Abstract
At two field sites representing northeastern German minerotrophic fens (Rhin-Havelluch, a shallow peat site; Gumnitz, a partially drained peat site) the influence of different factors (N fertilization, groundwater table, temperature) on N2O and CH4 emissions was investigated. The degraded fens were sources or sinks of the radiatively active trace gases investigated. The gas fluxes measured were much higher than those found in other terrestrical ecosystems such as forests. Lowering the groundwater table increased the release of N2O and the oxidation of CH4. High CH4 emission rates occurred when the groundwater tables and soil temperatures were high (>12 °C). N fertilization stimulated the release of N2O only when application rates were very high (480 kg N ha–1). A moderate N supply (60 or 120 kg N ha–1) hardly increased the release of N2O in spite of high soluble soil NO3 – contents.
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Received: 31 October 1997
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Augustin, J., Merbach, W. & Rogasik, J. Factors influencing nitrous oxide and methane emissions from minerotrophic fens in northeast Germany. Biol Fertil Soils 28, 1–4 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050455
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050455