Efficient irrigation management can contribute to reduce soil CO2 emissions in agriculture

Irrigation water restrictions in the Mediterranean area have created a growing interest in water conservation. Apart from environmental and economic benefits by water savings, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) may contribute to reduce soil CO2 emissions and enhance C sequestration in soils, by decr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geoderma 2016-02, Vol.263, p.70-77
Main Authors: Zornoza, Raúl, Rosales, R.M., Acosta, José A., de la Rosa, José María, Arcenegui, Victoria, Faz, Ángel, Pérez-Pastor, Alejandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregate stability
carbon dioxide
carbon sequestration
CO2 emissions
deficit irrigation
enzyme activity
financial economics
greenhouse gas emissions
Inorganic carbon
Irrigation
irrigation rates
irrigation water
Mediterranean region
microbial activity
microbial biomass
moieties
orchards
Organic carbon
soil organic carbon
soil sampling
soil separates
soil water
summer
water conservation
water content
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Summary:Irrigation water restrictions in the Mediterranean area have created a growing interest in water conservation. Apart from environmental and economic benefits by water savings, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) may contribute to reduce soil CO2 emissions and enhance C sequestration in soils, by decreasing microbial activity in response to decreased soil moisture levels. An experiment was established in an orchard for one year to investigate the effects of three irrigation strategies on soil CO2 emissions, soil C pool dynamics and aggregate content and stability. Three irrigation treatments were assayed: full irrigation (FI), RDI1, irrigated as FI except for the postharvest period where 50% of FI was applied; and severe RDI (RDI2), irrigated as RDI1, except for two periods in which irrigation was suppressed. Soil CO2 emissions were monitored every 15d. Soil sampling was carried out every three months. Soil fractionation was also carried out (
ISSN:0016-7061
1872-6259
DOI:10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.09.003