock change in forests and is a function of litter, deadwood and fine root inputs and
outputs due to decomposition. Decomposition is dependent of temperature and other climatic factors, identified in the climate raster layer (Figure 1). Existing
decomposition coefficients for litter and deadwood from the CARBiFOR II database (Olajuyigbe, et al 2011, 2012). The calibration of YASSO will involve the use
all existing NFI PSP data, where litter and deadwood inputs will be provided from the CARBWARE model in collaboration with WP 4 (Black et al., 2012,
Duffy et al., 2011, Tobin et al., 2007).
- Task 1.3.1: Meta-analysis of existing data to identify research needs;
- Task 1.3.2 Data analysis and modelling.
- Task 1.3 Soil-carbon stocks and stock changes on forested mineral soils
Task 1.1 Carbon emission factors from organic soils
C stock changes in organic soils are reported using CO2 emission factors (Penman et al., 2003). Development of emission factors (EFs) requires assessment
of CO2 emissions from heterotrophic respiration associated with drainage of forest lands (IPCC, 2006). There is a need for nationally specific EFs and this
Task will address this information deficit.
The project team will identify a chronosequence of coniferous afforestation on blanket peat. Soil CO2 emissions will be measured using two portable
CO2 analysers and chambers. Heterotrophic respiration will be measured from plots where fine roots have been excluded by inserting steel pipes into the
soil and the litter layer has been removed. Empirical response functions will be used to develop EFs for all sites.
Task 1.2 Soil carbon stocks and carbon emission factors for shallow organic soils
While carbon stock changes in organic soils are reported using EFs and changes in mineral soils are based on soil carbon stocks, the correct approach for shallow
organic soils (i.e. mineral soils with shallow surface peat) is unclear.
This task will be carried out on a chronosequence of coniferous forests on shallow organic soils in Co. Limerick. Soil respiration will be measured using the same
methodology as described for Task 1.1. In addition, soil carbon stocks will be determined at all sites to a depth of 30 cm using the soil sampling protocol developed
by Task 1.3.2. This data will be used to investigate the change in soil carbon stock with age. Following this the Task will identify the best approach to use for
reporting carbon stock changes in shallow organic soils.
Task 1.3 Soil-carbon stocks and stock changes on forested mineral soils
Task 1.3 is divided into two sub-tasks as described below:
- Task 1.3.1: Meta-analysis of existing data to identify research needs
The first aim of this task will be to compile existing data on soil carbon stocks in Irish forest soils into a geo-database combining spatial, SOC data and soil
textural characteristics. Meta-analysis will then be conducted using preliminary hierarchal analysis of variance to determine if there is a difference between
SOC of soil types, land use categories with in soil type, land use categories and climatic zones within soil types. This will be used to decide
- how to stratify data for model improvement and
- what soil types, land uses and climate zones require further sampling.
Following this a maximum of 60 sites will be selected for soil sampling to determine soil carbon stocks. Where possible, sites will be selected from National Forest
Inventory permanent sample plots because of availability of ancillary data from these plots, which could be used for modelling (see Task 1.3.2).
- Task 1.3.2 Data analysis and modelling
Data modelling will consider both empirical approaches, such as hierarchical analysis of variance and process based models such as YASSO. The new geo-referenced
SOC data will be combined with existing data in collaboration with WP4. The new data will be incorporated in to the national framework (Figure 1) by assigning the
SOC values to each cell raster (see Scott et al., 2002).
The YASSO model is a simple process-based model for mineral soils carbon stock change in forests and is a function of litter, deadwood and fine root inputs and
outputs due to decomposition. Decomposition is dependent of temperature and other climatic factors, identified in the climate raster layer (Figure 1). Existing
decomposition coefficients for litter and deadwood from the CARBiFOR II database (Olajuyigbe, et al 2011, 2012). The calibration of YASSO will involve the use
all existing NFI PSP data, where litter and deadwood inputs will be provided from the CARBWARE model in collaboration with WP 4 (Black et al., 2012,
Duffy et al., 2011, Tobin et al., 2007).
This task will be carried out on a chronosequence of coniferous forests on shallow organic soils in Co. Limerick. Soil respiration will be measured using the same methodology as described for Task 1.1. In addition, soil carbon stocks will be determined at all sites to a depth of 30 cm using the soil sampling protocol developed by Task 1.3.2. This data will be used to investigate the change in soil carbon stock with age. Following this the Task will identify the best approach to use for reporting carbon stock changes in shallow organic soils.
Task 1.3 Soil-carbon stocks and stock changes on forested mineral soils
Task 1.3 is divided into two sub-tasks as described below:
- Task 1.3.1: Meta-analysis of existing data to identify research needs
The first aim of this task will be to compile existing data on soil carbon stocks in Irish forest soils into a geo-database combining spatial, SOC data and soil
textural characteristics. Meta-analysis will then be conducted using preliminary hierarchal analysis of variance to determine if there is a difference between
SOC of soil types, land use categories with in soil type, land use categories and climatic zones within soil types. This will be used to decide
- how to stratify data for model improvement and
- what soil types, land uses and climate zones require further sampling.
Following this a maximum of 60 sites will be selected for soil sampling to determine soil carbon stocks. Where possible, sites will be selected from National Forest
Inventory permanent sample plots because of availability of ancillary data from these plots, which could be used for modelling (see Task 1.3.2).
- Task 1.3.2 Data analysis and modelling
Data modelling will consider both empirical approaches, such as hierarchical analysis of variance and process based models such as YASSO. The new geo-referenced
SOC data will be combined with existing data in collaboration with WP4. The new data will be incorporated in to the national framework (Figure 1) by assigning the
SOC values to each cell raster (see Scott et al., 2002).
The YASSO model is a simple process-based model for mineral soils carbon stock change in forests and is a function of litter, deadwood and fine root inputs and
outputs due to decomposition. Decomposition is dependent of temperature and other climatic factors, identified in the climate raster layer (Figure 1). Existing
decomposition coefficients for litter and deadwood from the CARBiFOR II database (Olajuyigbe, et al 2011, 2012). The calibration of YASSO will involve the use
all existing NFI PSP data, where litter and deadwood inputs will be provided from the CARBWARE model in collaboration with WP 4 (Black et al., 2012,
Duffy et al., 2011, Tobin et al., 2007).
The first aim of this task will be to compile existing data on soil carbon stocks in Irish forest soils into a geo-database combining spatial, SOC data and soil textural characteristics. Meta-analysis will then be conducted using preliminary hierarchal analysis of variance to determine if there is a difference between SOC of soil types, land use categories with in soil type, land use categories and climatic zones within soil types. This will be used to decide
- how to stratify data for model improvement and
- what soil types, land uses and climate zones require further sampling.
Following this a maximum of 60 sites will be selected for soil sampling to determine soil carbon stocks. Where possible, sites will be selected from National Forest Inventory permanent sample plots because of availability of ancillary data from these plots, which could be used for modelling (see Task 1.3.2).
The YASSO model is a simple process-based model for mineral soils carbon stock change in forests and is a function of litter, deadwood and fine root inputs and outputs due to decomposition. Decomposition is dependent of temperature and other climatic factors, identified in the climate raster layer (Figure 1). Existing decomposition coefficients for litter and deadwood from the CARBiFOR II database (Olajuyigbe, et al 2011, 2012). The calibration of YASSO will involve the use all existing NFI PSP data, where litter and deadwood inputs will be provided from the CARBWARE model in collaboration with WP 4 (Black et al., 2012, Duffy et al., 2011, Tobin et al., 2007).
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