Carla Bockermann

Research assistant at the Peatland Science Centre

+49 8161 71-6270

Porträt von Carla Bockermann, Mitarbeiterin an der HSWT.

Address: A1.422
Am Hofgarten 1
85354 Freising
Functions: Contact person for the Networks area of expertise
Staff member in the Climate-Relevant Trace Gases & Knowledge Transfer area of expertise

Publications

Journal articles (peer-reviewed)
- Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt, Matthias Drösler
  
  Permissions: Open Access
  
  Permissions: Peer Reviewed
  
  Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential of Temperate Fen Paludicultures (2025) Global Change Biology 31 (8), S. e70385. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.70385
  
  Peatlands lose their valuable carbon (C) sink function under intensive land use and turn into greenhouse gas (GHG) emission hotspots. Despite scarce empirical evidence, paludiculture is expected to have significant GHG mitigation potential for organic soils. This study provides the first comprehensive dataset on full GHG balances for newly established fen paludicultures over a water table (WT) gradient spanning an annual mean WT of −0.29 to +0.04 m, stratified into moderately rewetted conditions (−0.30 < WT < −0.10 m) and rewetted conditions (WT ≥ −0.10 m). We used manual and novel automated chambers to measure annual carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide emissions from five typical fen plant species (Carex acutiformis, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia, and Typha latifolia) newly established as peatland biomass crops in three temperate fen peatlands in southern Germany. Our study confirms a significant GHG mitigation potential for the tested plant species and found a C sink function of paludiculture. The results yield preliminary emission factors of −0.1 and −12.0 t CO2-equivalents ha−1 year−1 under moderately rewetted conditions (n = 39) and under rewetted conditions (n = 43), respectively. We further identify an optimal annual mean WT of −0.07 m for maximizing GHG reduction across all plant species and sites with a net C sink achieved at a mean annual WT of ≥ −0.12 m. Presuming the conversion of arable land into paludiculture, a mitigation potential of up to −51.9 t CO2-equivalents is attainable per hectare and year. These findings highlight that well-managed paludiculture could make a considerable contribution toward achieving the politically targeted CO2 sink function in the LULUCF sector.
  More
- Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt, Matthias Drösler
  
  Permissions: Open Access
  
  Permissions: Peer Reviewed
  
  Adaptation of fen peatlands to climate change: rewetting and management shift can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offset climate warming effects (2024) Biogeochemistry . DOI: 10.1007/s10533-023-01113-z
  
  More
Magazine articles
- Bastian Zwack, Matthias Drösler, Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt
  
  Alternative Bewirtschaftungsformen (2024) Bayerisches Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt, Online-Beitrag, 19.01.2024 .
  
  More
Conference contributions
- Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt, Matthias Drösler
  
  Paludiculture as a nature-based solution for peatlands results of GHG mitigation potentials in fen peatlands of southern Germany (2023) Präsentation auf der Québec RE3 Conference, Juni 2023 .
  
  More
- Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt, Matthias Drösler
  
  Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potentials of five paludiculture plants in fen peatlands in southern Germany (2023) Beitrag auf der EGU General Assembly, Mai 2023 .
  
  The concept of paludicultures is growing in importance as a promising climate mitigation measure and a sustainable alternative to current agricultural use of organic soils. Besides agricultural and economic viability, quantifying the climatic effects of paludicultures is essential to give reliable policy advice and facilitate sustainable management decisions with regard to climate change. Emission factors (EFs) of the relevant greenhouse gases (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) for a variety of potential paludiculture plants are still rare, especially from comparable treatments and site conditions. Five different temperate fen plant species (Carex acutiformis, Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea, Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia) were established as paludicultures with one or two-cut harvest frequencies at three former grassland or arable sites on fen peatland in southern Germany. Ground water levels (gwl) were manipulated to generate a water table gradient spanning annual mean gwl between +4 to −22 cm to derive an optimum gwl for GHG mitigation. One to five years after plant establishment, we measured fluxes of CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O to obtain annual budgets (n=81 / 43 rewetted: gwl +4 to −10 cm, 38 moderately rewetted: gwl −11 to −22 cm) using manual and automatic closed chambers. Besides gas flux measurements, we observed vegetation growth parameters (LAI, NDVI) and biomass yield from harvests. The resulting mean global warming potentials are −13.0 ± 13.9 t CO 2-eq ha −1 yr −1 under rewetted conditions (annual mean gwl ≥ −10 cm) and −1.0 ± 9.8 t CO 2-eq ha −1 yr −1 under moderately rewetted conditions (annual mean gwl < −10 cm). Our dataset revealed that a maximum mitigation potential of paludicultures is achieved at a gwl of −7 cm. These values represent the first EFs of paludicultures for potential integration into the German national GHG inventory. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
  More
- Tim Eickenscheidt, Carla Bockermann, Matthias Drösler
  
  Treibhausgasaustausch von Paludikulturen – aktuelle Ergebnisse aus dem MOORuse-Projekt (2022) Conference: Symposium Moorschutz: Forschung und Praxis verbinden; Bayerische Akademie für Naturschutz und Landespflege .
- Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt, Matthias Drösler
  
  Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potentials of four paludiculture plants in a fen peatland in southern Germany 2019 (2022) Conference: EGU General Assembly .
- Tim Eickenscheidt, Carla Bockermann, Matthias Drösler
  
  Paludiculture on fen peatlands in Bavaria -Establishment, climatic impact & environmental effects, utilization options and economic viability (2018) Conference: EGU General Assembly .
Research data
- Carla Bockermann, Tim Eickenscheidt, Matthias Drösler
  
  Permissions: Open Access
  
  Greenhouse gas mitigation potential of temperate fen paludicultures - Dataset (2025) Zenodo . DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16026838
  
  Peatlands lose their valuable carbon (C) sink function under intensive land use and turn into greenhouse gases (GHG) emission hotspots. Despite scarce empirical evidence, paludiculture is expected to have significant GHG mitigation potential for organic soils. This study provides the first comprehensive dataset on full GHG balances for newly established fen paludicultures over a water table (WT) gradient spanning annual mean WT of −0.29 m to +0.04 m, stratified into moderately rewetted conditions (−0.30 m < WT < −0.10 m) and rewetted conditions (WT ≥ −0.10 m). We used manual and novel automated chambers to measure annual carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide emissions from five typical fen plant species (Carex acutiformis, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia and T. latifolia) newly established as peatland biomass crops in three temperate fen peatlands in southern Germany. Our study confirms a significant GHG mitigation potential for the tested plant species and found a C sink function of paludiculture. The results yield preliminary emission factors of −0.1 and −12.0 t CO2-equivalents ha−1 yr−1 under moderately rewetted conditions (n=39) and under rewetted conditions (n=43), respectively. We further identify an optimal annual mean WT of −0.07 m for maximizing GHG reduction across all plant species and sites with a net C sink achieved at a mean annual WT of ≥ −0.12 m. Presuming the conversion of arable land into paludiculture, a mitigation potential of up to −51.9 t CO2-equivalent is attainable per hectare and year. These findings highlight that well-managed paludiculture could make a considerable contribution toward achieving the politically targeted CO2 sink function in the LULUCF sector.
  More
Other publications
- Tim Eickenscheidt, Carla Bockermann, Theo Großkinsky, Sarah Gutermuth, Michael Hafner, Hans Hartmann, Christina Hartung, Hauke Heuwinkel, Martin Kapfer, Johann Krimmer, Martin Krus, Carina Kuchler, Daniel Kuptz, Dieter Lohr, Robert Mack, Ulrich Mäck, Simone Mann, Elke Meinken, Christoph Moning, Elisabeth Rist, Claudia Schön, Anja Schumann, Werner Theuerkorn, Cordt Zollfrank, Matthias Drösler
  
  Permissions: Open Access
  
  MOORuse Paludikulturen für Niedermoorböden in Bayern - Etablierung, Klimarelevanz & Umwelteffekte, Verwertungsmöglichkeiten und Wirtschaftlichkeit (2024) Zenodo. Abschlussbericht des Projekts MOORuse, 254 Seiten . DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10778063
  
  More
Media reports
- TV und Video Medienbeitrag, Carla Bockermann
  
  Terra X - Harald Lesch und die unterschätzte Klimachance (2024) ZDF Mediathek .
  
  More

Research projects

Duration: 15.11.2022 – 15.11.2025

: Renewable raw materials

Research status: Closed
Nachhaltigkeit von Paludikulturen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stoffhaushaltes (NAPALU)
In diesem Vorhaben wurde das Anbauverfahren auf bereits etablierten Niedermoor-Paludikulturen in Bayern und Niedersachsen untersucht, optimiert und nachhaltige Produkte (weiter-) entwickelt. Ziel …
More
- Project lead (HSWT): Prof. Dr. Matthias Drösler, Dr. Tim Eickenscheidt
Duration: 01.03.2016 – 31.12.2022

: Renewable raw materials

Research status: Closed
Paludicultures for fen soils in Bavaria - establishment, climate relevance & environmental effects, utilization possibilities and economic efficiency (MOORuse).
The aim was to restore the ecological functions of the peatlands, prevent the progressive mineralisation of the peat body, test a wide range of recycling options and develop economically viable …
More
- Lead of collaborative projects: Prof. Dr. Matthias Drösler

Show 1 more research projects of this author

Promotion

Time period: 01.01.2017 – 30.07.2026

Status: Closed
Climatic relevance of paludicultures in fen peatlands along a water tabel gradient
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Matthias Drösler
more

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Carla Bockermann

Publications

Journal articles (peer-reviewed)

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential of Temperate Fen Paludicultures (2025) Global Change Biology 31 (8), S. e70385. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.70385

Adaptation of fen peatlands to climate change: rewetting and management shift can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offset climate warming effects (2024) Biogeochemistry . DOI: 10.1007/s10533-023-01113-z

Magazine articles

Alternative Bewirtschaftungsformen (2024) Bayerisches Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt, Online-Beitrag, 19.01.2024 .

Conference contributions

Paludiculture as a nature-based solution for peatlands results of GHG mitigation potentials in fen peatlands of southern Germany (2023) Präsentation auf der Québec RE3 Conference, Juni 2023 .

Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potentials of five paludiculture plants in fen peatlands in southern Germany (2023) Beitrag auf der EGU General Assembly, Mai 2023 .

Treibhausgasaustausch von Paludikulturen – aktuelle Ergebnisse aus dem MOORuse-Projekt (2022) Conference: Symposium Moorschutz: Forschung und Praxis verbinden; Bayerische Akademie für Naturschutz und Landespflege .

Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potentials of four paludiculture plants in a fen peatland in southern Germany 2019 (2022) Conference: EGU General Assembly .

Paludiculture on fen peatlands in Bavaria -Establishment, climatic impact & environmental effects, utilization options and economic viability (2018) Conference: EGU General Assembly .

Research data

Greenhouse gas mitigation potential of temperate fen paludicultures - Dataset (2025) Zenodo . DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16026838

Other publications

MOORuse Paludikulturen für Niedermoorböden in Bayern - Etablierung, Klimarelevanz & Umwelteffekte, Verwertungsmöglichkeiten und Wirtschaftlichkeit (2024) Zenodo. Abschlussbericht des Projekts MOORuse, 254 Seiten . DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10778063

Media reports

Terra X - Harald Lesch und die unterschätzte Klimachance (2024) ZDF Mediathek .

Research projects

Nachhaltigkeit von Paludikulturen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stoffhaushaltes (NAPALU)

Paludicultures for fen soils in Bavaria - establishment, climate relevance & environmental effects, utilization possibilities and economic efficiency (MOORuse).

Promotion

Climatic relevance of paludicultures in fen peatlands along a water tabel gradient