Diverse temperate riparian buffer types promote system-level carbon sequestration in southern Ontario, Canada

Riparian buffer systems (RBSs) can sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide into terrestrial carbon (C) pools. C stocks and C sequestration potential of diverse RBSs are not adequately reported. This study, therefore, quantified: (a) C stocks in various RBSs and (b) system-level C sequestration potentials (SLCSP) [SLCSP= ΔSOC + Biomass C Pools] in southern Ontario, Canada. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in system-level C stocks between tree buffers (765.8 Mg C ha-1) and grass buffers (291.7 Mg C ha-1) and between natural forest buffers (935.9 Mg C ha-1) and rehabilitated buffers (595.6 Mg C ha-1), but no difference (p > 0.05) between coniferous buffers (722.4 Mg C ha-1) and deciduous buffers (809.1 Mg C ha-1) were recorded. Tree buffers had higher SLCSP (633.5 Mg C ha-1) than grass buffers (126.7 Mg C ha-1). Natural forest buffers had higher SLCSP (806.7 Mg C ha1) than rehabilitated buffers (460.3 Mg C ha-1). There was no difference (p > 0.05) in SLCSP between coniferous buffers (615.0 Mg C ha-1) and deciduous buffers (652.1 Mg C ha-1). Results from this study confirm that the establishment of RBSs within agricultural watersheds can significantly contribute to create new terrestrial C sinks.

[1]  A. Gordon,et al.  Soil organic carbon enhancement in diverse temperate riparian buffer systems in comparison with adjacent agricultural soils , 2021, Agroforestry Systems.

[2]  A. Lazdiņš,et al.  Variation in Carbon Content among the Major Tree Species in Hemiboreal Forests in Latvia , 2021, Forests.

[3]  N. Thevathasan,et al.  Greenhouse gas emissions from riparian zones are related to vegetation type and environmental factors. , 2021, Journal of Environmental Quality.

[4]  M. Gehlen,et al.  Twenty-first century ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and upper-ocean nutrient and primary production decline from CMIP6 model projections , 2020, Biogeosciences.

[5]  A. Gordon,et al.  Long-Term Monitoring of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Woody and Herbaceous Bioenergy Crop Production Systems on Marginal Lands in Southern Ontario, Canada , 2020, Sustainability.

[6]  M. Isaac,et al.  Plant Diversity and Agroecosystem Function in Riparian Agroforests: Providing Ecosystem Services and Land-Use Transition , 2020, Sustainability.

[7]  P. Nash,et al.  Predicted annual biomass input to maintain soil organic carbon under contrasting management , 2019, Agronomy Journal.

[8]  N. Seavy,et al.  Carbon sequestration in riparian forests: A global synthesis and meta‐analysis , 2018, Global change biology.

[9]  Sean C. Thomas,et al.  Global patterns in wood carbon concentration across the world’s trees and forests , 2018, Nature Geoscience.

[10]  L. Vesterdal,et al.  Accumulation of soil organic carbon after cropland conversion to short‐rotation willow and poplar , 2017 .

[11]  W. Deen,et al.  Biomass yield assessment of five potential energy crops grown in southern Ontario, Canada , 2016, Agroforestry Systems.

[12]  E. Bork,et al.  Carbon pool size and stability are affected by trees and grassland cover types within agroforestry systems of western Canada , 2015 .

[13]  C. Gagnon,et al.  Variation in stocks and distribution of organic C in soils across 21 eastern Canadian temperate and boreal forests , 2015 .

[14]  D. Gagnon,et al.  Biomass carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stocks in hybrid poplar buffers, herbaceous buffers and natural woodlots in the riparian zone on agricultural land. , 2015, Journal of environmental management.

[15]  M. Oelbermann,et al.  Riparian Land-Use and Rehabilitation: Impact on Organic Matter Input and Soil Respiration , 2015, Environmental Management.

[16]  M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer,et al.  An overview of current status of carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies , 2014 .

[17]  T J Davies,et al.  The enigma of the rise of angiosperms: can we untie the knot? , 2014, Ecology letters.

[18]  P. S. Lake,et al.  Scales that matter: guiding effective monitoring of soil properties in restored riparian zones , 2014 .

[19]  L. Vesterdal,et al.  Soil carbon stock change following afforestation in Northern Europe: a meta‐analysis , 2014, Global change biology.

[20]  R. Voroney,et al.  Carbon sequestration potential of five tree species in a 25-year-old temperate tree-based intercropping system in southern Ontario, Canada , 2014, Agroforestry Systems.

[21]  P. Reich.  The world‐wide ‘fast–slow’ plant economics spectrum: a traits manifesto , 2014 .

[22]  N. Barbour,et al.  Simulated Impacts of Crop Residue Removal and Tillage on Soil Organic Matter Maintenance , 2013 .

[23]  D. Baldwin,et al.  Riparian Ecosystems in the 21st Century: Hotspots for Climate Change Adaptation? , 2013, Ecosystems.

[24]  S. Jose,et al.  Agroforestry strategies to sequester carbon in temperate North America , 2012, Agroforestry Systems.

[25]  Sean C. Thomas,et al.  Carbon Content of Tree Tissues: A Synthesis , 2012 .

[26]  G. F. Meyer,et al.  Carbon storage of headwater riparian zones in an agricultural landscape , 2012, Carbon Balance and Management.

[27]  H. Auld,et al.  Regionalization of heavy rainfall to improve climatic design values for infrastructure: case study in Southern Ontario, Canada , 2011 .

[28]  D. Gagnon,et al.  Nutrient accumulation and carbon sequestration in 6-year-old hybrid poplars in multiclonal agricultural riparian buffer strips , 2010 .

[29]  David Paré,et al.  Carbon accumulation in agricultural soils after afforestation: a meta‐analysis , 2010 .

[30]  J. Buttle,et al.  Stand carbon stocks and soil carbon and nitrogen storage for riparian and upland forests of boreal lakes in northeastern Ontario , 2005 .

[31]  Andrew M. Gordon,et al.  Quantity and Quality of Autumnal Litterfall into a Rehabilitated Agricultural Stream , 2000 .

[32]  M. R. Carter,et al.  Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis , 1993 .

[33]  G. Roi,et al.  Root-system morphology of common boreal forest trees in Alberta, Canada. , 1983 .

[34]  J. Tisdall,et al.  Organic matter and water‐stable aggregates in soils , 1982 .

[35]  J. Whalen,et al.  Distribution of earthworm communities in agroecosystems with forested riparian buffer strips: A multiscale study , 2021 .

[36]  Andrew R. Smith,et al.  Methods for estimating root biomass and production in forest and woodland ecosystem carbon studies: A review , 2016 .

[37]  R. Lal,et al.  Soil structure and management: a review , 2005 .

[38]  Dunling Wang,et al.  Direct measurement of organic carbon content in soils by the Leco CR-12 carbon analyzer , 1998 .