Title:
The Eddy Covariance Technique for Carbon Balance and Water Exchange Assessment in Energy Crops
Author(s):
Di Virgilio, N., Facini, O., Georgiadis, T., Nardino, M., Monti, A., Rossi, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The capability of an energy crop agro-system to act as sink or as a source of carbon is important in the frame of a sustainable production of energy. Many factors affect the sink-source capability of an ecosystems, that depends on assimilation and respiration. Eddy covariance is a direct method to measuring CO2 and H2O fluxes above a vegetative surface. This technique ascertains the exchange rate of CO2 across the interface between the atmosphere and a plant canopy. Eddy covariance approach has been largely used in the last decade to determine the Net Ecosystem Exchange in particular for woody trees ecosystems. Few studies have been carried out on cultivated biomass crops and perennial grasses and in particular under Mediterranean conditions, where the influence of high temperatures and dry periods may increase respiration then CO2 emission. The integration of the eddy-covariance CO2 fluxes measurements with the quantification of the total inputs introduced in a productive cycle will also give the possibility to assess the emissions of an entire crop production chain respect to his net ecosystem productivity, providing an indicator of which energy production chain will ensure the maximum CO2 absorption and the minimum impact of the carbon cycle.
Keywords:
CO2 balance, energy crops, greenhouse gases (GHG), measurement, eddy covariance
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops (session 5)
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP1.3.30
Pages:
639 - 641
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP1.3.30
Price:
FREE
