Fluxes of CO2, N2O and CH4 from a typical temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia and its daily variation

Abstract

Using a dark enclosed chamber technique, the fluxes of CO2, N2O and CH4 from nature and disturbed grassland were measured on the spot in Inner Mongolian Temperate Grassland along the annual rainfall gradient section ranging from 450 to 200 mm. The results showed that the measured mean fluxes of CO2, N2O and CH4 were (1 180.4 ± 308.7), (0.010 ± 0.004) and (−0.039 ± 0.016) mg · m−2/h, respectively. The decrease of the fluxes of CO2, N2O and CH4 follows with that of annual rainfall gradient in the measurement area. Human activities, such as grazing and reclamation are also critical factors to affect the fluxes of these gases from grassland. Daily continuous measurement of CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes showed a strong diurnal variation with higher emission in the daytime. A good relationship between the fluxes of CO2, N2O, CH4 and temperature was exposed in this study.