Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation
Abstract Background Organic viticulture can generate a range of ecosystem services including supporting biodiversity, reducing the use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through long-term carbon (C) storage. Here we focused on aboveground C storage ra...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Carbon Balance and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13021-020-00158-z |
| _version_ | 1818118354711347200 |
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| author | J. N. Williams J. A. Morandé M. G. Vaghti J Medellín-Azuara J. H. Viers |
| author_facet | J. N. Williams J. A. Morandé M. G. Vaghti J Medellín-Azuara J. H. Viers |
| author_sort | J. N. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Organic viticulture can generate a range of ecosystem services including supporting biodiversity, reducing the use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through long-term carbon (C) storage. Here we focused on aboveground C storage rates and accumulation using a one-year increment analysis applied across different winegrape varietals and different-aged vineyard blocks. This produced a chronosequence of C storage rates over what is roughly the productive lifespan of most vines (aged 2–30 years). To our knowledge, this study provides the first estimate of C storage rates in the woody biomass of vines. Additionally, we assessed C storage in wildland buffers and adjacent oak-dominated habitats over a 9-year period. Results Carbon storage averaged 6.5 Mg/Ha in vines. We found the average annual increase in woody C storage was 43% by mass. Variation correlated most strongly with vine age, where the younger the vine, the greater the relative increase in annual C. Decreases in C increment rates with vine age were more than offset by the greater overall biomass of older vines, such that C on the landscape continued to increase over the life of the vines at 18.5% per year on average. Varietal did not significantly affect storage rates or total C stored. Carbon storage averaged 81.7 Mg/Ha in native perennial buffer vegetation; we found an 11% increase in mass over 9 years for oak woodlands and savannas. Conclusions Despite a decrease in the annual rate of C accumulation as vines age, we found a net increase in aboveground C in the woody biomass of vines. The results indicate the positive role that older vines play in on-farm (vineyard) C and overall aboveground accumulation rates. Additionally, we found that the conservation of native perennial vegetation as vineyard buffers and edge habitats contributes substantially to overall C stores. We recommend that future research consider longer time horizons for increment analysis, as this should improve the precision of C accumulation rate estimates, including in belowground (i.e., soil) reservoirs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:52:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6733051ad724f53b9d5741e860ff0dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1750-0680 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:52:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Carbon Balance and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6733051ad724f53b9d5741e860ff0dd2022-12-22T01:20:20ZengBMCCarbon Balance and Management1750-06802020-11-0115111010.1186/s13021-020-00158-zEcosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulationJ. N. Williams0J. A. Morandé1M. G. Vaghti2J Medellín-AzuaraJ. H. Viers3Pacific Agroecology LLCPacific Agroecology LLCPacific Agroecology LLCPacific Agroecology LLCAbstract Background Organic viticulture can generate a range of ecosystem services including supporting biodiversity, reducing the use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through long-term carbon (C) storage. Here we focused on aboveground C storage rates and accumulation using a one-year increment analysis applied across different winegrape varietals and different-aged vineyard blocks. This produced a chronosequence of C storage rates over what is roughly the productive lifespan of most vines (aged 2–30 years). To our knowledge, this study provides the first estimate of C storage rates in the woody biomass of vines. Additionally, we assessed C storage in wildland buffers and adjacent oak-dominated habitats over a 9-year period. Results Carbon storage averaged 6.5 Mg/Ha in vines. We found the average annual increase in woody C storage was 43% by mass. Variation correlated most strongly with vine age, where the younger the vine, the greater the relative increase in annual C. Decreases in C increment rates with vine age were more than offset by the greater overall biomass of older vines, such that C on the landscape continued to increase over the life of the vines at 18.5% per year on average. Varietal did not significantly affect storage rates or total C stored. Carbon storage averaged 81.7 Mg/Ha in native perennial buffer vegetation; we found an 11% increase in mass over 9 years for oak woodlands and savannas. Conclusions Despite a decrease in the annual rate of C accumulation as vines age, we found a net increase in aboveground C in the woody biomass of vines. The results indicate the positive role that older vines play in on-farm (vineyard) C and overall aboveground accumulation rates. Additionally, we found that the conservation of native perennial vegetation as vineyard buffers and edge habitats contributes substantially to overall C stores. We recommend that future research consider longer time horizons for increment analysis, as this should improve the precision of C accumulation rate estimates, including in belowground (i.e., soil) reservoirs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13021-020-00158-zBiodynamic farmingCarbon storage rateClimate mitigationGrape vineOrganic farmingRegenerative agriculture |
| spellingShingle | J. N. Williams J. A. Morandé M. G. Vaghti J Medellín-Azuara J. H. Viers Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation Carbon Balance and Management Biodynamic farming Carbon storage rate Climate mitigation Grape vine Organic farming Regenerative agriculture |
| title | Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation |
| title_full | Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation |
| title_fullStr | Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation |
| title_short | Ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes: a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation |
| title_sort | ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes a focus on aboveground carbon storage and accumulation |
| topic | Biodynamic farming Carbon storage rate Climate mitigation Grape vine Organic farming Regenerative agriculture |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13021-020-00158-z |
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