Carbon sequestration in urban landscapes: the example of a turfgrass system in New Zealand
Keun Young Huh A , Markus Deurer B E , Siva Sivakumaran B , Keith McAuliffe C and Nanthi S. Bolan DA Department of Landscape Architecture, Jinju National University, 150 Chilamdong Jinju, Republic of Korea.
B Sustainable Land Use, HortResearch, Private Bag 11 030, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
C New Zealand Sports Turf Institute, PO Box 347, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
D Environmental Science, University of South Australia, SA 5095, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: mdeurer@hortresearch.co.nz
Australian Journal of Soil Research 46(7) 610-616 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07212
Submitted: 27 November 2007 Accepted: 2 July 2008 Published: 8 October 2008
Abstract
Soil carbon sequestration was analysed in the topsoil (0–0.25 m) of putting greens of different ages (5, 9, 20, 30, 40 years) in a golf course in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The soil texture was the same for all putting greens and the intensive management guaranteed that the carbon (C) inputs to the soil were very similar for all ages.
Significant and linear soil C sequestration rates occurred for 40 years. The soil C sequestration rate in 0–0.25 m depth was 69 ± 8 g/m2.year over a 40-year period totalling 28 t/ha over 40 years. The relative microbial activity (dehydrogenase activity/total soil C content) representing the bioavailability of soil C decreased by about 50% over 40 years.
The C sequestration and decrease of bioavailability of soil C was much more pronounced in 0.1–0.25 m depth than in the top 0.1 m. In the top 0.1 m, very little C sequestration occurred, most probably due to the intensive soil management in this depth. We concluded that the C sequestration was mainly caused by the increasing humification of C in the undisturbed part of the soil (0.1–0.25 m depth) as was indicated by a significant decrease in the relative microbial activity. Turfgrass systems such as putting greens are well suited to sequester C in urban areas.
Additional keywords: global worming, CO2 emission, relative microbial activity, dehydrogenase activity.
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by New Zealand Sports Turf Institute and Jinju National University. The authors wish to thank those who contributed to the project planning and collection of data, in particular Brendan Hannan (NZSTI) and David Smith (Manawatu Golf Club). We also wish to thank Professor Mike Hedley at Institute of Natural Resources of Massey University, Dr Surinder Saggar at Landcare Research, and Dr Brent Clothier at HortResearch for supporting this work.
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