Methane emissions from trees planted on a closed landfill site Article Swipe
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· 2022
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x221086955
· OA: W4225586470
Trees have morphological adaptations that allow methane (CH 4 ) generated below ground to bypass oxidation in aerobic surface soils. This natural phenomenon however has not been measured in a landfill context where planted trees may alter the composition and magnitude of CH 4 fluxes from the surface. To address this research gap, we measured tree stem and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH 4 and CO 2 ) from a closed UK landfill and comparable natural site, using an off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy analyser and flux chambers. Analyses showed average CH 4 stem fluxes from the landfill and non-landfill sites were 31.8 ± 24.4 µg m –2 h –1 and –0.3 ± 0.2 µg m –2 h –1 , respectively. The landfill site showed seasonal patterns in CH 4 and CO 2 stem emissions, but no significant patterns were observed in CH 4 and CO 2 fluxes at different stem heights or between tree species. Tree stem emissions accounted for 39% of the total CH 4 surface flux (7% of the CO 2 ); a previously unknown contribution that should be included in future carbon assessments.
