Summary
This two-year field study quantifies the effect of mineral soil coverage on nitrous oxide emissions from an intensively managed grassland on drained nutrient-rich peatland in Switzerland. The mineral soil cover (approximately 40 cm) reduced annual N₂O emissions by over 88% compared to the uncovered reference site (2.3 versus 20.5 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), with reductions observed in both fertilisation-induced peaks and background emissions. The findings suggest mineral soil coverage is an effective management practice for mitigating N₂O emissions from drained agricultural peatlands whilst maintaining productivity.
UK applicability
These findings may be relevant to UK peatland management, particularly in regions with drained agricultural peatlands such as the Midlands and East Anglia. However, the applicability may be limited by differences in soil conditions, climate, and management intensity compared to Swiss conditions; additional validation in UK temperate peatland systems would strengthen evidence for local policy implementation.
Key measures
Annual N₂O emissions (kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ N₂O-N); background and fertilisation-induced N₂O peak emissions; temporal patterns of N₂O release following management events
Outcomes reported
The study measured nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from an intensively managed grassland on drained peatland, comparing an uncovered reference site with a site covered by approximately 40 cm of mineral soil over two years. N₂O emissions were continuously monitored using an automatic time-integrating chamber system.
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