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SelhorstAdamLouis2007 dg.pdf (13.71 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Carbon sequestration and emissions due to golf course turfgrass development and maintenance in Central Ohio
Author Info
Selhorst, Adam Louis
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407510783
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2007, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Abstract
As population and industrial growth continue to proliferate throughout the world, the atmospheric CO2 concentration continues to rise bringing about numerous detrimental effects including global climate change. In order to help slow the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, many scientists are beginning to look at soils ability to sequester excess C in an attempt to mitigate climate change. This study focuses on the ability of golf turfgrass soils to accomplish such a goal through the determination of C sequestration ability. Through experimentation it was found that in both fairway and rough soil, turfgrass sequestered C to a depth of 15cm. Sequestration varied with depth as the top 2.5cm showed greatest levels of sequestration increasing at a maximum rate of 0.76% each year in the fairway and 0.46% each year in the rough. Ability to sequester C decreased with increasing depth, showing maximum accumulations as low as 0.01% per year in both fairway and rough sites at a depth of 10-15cm. The only difference in the soils ability to sequester C between the fairway and rough sites was seen in the top 2.5cm, as deeper layers all showed similar C sequestration rates. In addition to rate, time for soil to reach equilibrium varied with depth. As soil depth increased, time to equilibrium increased. Soils in the top 2.5cm showed sequestration times of just 14 years in fairways and 12 years in rough sites, increasing to 30.4 years in fairways and 24 years in rough sites at a depth of 2.5-5.0cm. The deeper depths, however, showed much longer equilibrium times as soils at a depth of 10-15cm showed sequestration for up to 81 years in fairways and 91.4 years in rough. The hidden costs of golf course development were also assessed and C emissions per year were determined. Major C emissions were seen through N fertilizer use (1498kg CE/yr), fungicide application (1377kg CE/yr), unleaded fuel burning (3618kg CE/yr), diesel fuel burning (6557kg CE/yr), and irrigation (626kg CE/yr). Overall emissions per year for golf course maintenance were estimated at 14.15Mg CE/yr. Using sequestration data the total C sequestered for each course was determined and a mean sequestration estimate of 3.6Mg/ha/yr in fairways and 2.5Mg/ha/yr in rough soils was determined. As the rough soils comprise a much larger proportion of each course the overall mean potential to sequester carbon per course was estimated at 1904Mg of C for fairway soils and 2612Mg of C for rough soil. This leads to a total C sequestration potential of 3517Mg of C for a newly constructed course of similar size. When C emissions are subtracted from these levels, the overall potential, however, drops to 1610.7Mg of C. If these values hold true for the entire country golf turfgrass systems in the U.S. show the ability to harness up to 28.7 Tg of C after all current courses have reached equilibrium. Due to the large emissions levels created by maintenance practices, however, each course shifts from sink to source after just 30.4 years, as emissions levels by this year become greater than sequestration levels and should continue to remain so for the life of the course. Because of this fact all C sequestered will be cancelled out though management emissions in as little as 113.8 years after soil C sequestration has reached equilibrium. Turfgrass systems show a large potential for sequestration of C, however, management practices greatly diminish this potential through the addition of hidden costs. For these reasons, management practices must be reevaluated in order to help abate the large emissions created and further the benefits of global turfgrass systems in improving the environment.
Committee
Rattan Lal (Advisor)
Ed McCoy (Committee Member)
Karl Dannebarger (Committee Member)
Pages
134 p.
Subject Headings
Environmental Science
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Citations
Selhorst, A. L. (2007).
Carbon sequestration and emissions due to golf course turfgrass development and maintenance in Central Ohio
[Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407510783
APA Style (7th edition)
Selhorst, Adam.
Carbon sequestration and emissions due to golf course turfgrass development and maintenance in Central Ohio.
2007. Ohio State University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407510783.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Selhorst, Adam. "Carbon sequestration and emissions due to golf course turfgrass development and maintenance in Central Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407510783
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
osu1407510783
Download Count:
229
Copyright Info
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.