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Grazing-induced reduction of natural nitrous oxide release from continental steppe

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Wolf

    (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)

  • Xunhua Zheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Nicolas Brüggemann

    (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)

  • Weiwei Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Michael Dannenmann

    (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)

  • Xingguo Han

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Mark A. Sutton

    (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik EH26 0QB, UK)

  • Honghui Wu

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhisheng Yao

    (State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Klaus Butterbach-Bahl

    (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)

Abstract

Grazing cuts N2O emission Levels of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide have increased since pre-industrial times, mainly because of agricultural activities. Among these changes it has been reported that livestock grazing substantially increases nitrous oxide emissions from temperate grasslands. New data obtained from year-round monitoring at ten steppe grassland sites in Inner Mongolia, China, challenge this view by highlighting a previously overlooked interaction. The measurements made using the automatic chamber system show that nitrous oxide release is dominated by pulses during springtime thawing, is highest in ungrazed steppe and decreases with increasing stocking rate. So surprisingly, grazing decreases rather than increases nitrous oxide emissions by changing the soil water balance and microbial activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Wolf & Xunhua Zheng & Nicolas Brüggemann & Weiwei Chen & Michael Dannenmann & Xingguo Han & Mark A. Sutton & Honghui Wu & Zhisheng Yao & Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, 2010. "Grazing-induced reduction of natural nitrous oxide release from continental steppe," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7290), pages 881-884, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:464:y:2010:i:7290:d:10.1038_nature08931
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08931
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    Cited by:

    1. Jingyi Dong & Liming Tian & Jiaqi Zhang & Yinghui Liu & Haiyan Li & Qi Dong, 2022. "Grazing Intensity Has More Effect on the Potential Nitrification Activity Than the Potential Denitrification Activity in An Alpine Meadow," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Shrestha, Shailesh & Hennessy, Thia & Abdalla, Mohamed & Forristal, Dermot & Jones, Michael B., 2014. "Determining Short Term Responses of Irish Dairy Farms under Climate Change," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 63(03), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Huidan He & Jingbin Zhu & Yangong Du & Jiapeng Qu & Chen Kelong & Huakun Zhou, 2022. "Effects of Heavy Degradation on Alpine Meadows: Soil N 2 O Emission Rates and Meta-Analysis in the Tibetan Plateau," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-8, August.
    4. Shrestha, Shailesh & Hennessy, Thia & Abdalla, Mohamed & Forristal, Dermot & Jones, Michael B., 2014. "Determining Short Term Responses of Irish Dairy Farms under Climate Change," Journal of International Agricultural Trade and Development, Journal of International Agricultural Trade and Development, vol. 63(3).
    5. Xiang LIU & Zhiming QI & Quan WANG & Zhiwen MA & Lanhai LI, 2017. "Effects of biochar addition on CO2 and CH4 emissions from a cultivated sandy loam soil during freeze-thaw cycles," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 63(6), pages 243-249.
    6. Guangshuai Wang & Yueping Liang & Fei Ren & Xiaoxia Yang & Zhaorong Mi & Yang Gao & Timothy S. George & Zhenhua Zhang, 2018. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Tibetan Alpine Grassland: Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, November.

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