Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Different Land-Use Systems: A Case Study of CO2 in the Southern Zone of Ghana

MacCarthy, D S and Zougmore, R B and Akponikpè, P B I and Koomson, E and Savadogo, P and Adiku, S G K (2018) Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Different Land-Use Systems: A Case Study of CO2 in the Southern Zone of Ghana. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2018. pp. 1-12. ISSN 1687-7667

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Abstract

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) results in global warming and climate change. The extent to which developing countries contribute to GHG emissions is not well known. This study reports findings on the effects of different land-use systems on GHG emissions (CO2 in this case) from two locations in the southern zone of Ghana, West Africa. Site one (located at Kpong) contained a heavy clay soil while site two (located at Legon) contained a light-textured sandy soil. Land-use systems include cattle kraals, natural forests, cultivated maize fields, and rice paddy fields at site one, and natural forest, woodlots, and cultivated soya bean fields at site two. CO2 emissions were measured using the gas entrapment method (PVC chambers). Trapping solutions were changed every 12–48 h and measurement lasted 9 to 15 days depending on the site. We found that, for the same land-use, CO2 emissions were higher on the clay soil (Kpong) than the sandy soil (Legon). In the clay soil environment, the highest average CO2 emission was observed from the cattle kraal (256.7 mg·m−2·h−1), followed by the forest (146.0 mg·m−2·h−1) and rice paddy (140.6 mg·m−2·h−1) field. The lowest average emission was observed for maize cropped land (112.0 mg·m−2·h−1). In the sandy soil environment, the highest average CO2 emission was observed from soya cropped land (52.5 mg·m−2·h−1), followed by the forest (47.4 mg·m−2·h−1) and woodlot (33.7 mg·m−2·h−1). Several factors influenced CO2 emissions from the different land-use systems. These include the inherent properties of the soils such as texture, temperature, and moisture content, which influenced CO2 production through their effect on soil microbial activity and root respiration. Practices that reduce CO2 emissions are likely to promote carbon sequestration, which will consequently maintain or increase crop productivity and thereby improve global or regional food security.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	greenhouse gases emissions, GHG emissions, CO2 emissions, food security, carbon sequestration, crop productivity, maize cropped land
Subjects:	Others > Ghana Others > CO2 emissions Others > Soil Science Others > Maize Others > Climate Change Others > African Agriculture
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2019 10:48
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2019 10:48
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11229
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1057242
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	+is research was supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). +e authors thank the University of Ghana for providing land for our research and laboratory for sharing chamber caps and canisters. +e authors also thank Dr. John Meadows for proofreading and editing this paper.
Links:	Google Scholar

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