Anita Gál

Soil gas emission measurements in long term tillage experiments

Major changes are occurring in the gas composition of our atmosphere. The secular increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is most widely known (Baldocchi, 2002). Soil carbon dioxide efflux is one of the largest fluxes within the global carbon (C) cycle; it is of the same magnitude as global gross primary production. Through decomposition and accumulation of organic matter, soils have a major effect on the composition of the atmosphere (Eswaran et al., 1993, Kimble et al., 1990). Accurate measurement of soil CO2 efflux is therefore essential when making C budgets (Widen et al., 2003). Agricultural carbon sequestration may be one of the most cost effective ways to slow down processes of global warming. Agricultural activities contribute to carbon dioxide emissions to the athmosphere through soil organic matter decomposition and biomass burning. Intensive tillage causes soil degradation through C loss, but improved conservation agricultural practices (such as no till), have great potential to increase soil carbon sequestration and decrease net emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (Reicosky, 2004). The objective of this research was to compare the long-term effects of three tillage systems (no till /nt/, chisel plow /ch/ and moldboard plow /pi/) (Alvarez et al., 1994) on soil carbon dioxide emission, in continuous com.