Are there memory effects on greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, N2O and CH4) following grassland restoration?

Merbold, Lutz; Decock, Charlotte; Eugster, Werner; Fuchs, Kathrin; Wolf, Benjamin; Buchmann, Nina; Hörtnagl, Lukas

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1481-2021

Articles | Volume 18, issue 4

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1481-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1481-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 18, issue 4

Research article

|

02 Mar 2021

Research article |

| 02 Mar 2021

Are there memory effects on greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, N₂O and CH₄) following grassland restoration?

Lutz Merbold, Charlotte Decock, Werner Eugster, Kathrin Fuchs, Benjamin Wolf, Nina Buchmann, and Lukas Hörtnagl

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Final revised paper (published on 02 Mar 2021)
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Preprint (discussion started on 09 Jun 2020)
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Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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RC1: 'Referee Comments', Anonymous Referee #2, 22 Jun 2020
- AC1: 'Response to Reviewer #2', Lutz Merbold, 19 Aug 2020
RC2: 'Review comments', Anonymous Referee #1, 24 Jun 2020
- AC2: 'Response to Reviewer #1', Lutz Merbold, 19 Aug 2020

Peer-review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision

ED: Reconsider after major revisions (20 Aug 2020) by Sara Vicca

AR by Lutz Merbold on behalf of the Authors (29 Nov 2020) Manuscript

ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (30 Nov 2020) by Sara Vicca

RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (21 Dec 2020)

RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (08 Jan 2021)

Suggestions for revision or reasons for rejection

Having initially reviewed an earlier version of this manuscript, I am pleased to see most of my concerns have been addressed and alleviated (aside from a couple of outstanding points described below). Within this review, I was also asked to comment on the methodological concerns highlighted by the second reviewer, which have not been modified in the current revision of the manuscript. I am of the belief that the manuscript as it currently stands is sufficiently sound methodologically and suitable for publication after addressing a few minor points. Below I have firstly commented on the methodology concerns of the second reviewer, then concluded with a few minor points requiring the authors to address.

Comment on Methodology
The primary concerns of the second reviewer were the use of a running median as a gap-filling method for N2O, and the lack of uncertainties presented. In general, I am in agreement with the author’s response on most matters. Given the main purpose of this study was to calculate and present annual GHG exchange from a managed pasture a complete time series of N2O data was a required. As the authors describe, N2O gap-filling is rapidly advancing field with many approaches, but as yet there is no generally accepted and standardised method. A running median approach (particularly for the EC measurements) is as valid as any other method, and certainly appropriate within the scope of this study. Having said that, I find gap-filling of the chamber N2O fluxes with their limited data coverage, (particularly as a single measured is considered representative of a day) rather tenuous, especially given the log-normal distribution of fluxes as noted by the second reviewer. Nonetheless, it is a suitable option to provide an annual estimate of N2O emissions, but this limitation should be commented on within the manuscript where these results are presented.

The lack of uncertainties presented in this study is in line with other recent GHG studies. Certainly, an uncertainty estimate could be applied to the CO2 fluxes where there are well-established methods, and maybe methane, but there are very few papers where uncertainty associated with annual N2O estimates is calculated . Accordingly, given the purpose of this study (annual GHG balances), inclusion of uncertainty to some components and not others prevents an uncertainty estimate for the GHG balance and thus are of marginal benefit. Therefore, I see the results as presented acceptable and in line with current practice.

Minor Comments and Corrections
• Lines 302-304: I think it would be appropriate to add the % of flux values rejected due to r2 < 0.8 (this would also be in line with the second reviewers comment #3).
• Lines 468-470 (and Table 2): for 2010 and 2011 where an annual methane flux is not available, and the annual N2O flux is calculated from very limited data, I question the validity of presenting annual GWP values here for these years. Suggest revising this sentence, and at worst including the disclaimer than 2010 and 2011 are incomplete budgets. (Also, note that the value in line 469 of -387 is now -385 in Table 2).
• Line 565: My initial review highlighted the need to acknowledge the role of enteric methane, which the authors have now done, but I believe there to be a calculation error here. I believe their calculation should be as follows:
1. 404 g CH4 head-1 day-1 * 4.04 head ha-1 * 30 days / 1000 g kg-1 = 48.96 kg CH4 ha-1
2. 48.96 kg CH4 ha-1 * 12/16 = 36.72 kg CH4-C ha-1
3. 36.72 kg CH4-C ha-1 = 3.67 g CH4-C m-2
This is a value is an order of magnitude larger than the 0.407 g CH4-C m-2 stated in the manuscript. This should be corrected, but does not affect the manuscript in any significant manner.
As an aside, the authors could not follow my initial calculations as presented in my first review, and my apologies, I also made a mistake, and they should have been as follows:
1. 1769.9 kg C ha-1 * 3% = 53.1 kg CH4-C ha-1 (proportion of grazed pasture returned as CH4 assuming 3% is returned as methane)
2. 53.1 kg CH4-C ha-1 = 5.31 g CH4-C m-2
This value would be broadly similar to the above calculations by the authors, and thus I find their calculation suitable.
• Line 597: The start to this paragraph feels like it should be included in the previous paragraph. Revise and correct if needed.
• Table 4: please check the Parcel A and Parcel B labelling for Fertilizer and Harvest lines – these still appear incorrectly labelled.

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ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (08 Jan 2021) by Sara Vicca

AR by Lutz Merbold on behalf of the Authors (21 Jan 2021) Author's response Author's tracked changes Manuscript

ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (22 Jan 2021) by Sara Vicca

AR by Lutz Merbold on behalf of the Authors (22 Jan 2021) Author's response Manuscript

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Short summary

Our study investigated the exchange of the three major greenhouse gases (GHGs) over a temperate grassland prior to and after restoration through tillage in central Switzerland. Our results show that irregular management events, such as tillage, have considerable effects on GHG emissions in the year of tillage while leading to enhanced carbon uptake and similar nitrogen losses via nitrous oxide in the years following tillage to those observed prior to tillage.