Historical and simulated ecosystem carbon dynamics in Ghana: land use, management, and climate

Author:

Tan Z.,Tieszen L. L.,Tachie-Obeng E.,Liu S.,Dieye A. M.

Abstract

Abstract. We used the General Ensemble biogeochemical Modeling System (GEMS) to simulate responses of natural and managed ecosystems to changes in land use, management, and climate for a forest/savanna transitional zone in central Ghana. Model results show that deforestation for crop production during the last century resulted in a substantial reduction in ecosystem carbon (C) stock from 135.4 Mg C ha−1 in 1900 to 77.0 Mg C ha−1 in 2000, and in soil organic C stock within the top 20 cm of soil from 26.6 Mg C ha−1 to 21.2 Mg C ha−1. If no land use change takes place from 2000 through 2100, low and high climate change scenarios (increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation over time) will result in losses of soil organic C stock by 19% and 25%, respectively. A low nitrogen (N) fertilization rate is the principal constraint on current crop production. An increase in N fertilization under the low climate change scenario would increase crop yield by 14% with 30 kg N ha−1 and by 38% with 60 kg N ha−1, leading to an increase in the average soil C stock by 12% and 29%, respectively, in all cropland by 2100. The results suggest that the climate changes in the future from current climate conditions will not necessarily become a determinant control on ecosystem C fluxes and crop production, while a reasonable N fertilization rate is critical to achieve food security and agricultural sustainability in the study area through the 21st century, and current cropping systems could be optimized to make full use of the rainfall resource.

Publisher

Copernicus GmbH

Reference27 articles.

1. Adiku, S. G. K., Rose, C. W., Gabric, A., Braddock, R. D., Carberry, P. S., and McCown, R. L.: An evaluation of performance of maize and cowpea in sole and intercropping systems at two savanna zones of Ghana: A simulation study, ISHS Acta Horticulturae 476, International Symposium on Applications of Modelling as InnovativeTechnique in the Agri-Food Chain. MODEL-IT, 2004.

2. Allotey, A. N. and Tachie-Obeng, E.: Agro-Ecological and Land-Cover Trends in Ghana. Unpublished Project Report, AGRHYMET Regional Centre, Niamey Niger, 2006.

3. Buyanovsky, G. A. and Wagner, G. H.: Carbon cycling in cultivated land and its global significance, Global Change Biology, 4, 131–141, 1998.

4. DeFries, R. S., Houghton, R. A., Hansen, M. C., Field, C. B., Skole, D., and Townshend, J.: Carbon emissions from tropical deforestation and regrowth based on satellite observations for the 1980s and 1990s, Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 99, 14256–14261, 2002.

5. Donigian Jr., A. S., Barnwell, T. O., Jackson, R. B., Partwardhan, A. S., Weinreich, K. B., Rowell, A. L., Chinnaswamy, R. V., and Cole, C. V.: Assessment of alternative management practices and policies affecting soil carbon in agroecosystems of central United States, Publication No EPA/600/R-94/067, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia, 1994.

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3