Comparative assessment of methods for determining CO2 emissions from soil
Abstract
Soil is a vital component of the carbon cycle, and even small changes in its carbon stocks, driven by factors such as land-use changes or global warming, can significantly affect atmospheric CO2 concentration and the overall balance of greenhouse gases.
The aim of this study is to compare three methods for assessing CO2 emissions from soil: the closed-chamber method using an infrared (IR) analyzer, a portable gas chromatograph, and a method involving soil sample collection and incubation under laboratory conditions, allowing for the assessment of net emissions in various ecosystems. The study analyzes the accuracy and reproducibility of measurement results, as well as the practical application features of the devices. The comparison of methods was carried out under greenhouse conditions with controlled climate factors (temperature, soil moisture, lighting) on chernozem soil. The preparation processes for the analysis, the measurement duration, required additional equipment, and statistical indicators such as variance (σ2), standard deviation (σ), and the coefficient of variation (CV) were identified.
Based on the obtained data, the highest average soil respiration activity (0.1653 g C/m2·h) was recorded for the laboratory gas chromatograph (GC), which may be due to additional aeration and disturbance of soil structure during sample collection. In the case of the portable GC, the average values were the lowest (0.0077 g C/m2·h), with higher precision but lower reproducibility in some measurement points. The IR analyzer showed average values comparable to the laboratory GC (0.0224 g C/m2·h) but had lower precision and higher CV values, indicating less consistent results. The most statistically significant differences were found between the laboratory and portable GCs, while differences between the portable GC and the IR analyzer were insignificant (p>0.05). This finding confirms that methods using closed chambers yield comparable results and allow for more detailed factual information.
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References
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