Sang-Uk Suh

A chamber system with automatic opening and closing for continuously measuring soil respiration based on an open-flow dynamic method

We developed an automatic opening and closing chamber system (AOCC) based on an open-flow dynamic method (open-flow AOCC). The AOCC can be used during all four seasons, even at the surface of relatively deep snow. We compared the open-flow AOCC with two closed dynamic methods [the AOCC configured as a closed dynamic system (closed dynamic AOCC) and the LI-6400 system] under field conditions. The closed dynamic-AOCC and LI-6400 measurements were about 15.4% and 5.2% lower, respectively, than the values obtained with the open-flow AOCC. There was a significant difference in soil respiration rate between the open-flow AOCC and the closed dynamic AOCC system. In contrast, no significant difference in soil respiration rate was detected between the open-flow AOCC and the LI-6400 system. In the field, the open-flow AOCC permitted continuous long-term measurements under a range of temperature conditions and did a good job of reflecting the marked daily and seasonal variations in soil respiration as a function of soil temperature.

Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) by Water Management methods in Rice Paddy Field

Environmental effect of water-saving irrigation on the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of water-saving irrigation on GHGs as well as water use and rice production yield in paddy field condition in Korea. Four experimental runoff plots of 4x35 m in size were prepared at an existing paddy field. GHGs emission was measured during the 2012∼2013 growing seasons while a Japonica rice variety was cultivated. Four different water management methods, 1) Continuous Flooding (CF), 2) Intermittent Drainage (ID), 3) Water Saving (WS), and 4) CF+WS, were used during a rice growing season to compare the effects of water management methods on GHGs emission. CF method is flooding all the time, ID method makes paddy water drained 40 days after transplanting for about two weeks, WS method maintains 2~3 ㎝ water-level, which should be refilled when the water-level decreased to about 0 ㎝, and CF+WS method combines CF method before 30 days after transplanting (DAT) and WS method after 30 DAT. Regardless of water management methods, paddy field water was drained about 30 days before harvest. Amount of GHGs emission from WS plot was reduced by 69.3% compared to that from CF plot and by 59.0% compared to that from ID plot. Amount of GHGs emission from CF+WS plot was reduced by 60.7% compared to that from CF plot and by 47.5% compared to that from ID plot. Weed occurrence in CF+WS plots was reduced to 62.2% in comparison with the WS plot, implying that CF+WS plot showed the best effect to mitigation of the greenhouse gas emission in the atmosphere.

Evaluation of sensitivity of soil respiration to temperature in different forest types and developmental stages of maturity using the incubation method

To calculate and predict soil carbon budget and cycle, it is important to understand the complex interrelationships involved in soil respiration rate (Rs). We attempted to reveal relationships between Rs and key environmental factors, such as soil temperature, using a laboratory incubation method. Soil samples were collected from mature deciduous (MD), mature coniferous (MC), immature deciduous (ID), and immature coniferous (IC) forests. Prior to measure, soils were pre-incubated for 3 days at 25°C and 60% of maximum water holding capacity (WHC). Samples of gasses were collected with 0, 2, and 4 h interval after the beginning of the measurement at soil temperatures of 5, 15, 25, and 35°C (at 60% WHC). Air samples were collected using a syringe attached to the cap of closed bottles that contained the soil samples. The CO 2 concentration of each gas sample was measured by gas chromatography. Rs was strongly correlated with soil temperature (r, 0.93 to 0.96; P < 0.001). For MD, MC, ID, and IC soils taken from 0-5 cm below the surface, exponential functions explained 90%, 82%, 92%, and 86% of the respective data plots. The temperature and Rs data for soil taken from 5-10 cm beneath the surface at MD, MC, ID, and IC sites also closely fit exponential functions, with 83 %, 95%, 87%, and 89% of the data points, respectively, fitting an exponential curve. The soil organic content in mature forests was significantly higher than in soils from immature forests (P < 0.001 at 0-5 cm and P < 0.005 at 5-10 cm) and surface layer (P = 0.04 at 0-5 cm and P = 0.12). High soil organic matter content is clearly associated with high Rs, especially in the surface layer. We determined that the incubation method used in this study have the possibility for comprehending complex characteristic of Rs.