First article from the VESBO-project

We investigated the effects of birch encroachment, lower water tables and changes in vegetation (as a consequence of insufficient rewetting) on the methane emissions. We had two study sites, one with high water tables and close-to-natural vegetation and one with more varying water tables and a dense birch population. We measured the methane emissions of the different microforms and the trees and set them in relation to LAI, water tables, PAR and other parameter. We compared different methods to model annual balances and the best one for our data was a method including water tables and soil temperature.

Annnual balances are 7.1 ± 1.5 g ­CH₄-C ­m⁻² ­yr⁻¹ at the treed site and 36.1 ± 3.5 g CH₄-C ­m⁻² ­yr⁻¹ at the open site. Especially at the open site, emissions are high due to high water tables in the measurement year (-0.07 m). We found no correlation between methane emissions and PAR.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52349-0

[VESBO project]