Greenhouse Gas Flux Response in Biochar‐ and Compost‐Amended Lawn Soils Under Simulated Water Saturation Conditions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Understanding greenhouse gas emission dynamics in lawn soils is important for improving climate change mitigation strategies in urban and suburban landscapes. In this greenhouse mesocosm study, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes were measured from 12 turfgrass soil columns arranged in an unreplicated, completely randomized 4 × 3 factorial design. Four amendment treatments (biochar, compost, bio‐com [1:1 volume ratio of biochar and compost], and unamended control) were combined with three water‐table conditions (full saturation, half saturation, and unsaturated), with a single column representing each treatment combination. Columns were irrigated at 1 cm day −1 for 24 days, followed by 14 days of contrasting water‐table conditions and a 25‐day drying period without irrigation. When averaged across all water‐table conditions, compost‐amended columns (compost or bio‐com) produced higher CO 2 fluxes (∼6 µmol m −2 s −1 ) than biochar‐amended and control columns (4.5–5.0 µmol m −2 s −1 ). CO 2 fluxes were positively correlated with air temperature and negatively correlated with soil moisture. Biochar‐amended columns maintained high soil moisture (∼95%) throughout the study, demonstrating its greater moisture retention than compost‐amended columns (<23%). During saturation and subsequent drainage, CH 4 fluxes peaked at 324 nmol m −2 s −1 , whereas N 2 O fluxes exhibited a transient pulse, reaching 5–8 nmol m −2 s −1 . Overall, amendment type and temperature primarily regulated CO 2 emissions, whereas water‐table conditions had a stronger influence on CH 4 emissions and the occurrence of N 2 O emission pulses.
Source: CLEAN - Soil Air Water
DOI: 10.1002/clen.70254
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,220
OpenAlex ID: W7171867159