Long-term development of greenhouse gas reduction, yield performance and biodiversity of paludicultures (PaluTEB)
The aim of the study is to investigate the long-term potential of different paludiculture plants for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, carbon sequestration, sustainable biomass production and the promotion of biodiversity. The results will be compared with the data from the establishment phase in order to enable the first reliable statements on the ecological and economic viability of paludicultures over the entire duration of the Bavarian peatland farming program „M16“.
Paludicultures are designed to be used for 10 years, but reliable long-term data on their GHG reduction potential, yield stability and biodiversity effects are still lacking. Previous studies have mostly been limited to ≤5 years after establishment. Current studies indicate a very high GHG reduction potential of up to approx. 52.4 t CO2eq ha-1 a-1 (when converting arable land to paludiculture), but it is unclear whether this integration is sustainable in the long term. There are also major uncertainties regarding long-term yield stability, as nutrient discharge can lead to leaching and fertilization is currently not permitted. Although previous studies have identified high biodiversity potential, a final assessment remains open, as many species are slow to colonize isolated agricultural habitats.
In order to estimate the long-term GHG reduction potential, manual trace gas measurements will be carried out in Freisinger Moos and Langenmosen in 2026 and 2027 and annual balances will be drawn up using empirical models. In parallel, annual standardized yield measurements will be carried out in all paludiculture variants. The long-term development of floristic and faunistic biodiversity in different paludiculture variants will be methodically standardized in 2026 and 2027 for the indicator groups avifauna, grasshoppers and dragonflies as well as by means of vegetation surveys according to the LONDO scale.
Subgoals
- Measurement and quantification of GHG emissions and potential carbon sequestration of different paludiculture plants under different management intensities at two sites in Bavaria with a management history of 9 and 10 years.
- Systematic investigation of the long-term yield performance (9th-13th year) of different paludiculture plants depending on varying management strategies and site-specific nutrient conditions.
- Analysis of the long-term development of the faunistic and floristic biodiversity of paludicultures used at different intensities.
- Validation of the results obtained in comparison with studies from the establishment phase.
