1. Carbon Sequestration in US Midwest Region and GLBRC: Lessons from the flux towers Terenzio Zenone 1 Jiquan Chen 1 Mike Deal 1 Burkhard Wilske 1 Poonam Jasrotia 2 Steve Hamilton 2 Sven Bohm 2 Kevin Kahmark 2 G. Phil Robertson 2 1 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo 2 W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University

2. GLBRC Project: Biophysical Constraints and Resource Use Limitations for Maximizing Biofuel Production This study is designed in collaboration with the GLBRC Sustainability Thrust 4.1 – 4.4 to address Goal 4 of the GLBRC - “to understand the attributes and mechanisms responsible for the environmental sustainability of biofuel systems”. Our objective: Examine the magnitudes and dynamics of CO 2 exchange, quantify the Net Ecosystem production (NEP) and soil C change at the seven “Scale-Up Fields” that have been identified at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS); Investigate the biophysical regulations and resource use limitations for maximizing NEP and soil C at these sites: Vegetation characteristics, Leaf photosynthesis, Soil respiration Testing the new concept of Multi Resource -Uses (MRU) and use limitation Model for predict the dynamics of CO 2 exchange.

3. Carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems Live Roots + micorrhizae ATMOSPHERE Plants respiration Aboveground Litter Labile and recalcitrant soil carbon GPP NPP NEP Gross Photosynthesis Autotrophic respiration Heterotrophic respiration NEE Net Ecosystem Exchange exudates Dead roots + micorrhizae Microbes Biomass harvest Carbon losses off site Fire NBP

4. How we can measure net ecosystem exchange? NEE of carbon can be directly measured using the Eddy covariance (EC) Technique Turbulence is the chaotic and seemingly random motion of fluid parcels. Turbulence has mechanical and convective origins. Shear forces cause mechanical turbulence while buoyant instabilities (due to the intermingling of fluid parcels with different densities)causes convective turbulence. (Baldocchi 2006) Illustration of Taylor’s Hypothesis: An eddy carrying CO 2 moves at the U wind speed across the point of measurements. The fluctuation component is the change of concentration at the point of measurement. The upward air contains less CO2 due to carbon uptake by vegetation. (Valentini 2007)

5. How we can measure net ecosystem exchange? EC is based on the covariance between concentration of scalars and vertical wind velocity measurements. NEE of carbon can be monitored using the Eddy covariance (EC) Technique

6. Sonic anemometer: able to measure 3D wind speed components and sonic temperature based on sound speed measurements at high velocity (10-20 Hz) THE EC Instruments Carbon Dioxide and water infrared gas analyzer 3 couples of transducer u, longitudinal velocity, dx/dt v, lateral velocity, dy/dt w, vertical velocity, dz/dt Sonic temperature Infrared source Detector CO 2 and H 2 0 Concentration

7. THE EC Instruments Additional parameters measure Air temperature, relative humidity, VPD, and Rain Soil temperature (3 depths) & moisture (TDR) Short- and long-wave radiation soil heat flux Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PAR) Wind direction Snow depth Soil respiration (8 per site) Vegetation and soil properties Spectral properties (coming) Root ingrowth … Two 165 watt solar panel to power system

8. Major Flux Towers in USA

9. Kg C m -2 0500250 Miles Flux Towers in the Midwest Region

10. Area ha Previous cultivation Actual cultivation 2009 Future cultivation 2010 Site 117.9 Field left to native prairie. Soybeanswitchgrass Site 213.1 Field left to native prairie SoybeanPrairie Site 319.5 Field left to native prairie SoybeanCorn Site 411.2 Corn in 2008. KBS property. SoybeanCorn Site 514.1 Corn in 2008. KBS property. SoybeanPrairie Site 623.0 Corn in 2008. KBS property. SoybeanSwitchgrass Site 79.1 Native Prairie Bromus inermis Leyss (Poaceae) Native Prairie GLBRC scale up plots fields

11. Preliminary Results: NEE Net Ecosystem Exchange Carbon Loss Carbon gain Half hour NEE measured at KBS Native prairie site from January to May 2009

12. Daily temporal trend of NEE based on monthly average measured at GLRRC scale up plot field prairie Preliminary Results: NEE Net Ecosystem Exchange

13. Daily temporal trend of NEE based on monthly average measured at GLRRC scale up plot field prairie (green and white dot) and corn (black dot) Preliminary results: NEE Net ecosystem exchange

14. Preliminary results: NEP Net Ecosystem Production Daily Net ecosystem Production (NEP) across the sites

15. Herbicide effect Herbicide application Effect of the Herbicide application

16. Preliminary results: NEP Net ecosystem production Carbon sequestration/emission in native prairie: effect of herbicide application and winter respiration 1.4 tons of CO 2 ha -1 1.1 tons of CO 2 ha -1

17. Preliminary results: NEP Net ecosystem production Carbon sequestration/emission in prior corn cultivation site 1.1 tons of CO 2 ha -1

18. Conclusion ……….still waiting for 2009 cultivations. Differences in winter ecosystem respiration across the sites. Evident effect of the herbicide application.

19. Thanks for Your Attention For more information please visit http://research.eeescience.utoledo.edu/lees/index.htm http://research.eeescience.utoledo.edu/lees/index.htm Terenzio Zenone: Zenone@msu.eduZenone@msu.edu Jiquan Chen : Jiquan.Chen@utoledo.eduJiquan.Chen@utoledo.edu