142-10 Does Proximity of a Field to a Highway Affect Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Soil?.

Poster Number 1626

See more from this Division: S06 Soil & Water Management & Conservation
See more from this Session: Agricultural Management Practices Impact On Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Pools and Soil Quality Dynamics: II
Monday, October 22, 2012
Duke Energy Convention Center, Exhibit Hall AB, Level 1
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Cole H. Griffith, 820 Chestnut St 307FH, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO and Nsalambi Nkongolo, 830 Chestnut Street, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO
A field study was conducted to (i) measure carbon dioxide (CO2) flux from soil in a corn and soybean field and (ii) assess the relationship between soil CO2 flux and the field proximity to a highway. The study was conducted at Lincoln University’s Freeman farm which is located along Missouri highway 94 (I-94). Forty-eight static and vented chambers were installed in a corn and soybean field at distances of 148, 224, 291, and 362 feet from I-94. Soil air samples were collected between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m every two weeks from August to November 2011. Concentrations of CO2 from soil air samples were measured with a Shimadzu GC-2014 gas chromatograph.  CO2 fluxes concentrations were statistically analyzed and mapped using Statistix 9 and ARCGIS 10.0 Geostatistical Analyst Extension, respectively. A Pearson correlation analysis showed that CO2 flux was significantly correlated with the distance from I-94 at all sampling dates (p<0.05, r=0.33 to 0.71). These correlations were opposite in 7 out of 8 sampling dates, meaning that CO2 flux increased as sampling points were closer to I-94. Resulting maps also showed greater CO2 flux near the highway with flux decreasing as distance increases away from I-94. These results, although preliminary, suggest that highway traffic may influence soil CO2 flux along heavily traveled roadways. The study is being pursued to confirm these results.
See more from this Division: S06 Soil & Water Management & Conservation
See more from this Session: Agricultural Management Practices Impact On Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Pools and Soil Quality Dynamics: II