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Biogeosciences Discuss., 5, 1237-1261, 2008
www.biogeosciences-discuss.net/5/1237/2008/
© Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed
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Spatial and temporal variation of methane emissions in drained eutrophic peat agro-ecosystems: drainage ditches as emission hotspots

A. P. Schrier-Uijl1, E. M. Veenendaal1, P. A. Leffelaar2, J. C. van Huissteden3, and F. Berendse1
1Department of Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalse steeg 3a, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands
2Department of Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
3Department of Hydrology and Geo-Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract. Our research investigates the spatial and temporal variability of methane (CH4) emissions in two drained eutrophic peat areas (one intensively managed and the other less intensively managed) and the correlation between CH4 emissions and soil temperature, air temperature, soil moisture content and water table. We stratified the landscape into landscape elements that represent different conditions in terms of topography and therefore differ in moisture conditions. There was great spatial variability in the fluxes in both areas; the ditches and ditch edges (together 27% of the landscape) were methane hotspots whereas the dry fields had the smallest fluxes. In the intensively managed site the fluxes were significantly higher by comparison with the less intensively managed site. In all the landscape element elements the best explanatory variable for CH4 emission was temperature. Neither soil moisture content nor water table correlated significantly with CH4 emissions, except in April, where soil moisture was the best explanatory variable.

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Citation: Schrier-Uijl, A. P., Veenendaal, E. M., Leffelaar, P. A., van Huissteden, J. C., and Berendse, F.: Spatial and temporal variation of methane emissions in drained eutrophic peat agro-ecosystems: drainage ditches as emission hotspots, Biogeosciences Discuss., 5, 1237-1261, 2008.   Bibtex   EndNote   Reference Manager

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