Agriculture climate solutions

Salix cultivation for N2O mitigation, C storage and stream protection

Wilts, Holly
Burton, Daivd
Farooque, Aitazaz
Schroeder, William
Murphy, Emily

2021 UPEI Graduate Studies and Research Conference

Abstract

2021

Agriculture is responsible for 25% of GHG emissions on PEI and there is a need to improve the environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. Cultivating agricultural-riparian shrubwillow (Salix viminalis) buffers has been proposed as a strategy for mitigating elevated riparian nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in agricultural regions, sequestering carbon, and enhancing the protection of streams. We investigated the biomass potential and impact on soil GHG emissions of agricultural-riparian Show moreAgriculture is responsible for 25% of GHG emissions on PEI and there is a need to improve the environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. Cultivating agricultural-riparian shrubwillow (Salix viminalis) buffers has been proposed as a strategy for mitigating elevated riparian nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in agricultural regions, sequestering carbon, and enhancing the protection of streams. We investigated the biomass potential and impact on soil GHG emissions of agricultural-riparian willow on PEI. Root/stem carbon and nutrient assimilation was measured. N2O, CO2 and CH4 flux at the soil-atmosphere interface was quantified using non-steady-state static chambers. NO3- exposure and other environmental parameters were evaluated. Future work includes a costbenefit analysis, survey of PEI riparian potato-growers, and a watershed level scale-up of the project to assess environmental goods and services rendered. First-rotation Salix displayed considerable site-to-site variation in biomass production with annual yields of 0.25 to 16.59 ODT ha-1yr-1 (mean 3.9) representing 9.1 T CO2 ha-1 yr-1 (3.6 T long-term sequestration). Willow significantly mitigated soil N2O emissions with mean cumulative seasonal N2O reductions of 1.32 kg N ha-1 in willow relative to cultivated fields. The mean cumulative average global warming potential of willow was 613 kg CO2e ha-1season1 lower than cultivated fields (90% reduction). Show less