Over the past couple of decades, there has been an increased interest in evaluating the environmental impacts of some turfgrass management practices. Two independent studies were conducted to examine different questions of turfgrass management impacts and sustainability. The first study examined the inputs and outputs of four different turfgrass home lawn systems. Two of these systems were designated as high maintenance and were composed of either a pure stand of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). The other two systems were designated as low maintenance and were composed of either a pure stand of zoyisagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) or a mixed species endemic polystand. Soil samples were taken yearly from each plot and analyzed to determine total carbon content. Results from this study indicated carbon and nitrogen pools were not significantly different between the four systems but depth of sampling was significant. For the second study, various formulated surfactants were examined to determine if they could enhance the fungicidal activity of a protein washed and concentrated from tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum L.) that has been shown to be effective in combating foliar-infecting turfgrass diseases in previous studies. Since previous studies indicated the protein was most effective at high concentrations when applied every seven days, it was hypothesized a surfactant may allow the protein to perform as well for a longer period of time or at lower concentrations. The efficacy of the protein against a root infecting pathogen (Ophiosphaerella korrae) was also examined. Results from this study indicated a water based surfactant may allow solutions of the protein applied every 14 days to perform similarly to solutions of the protein alone applied every 7 days without a surfactant against Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F. T. Bennett. Also, the protein did appear to be somewhat effective in combating the root infecting pathogen tested in this study when applied on a schedule similar to current commercial fungicide recommendations.

Feedbacks between the climate system and the high-latitude carbon cycle will substantially influence the intensity of future climate change. It is therefore crucial that the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) between the high-latitude land surface and the atmosphere is accurately quantified, where NEE refers to the difference between ecosystem respiration (R) and photosynthesis (gross ecosystem exchange, GEE): NEE=-GEE+R in umol/m^2/s. NEE can only be directly measured over areas of 1 km^2 through eddy covariance, and modeling approaches such as the Vegetation Photosynthesis Respiration Model (VPRM) are required to upscale NEE. VPRM is a remote sensing based model that calculates R as a linear function of air temperature (Ta) when air temperature is above a given threshold (Tlow), and sets respiration to a constant value when Ta<Tlow. GEE is estimated according to remote sensing observations of vegetation indices, shortwave radiation, air temperature, and soil moisture. Although in situ findings have shown that snow and Arctic species composition have a substantial influence on high-latitude NEE, model estimates of high-latitude NEE have typically been generated without Arctic-specific vegetation classes, and without using remote sensing observations to represent the effects of snow on NEE. The hypothesis driving this work was therefore that uncertainty in estimates of high-latitude NEE could be reduced by representing the influences of Arctic vegetation classes and snow. The central objectives were to determine feasible approaches for reducing uncertainty in VPRM estimates of NEE by representing the influences of snow and Arctic vegetation, create PolarVPRM accordingly, and analyze inter-annual variability in PolarVPRM estimates of high-latitude North American NEE (2001-2012). The associations between snow and NEE, and the potential to describe these influences on NEE using remote sensing observations, were examined using time lapse camera observations of snow cover area (SCA) and eddy covariance measurements of NEE from Daring Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. Analyses indicated good agreement between SCA derived from camera, Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations. SCA was also found to influence the timing and magnitude of NEE. MODIS SCA was therefore incorporated into VPRM, and VPRM was calibrated using eddy covariance and meteorological observations collected in 2005 at Daring Lake. VPRM was run through years 2004-2007 over both Daring Lake and Ivotuk, Alaska, USA, using four model formulations, three of which represented the effects of SCA on respiration and/or photosynthesis, and another which did not use MODIS SCA. Comparisons against eddy covariance observations indicated that uncertainty was reduced in VPRM estimates of NEE when respiration was calculated as a linear function of soil temperature when SCA>50%, and as a linear function of air temperature when SCA<50%, thereby reflecting the influence of snow on decoupling soil/air temperatures. Representing the effect of SCA on NEE therefore reduced uncertainty in VPRM estimates of NEE. In order to represent spatial variability in high-latitude estimates of NEE due to vegetation type, Arctic-specific vegetation classes were created for PolarVPRM by combining and aggregating two existing vegetation classifications: the Synergetic Land Cover Product and the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map. Levene's test indicated that the PolarVPRM vegetation classes divided the pan-Arctic region into heterogeneous distributions in terms of net primary productivity, and passive microwave derived estimates of snow and growing season influences on NEE. A non-parametric statistical approach of Alternating Conditional Expectations found significant, non-linear associations to exist between passive microwave derived estimates of snow and growing season drivers of NEE. Furthermore, the shape of these associations varied according to the vegetation class over which they were examined. Further support was therefore provided to the idea that uncertainty in model estimates of NEE could be reduced by calculating snow and growing season NEE separately within each vegetation class. PolarVPRM estimates of NEE in 2001-2012 were generated at a three hourly and 1/6 x 1/4 degree resolution across polar North America (55-170 W, 55-83 N). Model calibration was conducted over three sites: Daring Lake, Ivotuk, and Atqasuk, Alaska, USA. Model validation was then conducted by comparing PolarVPRM estimates of year-round daily average NEE to non-gap-filled eddy covariance observations of daily average NEE acquired over the three calibration sites, as well as six other Arctic sites. PolarVPRM performed well over all sites, with an average mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.20 umol/m^2/s, and had diminished error rates when the influence of SCA on respiration was explicitly represented. Error analysis indicated that peak growing season GEE was underestimated at Barrow because GEE at this site showed a stronger response to the amount of incoming shortwave radiation than at the calibration site, suggesting that PolarVPRM may underestimate GEE over wetland and barren vegetated regions. Despite these uncertainties, PolarVPRM was found to generate more accurate estimates of monthly and three-hourly NEE relative to eddy covariance observations than two established models, FLUXNET Model-Tree Ensemble (MTE) and CarbonTracker. Relative to eddy covariance observations and PolarVPRM estimates, MTE tended to overestimate snow season respiration, and CarbonTracker tended to overestimate the amount of midday photosynthesis. Analysis of PolarVPRM output across North America (north of 55 N) found an increase in net annual carbon efflux over over time (2001-2012). Specifically, increased rates of respiration are estimated when soil and air temperatures are warmer. Although increases in growing season vegetation indices and air temperature enable greater photosynthetic uptake by Arctic vegetation, forests and shrublands uptake less CO2 in the middle of the growing season when air temperatures rise above the physiological optima for photosynthesis. As a result, PolarVPRM estimated a decline in net photosynthetic uptake over time. Overall, PolarVPRM output indicates that North American regions north of 55 N are losing strength as a carbon sink in response to rising air temperatures.

Inlandsvatten, exempelvis sjöar och floder, har en betydande roll för den globala kolcykeln. Förutom att dessa vatten transporterar kol mellan kontinenterna och havet så förekommer en mängd processer som påverkar kolomsättningen i dessa system. Inlandsvatten kan fånga in (fixera) koldioxid från atmosfären via fotosyntes, men en stor del av kolet i inlandsvatten transporteras från land. Detta kol kan antingen emitteras till atmosfären som koldioxid eller metan, lagras på botten av sjöar och reservoarer eller transporteras (exporteras) till havet genom floder och grundvatten. Genom att sammanställa litteratur som i huvudsak publicerats mellan 2007 och 2017 konkluderas att 3,6 Pg C y-1 transporteras till inlandsvatten från världens kontinenter. Av detta emitteras 2,3 Pg C y-1 till atmosfären innan det når havet, 0,15 Pg C y-1 sedimenteras i sjöar och dammar medan 1,1 Pg C-1 exporteras till havet. För att förstå hur människan påverkar kolomsättningen globalt krävs en korrekt beskrivning av de naturliga flödena av kol mellan hav, land och atmosfär. Förbättringspotential och osäkerheter gällande den kvantitativa uppskattningen om inlandsvatten som en del i den terrestra kolcykeln finns bland annat kopplat till små vattenansamlingar, då dessa inte är fullständigt kartlagda. En bättre geografisk spridning för den data som ligger till grund för globala uppskattningar krävs också för att förbättra förståelsen för inlandsvattens roll i den terrestra kolcykeln. / Inland waters, for example lakes and rivers, play a considerable role in the global carbon cycle. In addition to transport carbon between the continents and the oceans, a number of processes occur during the transport along the hydrological chain. Inland water could directly take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere though photosynthesis, but a vast amount of the carbon origins from land. The carbon could either be emitted to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or methane, stored at the bottom of lakes or reservoirs and/or transported (exported) to the ocean through rivers or groundwater. In this study, publications from 2007 to 2017 were reviewed, and the conclusion is drawn that 3,6 Pg C y-1 are exported to inland waters from land. 2,3 Pg C y-1 are emitted to the atmosphere, 0,15 Pg C y-1 is buried in the sediments of lakes and reservoirs and 1,1 Pg C y-1 is exported to the ocean. To understand how human affects the global carbon budget, a correct description of the natural migration of carbon between the ocean, the continents and the atmosphere is needed. Potential of improvement and uncertainties related to the quantitative estimates of emission, sedimentation and export are to a large extent connected to the poor surveys of small lakes and ponds. A more representative global distribution of the data is also needed for a better understanding of the role of inland waters in the terrestrial carbon cycle.

Na maior parte dos ecossistemas aquáticos a respiração excede a produção primária bruta autóctone, acarretando uma produção líquida de ecossistema negativa. Estudos recentes atribuem essa condição a processos de degradação de matéria orgânica alóctone, portanto o ciclo do carbono em corpos de água interiores deve estar pareado com o aporte de carbono orgânico originado na bacia hidrográfica. Este trabalho contribui para a melhor compreensão dos processos atuantes no ciclo de carbono em bacias hidrográficas, por meio de monitoramento de dados de campo, desenvolvimento e aplicação de modelagem matemática e simulação numérica. O estudo foi realizado utilizando dados de monitoramento na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Ijuí localizada no planalto meridional gaúcho. A exportação fluvial de carbono orgânico e inorgânico foi estimada a partir de dados de vazão e concentração. Um modelo baseado em processos para simulação da dinâmica de carbono, MGB-IPH-C, foi desenvolvido e acoplado ao modelo hidrológico MGB-IPH. O modelo hidrológico foi ajustado em diversos pontos de controle na bacia hidrográfica do Ijuí obtendo-se bons resultados, principalmente para as bacias de maior porte (>1000 km2). O modelo de carbono foi avaliado qualitativamente considerando a representação de processos conceituais e, quantitativamente, pela comparação das concentrações e fluxos simulados em relação aos obtidos pelos dados do monitoramento. Não foi possível identificar associações diretas entre as concentrações de carbono inorgânico ou orgânico e vazão, com base nos dados medidos em campo. As cargas médias de carbono nas bacias estudadas apresentaram valores abaixo da média global, na ordem de 25-40 kg.ha-1.ano-1 e 8-10 kg.ha-1.ano-1, para as frações inorgânica e orgânica, respectivamente. O MGB-IPH-C representou processos conceituais esperados, em especial, a acumulação no solo e o efeito da lavagem das águas sobre a concentração dos rios. Foi possível obter bons ajustes em escala anual para as cargas e concentrações médias de carbono na bacia de estudo. A simulação da dinâmica de carbono em ecossistemas aquáticos em pareamento com a bacia hidrográfica utilizando modelos conceituais determinísticos contribui para o entendimento dos processos operantes nesses sistemas e deve ser complementada por meio de análise de dados de monitoramento, em freqüência adequada à escala, com métodos empíricos. / In most aquatic ecosystems respiration exceeds autochtonous gross primary production leading to a negative net ecosystem production. Recent studies attributes this condition to allochtonous organic matter degradation processes, so the inland water carbon cycle should be linked to the input of organic carbon from the catchment. This work contributes to a better comprehension of processes operating in the carbon cycle in river basins, throughout development and application of mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. The study was conducted using data of the Ijuí river watershed, located in the Planalto Meridional Gaúcho. Fluvial exports of organic and inorganic carbon were estimated from data measured in field. A process-based model for carbon dynamics simulation, MGB-IPH-C, was developed and coupled to the hydrological model MGB-IPH. The hydrological model was calibrated to various control points in the Ijui river basin with good results, especially in larger subwatersheds (>1000 km2). The carbon model was evaluated considering the representation of carbon dynamics conceptual processes and by comparison of observed carbon concentrations and export rates obtained by simulation and monitoring data. The estimates of annual export of carbon in the study area were below the global average, in magnitude of 25-40 kg/ha.yr and 8-10 kg/ha.yr for inorganic and organic carbon, respectively. The proposed carbon model, MGB-IPH-C, was able to simulate expected conceptual processes, in particular, the build-up on soil and the effect of wash-off on carbon concentration in river reaches. It was possible to obtain good fits for annual average carbon fluvial export rates and concentrations. The simulation of carbon dynamics in inland waters coupled with the watershed using conceptual deterministic models contributes to the understanding of processes operating on these systems and may be complemented throughout analysis of field data, at frequency appropriated to the scale, with empirical methods.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:33:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CarolineGBM_DISSERT.pdf: 778935 bytes, checksum: 2a19b59e3c8f14ceef97a9f6a966da73 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-28 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / O aumento da concentra??o de CO2 na atmosfera tem sido observado, principalmente a partir da revolu??o industrial. Uma das causas principais desse comportamento tem sido a queima de combust?veis f?sseis. Isso tem levado a altera??es globais no ciclo do carbono. Desta forma tem sido de suma import?ncia trabalhos que mostrem a influ?ncia dos sistemas em geral e suas contribui??es relativas na din?mica e ciclo do carbono. Dentro deste contexto, os ecossistemas aqu?ticos apresentam import?ncia no processamento da mat?ria org?nica produzida internamente nos sistemas aqu?ticos (aut?ctone), bem como a mat?ria org?nica trazida dos sistemas terrestres (al?ctone). Os principais organismos que metabolizam a mat?ria org?nica dissolvida (carbono org?nico dissolvido COD) presente nos sistemas aqu?ticos s?o as bact?rias. No entanto a qualidade da mat?ria org?nica determina a prefer?ncia e a via metab?lica (produ??o bacteriana - PB ou respira??o bacteriana - RB) pela qual o carbono ser? direcionado quando assimilado pelas bact?rias. Nos sistemas aqu?ticos a diversidade da mat?ria org?nica presente, muitas vezes estimula a produ??o bacteriana. Desta forma, os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos do COD al?ctone e aut?ctone na PB e RB, al?m de avaliar o efeito da mistura de COD sobre o balan?o de CO2 no experimento de mesocosmo. Para testar os objetivos realizamos um experimento de mesocosmo com o arranjo experimental do tipo (2x2) destinado a simular condi??es onde houvesse o predom?nio de mat?ria org?nica aut?ctone (fitopl?ncton), al?ctone (detrito de vegeta??o terrestre) e ambas combinadas. Consistindo em quatro tratamentos incluindo o Controle. A dura??o do experimento foi de 42 dias. Verificamos no geral que os tratamentos enriquecidos com mat?ria org?nica al?ctone apresentaram as maiores taxas metab?licas (RB, CO2), o que provavelmente esteve relacionado ? qualidade da mat?ria org?nica utilizada. Conclu?mos que o aporte de mat?ria org?nica de origem terrestre resulta em aumento da atividade de decomposi??o resultando na condi??o de heterotrofia nos tanques estudados. Conclu?mos ainda que com o esgotamento da mat?ria, os tanques passaram a apresentarem-se subsaturados em CO2, resultando na condi??o de autotrofia. Conclu?mos tamb?m que nos tanques com mistura de fonte o efeito observado foi antag?nico. / The increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has been observed, mainly from the industrial revolution. One of the main causes of this behavior has been the burning of fossil fuels. This has led to changes in the global carbon cycle. Thus it has been extremely important work showing the influence of systems in general and their contributions on the dynamics and the carbon cycle. Within this context, aquatic ecosystems have importance in the processing of domestically produced organic matter in aquatic systems (indigenous) and the organic matter brought from the terrestrial (allochthonous). The main organisms that metabolize dissolved organic matter (dissolved organic carbon - DOC) present in aquatic systems is bacteria. However the quality of organic matter determines the preference and the metabolic pathway (bacterial production - PB or bacterial respiration - RB) by which carbon will be directed when assimilated by bacteria. In aquatic systems, the diversity of organic matter present, often stimulates bacterial production. Thus, the objectives were to evaluate the effects of allochthonous and autochthonous DOC in the PB and RB, and to evaluate the effect of mixing of DOC on the CO2 balance in the mesocosm experiment. For testing purposes we conducted a mesocosm experiment with the experimental arrangement of type (2x2) to simulate conditions where there was a predominance of autochthonous organic matter (phytoplankton), allochthonous (terrestrial vegetation detritus) and both combined. Consisting of four treatments including control. The experiment lasted 42 days. We note that in general the treatments enriched with allochthonous organic matter showed the highest metabolic rates (RB, CO2), which probably was related to the quality of organic matter used. We conclude that the input of organic matter from terrestrial origin results in increased activity of decomposition resulting in the condition of heterotrophy in the tanks studied. We also concluded that the exhaustion of matter, the tanks began to present themselves in subsaturados CO2, resulting in the condition of autotrophy. We also conclude that the tanks blend with the source of the observed effect was antagonistic.

Chosen agricultural enterprise Agricultural Cooperative Slapy u Tábora farms in the South Bohemia Region near the Tábor city. Analysis of inner structure of this farm was worked out for the period 1996 {--} 2006. Harvest area and yield of individual crops, mineral fertilizer consumption and cattle stock have been used for the analysis. On the basis of performed analysis, variants of inner structure have been calculated, aimed on production of bioenergy: cereals for bioethanol production, raps for biodiesel production, biogas. From aspect of energetic gain, the variant for bioethanol production was evaluated as optimal.

Chosen agricultural enterprise Agricultural-Trading Cooperative Farm operates 20 km away from České Budějovice in South Bohemia Region. Analysis of inner structure of this farm was performed for period 1997 {--} 2006. To project inner structure of the agricultural system, it is necessary to know the harvest area and yield of individual crops, cattle stock, and mineral fertilizer consumption. On the basis of performed analysis, using carbon-balance method, projects of inner structure specialized in bioenergy production were calculated. The production of bioethanol from cereals, oil from rape and biogas from cattle breeding refuse are taken into account. At comparison of individual variants from aspect of energetic gain under existing natural conditions, the variant specialized in cereals for ethanol production proves as the most suitable.

Chosen agriculture farm: Dubné corporation is in South Bohemia region. Analysis of inner structure of agricultural system was calculated for ten-year period 1997 {--} 2006. Data used for analysis: acreage and yield of individual crops, consumption of mineral fertilizers, cattle stock. On the basis of this analysis, using carbon balance principle, variants of agricultural inner structure project have been worked out, aimed at bioenergy production: cereals for production of bioethanol, raps for production of oil, biogas.

The chosen agricultural enterprise, Agricultural Cooperative Skalka {--} Jankov farms in the South Bohemia region near the city of České Budějovice. Analysis of the inner structure of the agricultural system was calculated for a ten-year period 1998 {--} 2007. Data used for the analysis include: harvest area, yield of individual crops, mineral fertilizer consumption and cattle stock. On the basis of this analysis, using carbon balance principles, variants of agricultural inner structure project have been worked out, aimed at bioenergy production: cereals for production of bioethanol, raps for biodiesel production, biogas.

Na maior parte dos ecossistemas aquáticos a respiração excede a produção primária bruta autóctone, acarretando uma produção líquida de ecossistema negativa. Estudos recentes atribuem essa condição a processos de degradação de matéria orgânica alóctone, portanto o ciclo do carbono em corpos de água interiores deve estar pareado com o aporte de carbono orgânico originado na bacia hidrográfica. Este trabalho contribui para a melhor compreensão dos processos atuantes no ciclo de carbono em bacias hidrográficas, por meio de monitoramento de dados de campo, desenvolvimento e aplicação de modelagem matemática e simulação numérica. O estudo foi realizado utilizando dados de monitoramento na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Ijuí localizada no planalto meridional gaúcho. A exportação fluvial de carbono orgânico e inorgânico foi estimada a partir de dados de vazão e concentração. Um modelo baseado em processos para simulação da dinâmica de carbono, MGB-IPH-C, foi desenvolvido e acoplado ao modelo hidrológico MGB-IPH. O modelo hidrológico foi ajustado em diversos pontos de controle na bacia hidrográfica do Ijuí obtendo-se bons resultados, principalmente para as bacias de maior porte (>1000 km2). O modelo de carbono foi avaliado qualitativamente considerando a representação de processos conceituais e, quantitativamente, pela comparação das concentrações e fluxos simulados em relação aos obtidos pelos dados do monitoramento. Não foi possível identificar associações diretas entre as concentrações de carbono inorgânico ou orgânico e vazão, com base nos dados medidos em campo. As cargas médias de carbono nas bacias estudadas apresentaram valores abaixo da média global, na ordem de 25-40 kg.ha-1.ano-1 e 8-10 kg.ha-1.ano-1, para as frações inorgânica e orgânica, respectivamente. O MGB-IPH-C representou processos conceituais esperados, em especial, a acumulação no solo e o efeito da lavagem das águas sobre a concentração dos rios. Foi possível obter bons ajustes em escala anual para as cargas e concentrações médias de carbono na bacia de estudo. A simulação da dinâmica de carbono em ecossistemas aquáticos em pareamento com a bacia hidrográfica utilizando modelos conceituais determinísticos contribui para o entendimento dos processos operantes nesses sistemas e deve ser complementada por meio de análise de dados de monitoramento, em freqüência adequada à escala, com métodos empíricos. / In most aquatic ecosystems respiration exceeds autochtonous gross primary production leading to a negative net ecosystem production. Recent studies attributes this condition to allochtonous organic matter degradation processes, so the inland water carbon cycle should be linked to the input of organic carbon from the catchment. This work contributes to a better comprehension of processes operating in the carbon cycle in river basins, throughout development and application of mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. The study was conducted using data of the Ijuí river watershed, located in the Planalto Meridional Gaúcho. Fluvial exports of organic and inorganic carbon were estimated from data measured in field. A process-based model for carbon dynamics simulation, MGB-IPH-C, was developed and coupled to the hydrological model MGB-IPH. The hydrological model was calibrated to various control points in the Ijui river basin with good results, especially in larger subwatersheds (>1000 km2). The carbon model was evaluated considering the representation of carbon dynamics conceptual processes and by comparison of observed carbon concentrations and export rates obtained by simulation and monitoring data. The estimates of annual export of carbon in the study area were below the global average, in magnitude of 25-40 kg/ha.yr and 8-10 kg/ha.yr for inorganic and organic carbon, respectively. The proposed carbon model, MGB-IPH-C, was able to simulate expected conceptual processes, in particular, the build-up on soil and the effect of wash-off on carbon concentration in river reaches. It was possible to obtain good fits for annual average carbon fluvial export rates and concentrations. The simulation of carbon dynamics in inland waters coupled with the watershed using conceptual deterministic models contributes to the understanding of processes operating on these systems and may be complemented throughout analysis of field data, at frequency appropriated to the scale, with empirical methods.