Predicting Physical Environment of Agricultural Soils under Climate Change in Snowy and Cold Regions: A Case Study of Apple Orchards in the Tsugaru Area

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15934
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 41030:Rural environmental engineering and planning-related
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Kato Chihiro 弘前大学, 農学生命科学部, 准教授 (60728616)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 気候変動 / 積雪寒冷地 / 土壌水分 / 地温 / 土中CO2 動態 / 土壌呼吸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of climatic change on soil moisture, soil temperature and soil CO2 dynamics with soil respiration (decomposition of organic matter by soil microorganisms and respiration by roots) in apple orchards in a cold snowy region. The results suggested that future increases in temperature and precipitation will increase soil CO2 concentrations, especially in early summer (May-June) and early autumn (September-October). In general, CO2 concentration in the soil is low during the cold winter season and gradually increases in the spring season, but in the future, snowmelt is expected to occur earlier, indicating that CO2 concentration in the soil may begin to increase about one month earlier than at present.

Free Research Field

土壌物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年，地球温暖化緩和策として，農地への有機物施用とともに適切な圃場管理による土壌炭素の維持の重要性も増している．一般に低温の寒冷地は土中の有機物分解速度が低いが，昇温や降水パターンの変化を伴う気候変動は，土壌水分，地温を変化させ，土中有機物分解速度にも影響を及ぼすと考えられる．他方，気候変動下の土壌呼吸に関する研究は，これまで主に森林や草地，水田，畑地などを対象に行われ，果樹園についての検討例は少ない．以上を踏まえ，本研究では積雪寒冷地である津軽地域のリンゴ園地を対象に，気候変動が土壌水分，地温，土中の有機物分解を含む土中CO2動態予測を行った．