Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Fagus sylvatica trees and adjacent soil
Recipient: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: Methane, CH4, nitrous oxide, N2O, stem emission, soil emission, beech, Fagus sylvatica, transpiration stream, profile measurements, seasonal changes, massive root, fine roots, gas production, gas consumption, gas diffusion coefficient
Annotation of project:
Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) can be emitted from surfaces of plants, especially aerenchymatic plants. However, studies on upland trees lacking an aerenchyma are rare. Therefore, the objective of this interdisciplinary project connecting plant physiology and soil sciences will be to determine whether and to which extent mature beech trees emit N2O and CH4 under field conditions. The study will be performed in two beech forests in the Czech Republic and Germany. Four measurement campaigns spread over the whole year will enable to study the effects of various climate conditions on the tree and adjacent soil emissions and their seasonal changes. The emissions will be studied using static chamber systems, and chromatographic and continuous laser analyses. Monitoring simultaneously soil N2O and CH4 profiles will allow to assess the within-soil gas flux, and thus to localize the production and consumption site of N2O and CH4 in the soil. Aligning the profile measurements of soil gases along a major root will allow to study possible CH4 and N2O emission from massive vs fine roots.