Winter wheat carbon exchange in Thuringia, Germany

Eddy covariance measurements and estimates of biomass net primary production (NPP) in combination with soil carbon turnover modelled by the Roth-C model were used to assess the ecosystem carbon balance of an agricultural ecosystem in Thuringia, Germany, growing winter wheat in 2001. The eddy CO2 flux measurements indicate an annual net ecosystem exchange (NEE) uptake in the range from −185 to −245 g C m−2 per year. Main data analysis uncertainty in the annual NEE arises from night-time u∗ screening, other effects (e.g. coordinate rotation scheme) have only a small influence on the annual NEE estimate. In agricultural ecosystems the fate of the carbon removed during harvest plays a role in the net biome production (NBP) of the ecosystem, where NBP is given by net ecosystem production (NEP=−NEE) minus non-respiratory losses of the ecosystem (e.g. harvest). Taking account of the carbon removed by the wheat harvest (290 g C m−2), the agricultural field becomes a source of carbon with a NBP in the order of −45 to −105 g C m−2 per year. Annual carbon balance modelled with the Roth-C model also indicated that the ecosystem was a source for carbon (NBP −25 to −55 g C m−2 per year). Based on the modelling most of carbon respired resulted from changes in the litter and fast soil organic matter pool. Also, the crop and management history, particularly the C input to soil in the previous year, significantly affect next year’s CO2 exchange.