Field Observation of the Tropical Peat Soil Respiration Rate Under Various Ground Water Levels

Authors:
Toshihide Nagano, Kazutoshi Osawa, Tomoyasu Ishida, Pisoot Vijarnsorn, Apichart Jongskul, Saiyud Phetsuk, Katsumi Kojima, Mariko Norisada, Takashi Yamanoshita

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
co2-emission, ground-water-level, soil-respiration, subsidence-of-ground, tropical-peat-soil

Documentfile:
Nagano et al 2012: Field Observation of the Tropical Peat Soil Respiration Rate Under Various Ground Water Levels

Summary:

Theme IX. Tropical peatlands

SUMMARY

The peat soil respiration rate was measured under various ground water levels in southern Thailand. The respiration rate varied from 0.8 to 7.1 μmol CO₂m^-2 s^-1 while the ground water level varied from 0.9 to -1.2m. The subsidence rates have been measured since 1983. These data show that the CO₂ emission rate due to peat soil respiration was from 13.7 to 18.9 Mg ha^-1 y^-1 in developed fields. In a conservation field, the rate was 7.5 Mg ha^-1 y^-1. We formulated an equation that treats the ground water level as a variable for estimating CO₂ emission rate. Simulated CO₂ emission rate and peat subsidence correspond to the observed ones with considerable accuracy.