Carbon fluxes from an urban tropical grassland. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ng, B.J.L.; Hutyra, L.R.; Nguyen, H.; Cobb, A.R.; Kai, F.M.; Harvey, C.; Gandois, L.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 203(2015)
• Page Start: 227
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Soil -- CO2 flux -- Lawn -- Respiration -- Urban -- Turf; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Turfgrass covers a large fraction of the urbanized landscape, but the carbon exchange of urban lawns is poorly understood. We used eddy covariance and flux chambers in a grassland field manipulative experiment to quantify the carbon mass balance in a Singapore tropical turfgrass. We also assessed how management and variations in environmental factors influenced CO2 respiration. Standing aboveground turfgrass biomass was 80 gC m −2, with a mean ecosystem respiration of 7.9 ± 1.1 μmol m −2 s −1 . The contribution of autotrophic respiration was 49–76% of total ecosystem respiration. Both chamber and eddy covariance measurements suggest the system was in approximate carbon balance. While we did not observe a significant relationship between the respiration rates and soil temperature or moisture, daytime fluxes increased during the rainy interval, indicating strong overall moisture sensitivity. Turfgrass biomass is small, but given its abundance across the urban landscape, it significantly influences diurnal CO2 concentrations. Highlights: We measured urban turfgrass CO2 respiration rates and soil characteristics. Mean observed ecosystem respiration was 7.9 ± 1.1 μmol m −2 s −1 . Soil temperature and moisture were largely insignificant drivers of observed flux. Abstract : We found a Singapore urban turfgrass to be approximately carbon neutral, with a mean ecosystem respiration of 7.9 ± 1.1 μmol m −2 s −1 .