Measurement of Soil Carbon Dioxide Emission from Cotton Cropping System Using Li-8100.

Biofuel crops production has induced land use changes in the Texas High Plains. Conventional cotton cropping systems are being replaced by sorghum cropping systems. Sorghum production has been increased in the region for biofuel production. Land use change is known to affect environmental properties and soil properties, especially soil carbon dynamics. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of irrigated sorghum and irrigated cotton cropping systems on soil carbon dioxide flux. Li-8100 and Li-8150 systems were used to measure CO2 flux from the soil. The study is being conducted on a sorghum and cotton field in Hale County in Texas. The Li-8100 and Li-8150 were installed at the junction of two fields, one planted to cotton and the other to forage sorghum. Soil carbon dioxide flux is measured at an interval of 30 minutes. Preliminary results will be presented.