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Project Code [2003-FS-CD-LS-17]
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Project title
CELTICFLUX - Measurement and Modelling of GHG's from Grasslands and Peatland
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
University College Cork (UCC)
Lead Applicant
Gerard Kiely
Project Abstract
Grassland is the dominant land use in Ireland. There is a need to understand the carbon(C) sequestration status of these ecosystems in order to support national commitmentsunder the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and itis KyotoProtocol. This study investigated the farm scale C balance at the Celticflux study site inCo. Cork Ireland. Carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes were compared in new and permanentgrassland using a chamber based experiment. Cumulative values of gross primaryproduction (GPP) total respiration (RTOT) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in the newgrassland were 2.14 -1.98 and 0.15 kg C m-2 yr-1 respectively. In the permanentgrassland cumulative values of GPP RTOT and NEE were 2.90 -2.52 and 0.38 kg C m-2yr-1 respectively. RTOT was partitioned into heterotrophic (RH) and autotrophic respiration(RA). During the period from late May until mid-August RH and RA both accounted for onaverage 50% of RTOT. During the rest of the year RH and RA represented on average62 and 38% of RTOT respectively. The farm scale C balance was quantified by combiningresults of on-site eddy covariance studies with farm management data and emissionfactors derived from published literature. This assessment found that grassland is a sinkfor ~2 t C ha-1 yr-1. There is a need for further research to partition this sink between theamounts sequestered in the soil and the vegetation. There is also a need to quantify themajor components of the farm C balance and to upscale site level studies to regionaland national level.
Grant Approved
�126,879.84
Research Hub
Climate Change
Research Theme
Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Sinks, and Management Systems
Initial Projected Completion Date
15/12/2005