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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #398432
Research Project: Enhancing Long-Term Agroecosystem Sustainability of Water and Soil Resources Through Science and Technology

Location: Water Quality and Ecology Research

Title: Shallow water habitat management influences soil CO2 efflux from agricultural fields in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB), USA

Author
item Chatterjee, Amitava
item Taylor, Jason
item Moore, Matthew
item LOCKE, MARTIN - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item HOEKSEMA, JASON - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2023
Publication Date: 4/19/2023
Citation: Chatterjee, A., Taylor, J.M., Moore, M.T., Locke, M.A., Hoeksema, J.D. 2023. Shallow water habitat management influences soil CO2 efflux from agricultural fields in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB), USA. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 211–224 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20365.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20365

Interpretive Summary: Conservation plans for migratory shorebirds have also called for provision of shallow water and mudflats as migratory stopover habitat by flooding of agricultural fields. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of different timing and duration of on-field shallow water habitat management on soil carbon dioxide efflux and corn residue decomposition. The fall-winter flood field had reduced soil carbon dioxide efflux and increased soil pH and residue decomposition compared to the field without flooding. Soil temperature was positively associated with soil CO2 efflux in all fields except control. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that flood-timing and -duration had strong connections with soil carbon dynamics in LMRB row croplands during fallow periods.

Technical Abstract: Temporary winter flooding is a common practice for enhancing wildlife habitat in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) and other migratory waterfowl flyways in North America. This practice also facilitates nutrient retention and reuse of rainwater- or drainage-water. This study examines the consequence of five different water management approaches on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux and corn (Zea mays L.) residue decomposition, from October 11, 2021, through January 31, 2022. Management treatments included (i) control (Ct) or no flooding; (ii) passive (P) rainfall capture; (iii) fall (F) pumping of leftover irrigation water; (iv) winter (W) flooding with leftover irrigation water; and (v) fall-winter (FW) flooding. Although each treatment was implemented in only one field, results were consistent with potential effects of flooding practices. The fall-winter flood field (FW) had reduced soil CO2 efflux and increased soil pH and residue decomposition compared to the control field. The winter flood field (W) had reduced CO2 efflux on Dec. 8 and Jan. 21, and FW had lower efflux on Dec. 8, Dec. 14, Dec. 21, and Jan. 13, than the control field (Ct). Soil temperature was positively associated with soil CO2 efflux in all fields except control. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that flood-timing and -duration had strong connections with soil carbon dynamics in LMRB row croplands during fallow periods.