Effects of Plant Species on CH₄ and N₂O Fluxes from a Volcanic Grassland Soil in Nasu, Japan

Abstract

To investigate the effects of plant species in grassland on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes from soil, fluxes from an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) grassland, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) grassland and orchardgrass/white clover mixed grassland were measured weekly from April 2001 to March 2002 using a vented closed chamber method. Related environmental parameters (soil inorganic N content, soil pH (H₂O) value, soil moisture content, soil temperature, grass yield, and the number of soil microorganisms) were also regularly monitored. On an annual basis, CH₄ consumption in the soil of the orchardgrass grassland, white clover grassland and orchardgrass/white clover mixed grassland was 1.8, 2.4, and 1.8 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. The soil bulk density of the white clover grassland was lower than that of the other grasslands. Fluxes of CH₄ were positively correlated with the soil moisture content. White clover increased the CH₄ consumption by improving soil aeration. Nitrogen supply to the soil by white clover did not decrease the CH₄ consumption in the soil of our grasslands. On the other hand, annual N₂O emissions from the orchardgrass grassland, white clover grassland, and orchardgrass/white clover mixed grassland were 0.39, 1.59, and 0.67 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Fluxes of N₂O were correlated with the NO₃ ⁻ content in soil and soil temperature. White clover increased the N₂O emissions by increasing the inorganic N content derived from degrading white clover in soil in summer.

Key words:

• grassland
• methane
• nitrous oxide
• orchardgrass
• white clover