Knowledge of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in soils is a prerequisite to constrain national, continental, and global GHG budgets. However, data characterizing fluxes from agricultural soils of Africa are markedly limited. We measured carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) fluxes at 10 farmer-managed sites of six crop types for 1 year in Kenya and Tanzania using static chambers and gas chromatography. Cumulative emissions ranged between 3.5–15.9 Mg CO2-C ha−1 yr−1, 0.4–3.9 kg N2O-N ha−1 yr−1, and −1.2–10.1 kg CH4-C ha−1 yr−1, depending on crop type, environmental conditions, and management. Manure inputs increased CO2 (p = 0.03), but not N2O or CH4, emissions. Soil cultivation had no discernable effect on emissions of any of the three gases. Fluxes of CO2 and N2O were 54–208% greater (p
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JG003341Altmetric score:
Dimensions Citation Count:
Publication year
2016
Authors
Rosenstock, T.S.; Mpanda, M.; Pelster, D.E.; Butterbach-Bahl, K.; Rufino, M.C.; Thiong'o, M.; Mutuo, P.; Abwanda, S.; Rioux, J.; Kimaro, A.A.; Neufeldt, H.
Language
English
Keywords
greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, emissions, agricultural land, soil, soil carbon, soil quality
Geographic
Kenya, Tanzania
